The Forward: Ari Axelrod was out for margaritas with a friend when he first saw the videos — neo-Nazis accosting theatergoers and handing out antisemitic leaflets in front of the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater. The much-anticipated Broadway revival of Parade, a musical about the 1913 trial of wrongfully convicted Jewish factory manager Leo Frank, was about to play its first preview.
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The fact that Neo-Nazis still feel the need to promote anger and hatred towards the Jewish community is something that really upsets me. Theatre artists find solace in their work and communities around their shows and to disrupt that community because of antisemitic views is very alarming and saddening. I am glad that there were people like Axelrod who were able to form a group of people affected by this insistent. I also appreciate how they plan on creating a way to come together as a community to protect their art, and themselves from Neo-Nazis as a group through open communication about the antisemitism they have experienced. I hope that the Jewish community realizes how valued they are and how many people stand with them against this antisemitism. I am looking forward to seeing Parade on Broadway if I get the chance to go to NYC, and I hope that this instance doesn’t stop them from creating the art form they love, I hope the community around them supports and uplifts them.
This is only the most noticeable attack on Jews in the last few months. 86% of Adult Jews will tell you that Antisemitism has only gotten worse over the past few years. Between literal neo- nazis, left wing Jew hatred, BHI, stabbings, shootings, bomb threats, vandalism, property damage, etc…, this does not surprise me. I am very regularly afraid. However, this gathering does give me some hope towards the future of Jews in the diaspora. It is proven over and over again that we are our own best allies and saviors. I pray that this conference of theatre Jews will actually have something come of it that is tangible and able to be felt. I do wonder what direction they will go in, I can only hope that it is not in the “microaggression” workshop direction as that particular suggestion felt particularly limp in light of what we are facing.The one thing I know for absolute certain is that the Jewish people were here before them and we will be here after them.
It’s so ridiculous that we still have to deal with things like this in our day and age. Specifically antisemitism, but just in general, the fact that bigots feel the right to harass and protest outside of productions is so baffling. Despite all the hate, the community did a wonderful job at responding to it. The fact that over fifty Jewish people in the community came together just the next day is really inspiring. They managed to take the situation and use it as fuel and energy to “fight for something positive for Jews.” Just the other day was an anti semitic “day of hate” against Jews and it's really scary to think about, especially Jews who have intersecting identities like queer or black. It’s clear that theatre artists have a knack for being heard fighting back, and I love to see it. I also love the idea of counter protests like in the Laramie project.
Anti-Semetisim is a thing that has plagued our country for a long long time. The propaganda showing a fearful casting of jewish people is prime example. I think that it is telling how conservative of a country the United States of America is just by how much hate there is. Racism and Anti Semetism go in hand. They are both rooted in the concept that there is a higher “race” of people and that everyone else is beneath that. All this fueled by psuedoscience and crap filled bigots. I am sad that such an important story for the times right now is being targetted by hate groups. I hope that security is ramped up in a responsible way. I hope that the country changes for the better and ww are able to be at a place where going to see a play issnt so dangerous. We will see in due time if this is true.
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