Q&A: Racism toward Mizrahim
Racism toward Mizrahim
Question
As a matter of fact, there are far more Mizrahi criminals; as a matter of fact, most thugs are Mizrahi; as a matter of fact, the countries they came from are backward countries; and as a matter of fact, they have bad music. So if I say that Mizrahi culture is barbaric and violent, is that racism?? And if it is racism, why is that actually a problem if factually it is true?
Answer
Wow, so many decisive facts. Are you sure you’re not Mizrahi? Judging by the level of argument here, we Ashkenazim seem to have some kind of problem.
But I’ll ignore all the “facts” you made up out of thin air here and say that whether all these “facts” were true or not, in my opinion such a statement is not racism. It can be stupid and mistaken. Search the site for columns on racism, especially 445. But read calmly, and try to understand before you start spreading your springs abroad.
Discussion on Answer
Presenting facts in a clean and matter-of-fact way is not racism. Assuming a priori that they are explained only by genetic differences—that is racism.
Did you find some correlation? That is only the beginning of the research. Check all the possible factors (including what Deri says in campaigns), analyze them, try to separate them out. Otherwise it’s not only racism but intellectual laziness.
Culturalism is legitimate.
Racism, where the difference is a different race, is non-kosher.
Try to stick to that standard,
and you’ll be fine.
What is “we Ashkenazim”? I was sure the Rabbi was Mizrahi 🤔
Honestly, of all the things said here, what interests me most is דווקא the music. True, it’s a matter of personal taste, but you can see that Ashkenazi Tel Avivians won’t listen to Mizrahi music (at least not the heavier kind), whereas in the periphery and in neighborhoods you can find it more… But the truth is that there isn’t a sharp line here… maybe it’s influence and culture, but the truth is that I myself am Mizrahi and am in a Mizrahi social environment, and I don’t like Mizrahi music at all ☺️… but maybe it’s like everything else, where there’s a widespread phenomenon and there are exceptions… no doubt this is something worth researching!
Aside from the music issue, which may just be my personal taste, the other facts are simply facts that even Mizrahim do not dispute; they just argue that the ones to blame are the Ashkenazim who “discriminated” against them. As proof, Deri said in one of his campaigns that only in prisons are there more Mizrahim than Ashkenazim. More than that, a quick glance at the list of the major criminals in Israel teaches you what the reality is.