Living in a post-truth world

“I’ve been attacked verbally and people say ‘it’s complicated.’ If someone said that about any other ethnic group, it wouldn’t be complicated,” Fred Menachem says on Episode 102 of TheJewFunction podcast, openly grappling with the troubling rise in antisemitism since October 7th.

Menachem, known for his direct and heartfelt manner, describes how this escalation has deeply unsettled his life. “People saying things like they find it acceptable. That makes me angry and uncomfortable. This is happening regularly,” he admits. He describes being bombarded by hateful messages and threats online, detailing unsettling examples. Yet, Fred insists that this isn’t what disturbs him most. Instead, it’s the normalization of antisemitism by ordinary people and friends who casually dismiss or minimize his experiences. “People who are friends don’t understand it and think it’s self-consumed or that it can’t be that bad,” he laments. His frustration is palpable as he shares how he’s begun to isolate himself more: “I’ve avoided going out a lot more lately. People whisper, maybe they know I’m Jewish. Apparently, people do.”

Fred further emphasizes the broader societal implications, stating that we now live in a “post-truth world,” where facts no longer hold sway. He explains, “People refuse to chip at their narrative, even with facts in front of them.” This idea of a post-truth world is deeply concerning for Fred, as it has become increasingly difficult to address antisemitism through reasoned discourse and factual evidence.

Reflecting on this challenge, Fred discusses the shift needed in communication: “My entire life has been based on using emotion to get people to see something they wouldn’t see if you just present facts. Everything emotional has to be based on a level of facts, but facts alone don’t sway people anymore.” He recalls how he succeeded in debate competitions through emotional appeal rather than just presenting information. “Facts alone are not enough. A good litigator understands they have a jury to sway. At the end of the day, emotion plays a critical role,” Fred asserts.

Lio agrees, suggesting, “We need to create an environment that makes people feel a certain way. Facts alone, like in the movie Titanic, don’t move people. It’s the emotional connection that does.” Lio elaborates on this analogy, explaining, “When people watch Titanic, they don’t get emotional because of historical accuracy or knowing exactly how the ship sank or who was at fault. They care deeply about the personal story, the connection between characters, the romance, the tragedy, the emotions that resonate deeply. That’s what moves people. Similarly, when addressing antisemitism, the emotional connection is crucial; simply presenting historical or factual details doesn’t have the same impact.”

Host Seth echoes Fred’s concerns, elaborating on the dual nature of antisemitism: “We always joke there are two kinds of antisemitism: your street-level idiot thug, and then sophisticated, very smart antisemites. And when you read the smart antisemites, they’re pointing to the same thing as our sages, but from the backside. It’s like nature. There’s light and dark, day and night.” He references the unsettling observation made by the infamous neo-Nazi George Lincoln Rockwell, who remarked,

The group loyalty of these Jews is perhaps the most fantastic in the history of the world. It has propelled them into near mastery of the entire world. Not because they are braver, work harder, are more intelligent, or more worthy than the rest of us, but because they observe the basic laws of Nature and maintain group loyalty.

Fred highlights how it feels as though we are living in two different worlds simultaneously. “On one hand, there’s the everyday world where we want to enjoy life, maintain friendships, and feel secure. On the other hand, there’s this underlying reality of antisemitism that never goes away. It’s like living a double life where you constantly switch between feeling safe and feeling threatened,” Fred explains. This dual existence adds to the emotional burden many Jews experience.

Fred reflects on historical patterns of Jewish relationships with broader society, cautioning, “We don’t really have friends as a group historically.” He explains how Jews have frequently shifted their political alignments, seeking safety and acceptance, only to find themselves isolated again. “People move from left to right politically, but history shows us clearly that eventually, they’ll turn on us as well,” Fred warns. This cyclical pattern underscores the necessity of internal unity among Jewish communities.

Building on this, Lio passionately expands on insights from Jewish sages. “I really think the sages knew something. They’re trying to tell us, ‘Look, you’re at the heart of this, like it or not.’ In every system, there’s an organizing principle. One group acts as a catalyst. Just like in any chemical or biological reaction, you need something that starts the process, a fire starter. That’s who we are. ”

Lio further emphasizes the role of Jewish unity as a powerful and necessary solution, quoting Rav Kook:

Because the revealed unity of the moral, spiritual, and intellectual world, along with the material, technical, and social world, is expressed in the world through Israel. The skill of the land of Israel is to establish in the world the revelation of this unity, which gives a new face to the entire human culture.

He underscores the responsibility inherent in this unity, stating, “It’s in us, but this is a choice we must make each morning. It’s not just external commandments, do this, don’t eat that. Those are simply expressions of an inner truth we often refuse to acknowledge because it requires effort. Automatic mitzvot won’t teach us to love others as ourselves. We have to get involved, care, and daily confront our ego with help from our friends. This is our national challenge as Jews. Can we rise to it?”

Moved by this discussion, Fred reads from Baal HaSulam’s Introduction to the Book of Zohar:

When a person from Israel enhances and dignifies his internality, which is the Israel in him, over the externality, which are the nations of the world in him, that is, he dedicates the majority of his efforts to enhance and exalt his internality, to benefit his soul, and gives little efforts, the mere necessity, to sustain the nations of the world in him, meaning the bodily needs. By so doing, he makes the children of Israel soar upward in the internality and externality of the world, as well, and the nations of the world, which are the externality, to recognize and acknowledge the value of the children of Israel.

Fred concludes emotionally, “This brought me love, brought me back to love. It’s a spark reminding me who I am. As a Jewish person, yes, we have to fight antisemitism, but our job is to bring light. At the end of the day, I’ve always known since I was a child, like they used to pin on my shirt in school, that my job is to bring light to the world. Yes, as a human, but also most importantly, as a Jew. I will continue doing that, because of you guys. I’m going to make an effort not to think of anything negative today. So thank you guys, really.”