Q&A: Racism
Racism
Question
It seems to me that your articles on racism did not cover the last case that caused an uproar. Does Shlomo Gronich’s statement, “Everyone here is Ashkenazi, I’m glad there isn’t even a single chahchah here,” fall under the heading of racism according to your definitions?
Answer
If you think the definitions given there do not cover this case, please explain why.
I’ll just note that this obviously depends on the context (for example, was it a joke, or a serious statement?). Beyond that, it is of course clear that not everyone there was Ashkenazi. But it is probably true that those present were mainly lovers of Hebrew song and less the kind who like Mediterranean music. Maybe in his eyes that is the more refined music. Completely legitimate. If that is what he calls chahchahs, then he merely described facts. Both the expression “chahchahs” and the expression “Ashkenazim” there require clarification.
Discussion on Answer
And therefore? Why do you think this is not covered by what I wrote in that column? If he expressed his inner feeling, there is no racism here. It is a subjective expression of feeling, which he has a right to have. The expression itself may be tasteless, but what exactly is racist here?
Because here there was no factual claim at all relating to Mizrahim, nor any exclusion or anything like that. Everything you discussed there was about the reasons for racism, and you analyzed each reason on its own as to whether it is defined as racism. The question is what happens when someone does not say anything at all about Mizrahim but simply expresses his feeling, say: “I’m glad there are no Mizrahim.” There is also no way to deal with that sentence, because he did not base it on reasons or theories or facts; he simply stated a certain feeling he has. The question is whether this feeling of hatred toward a certain race is defined as racism.