The Problem with Defining Antisemitism

Plus: Medieval Oxford’s murder crisis; John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt”; and a teen-ager’s quest to manage his O.C.D. View in browser | Update your preferences Wednesday, March 13, 2024 In today’s newsletter, the dangers of speech codes, and then: • Medieval Oxford’s murder problem • Reconsidering John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” • A teen-ager’s quest to manage his O.C.D. The Problem with Defining Antisemitism Kenneth Stern helped write a definition now endorsed by more than forty countries. Why does he believe it’s causing harm? Illustration by Edmon de Haro Twenty years ago, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia asked a group of scholars and Jewish organizations to create a working definition of antisemitism that would help it better study the effects of hate and discrimination around the world. This new definition incorporated a critique of political speech, citing a series of examples in which, the authors argued, criticism of Israel and Zionism could be considered antisemitic. Yet, in the ensuing years, the lead drafter of the definition, a lawyer named Kenneth Stern, has looked on with increasing dismay as countries around the world—as well as states, cities, and various organizations in the U.S.—have adopted or endorsed this definition. In fascinating new reporting, Eyal Press speaks to Stern about why he has come to view the promotion of his own description of antisemitism as “one of the most significant threats to the campus today, and to Jewish students and faculty.” Since the October 7th attacks by Hamas and amid Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, Stern’s concerns have become especially urgent. “On college campuses, students have an absolute right to expect they’re not going to be harassed, they’re not going to be bullied,” he explains. “But to be disturbed by ideas is O.K.: we want students to be disturbed by ideas and to figure out how to think about them.” Read the story Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » Editor’s Picks Letter from the U.K. Medieval Oxford’s Murder Problem The university town used to have a murder rate roughly equal to that of present-day New Orleans. What can it tell us about the nature of violence today? By Sam Knight Postscript Remembering William Whitworth’s Editorial Eye An editor who could see around corners and deep into thorny manuscripts. By Ian Frazier Spoiler Dept. Libertarians and Socialists and Jill Stein—Oh, My! At a debate between five third-party candidates in Manhattan, the message was “Unrig the system.” By Andrew Marantz Culture Dept. Under Review “Martyr!” Plays Its Subject for Laughs but Is Also Deadly Serious In his first novel, the Iranian American poet Kaveh Akbar asks whether our pain matters, and to whom, and how it might be made to matter more. By Katy Waldman The Theatre John Patrick Shanley Wrestles with God and Destiny The playwright stages boxerly confrontations in a revival of “Doubt,” starring Liev Schreiber and Amy Ryan, and in the new show “Brooklyn Laundry,” with Cecily Strong. By Vinson Cunningham Screening Room The New Yorker Documentary A Teen-Ager’s Quest to Manage His O.C.D. In “Lost in My Mind,” a young man offers a candid look at life with O.C.D. and his experiences with exposure therapy. Film by Charles Frank Text by Eric Nelson Fun & Games Dept. Crossword A Lightly Challenging Puzzle Floral shade of purple: five letters. By Erik Agard Daily Cartoon Wednesday, March 13th By Liza Donnelly Name Drop: Can you guess the identity of a notable person—contemporary or historical—in six clues? Play a quiz from our archive » P.S. For more stories of historical murders, read Casey Cep’s review of what she calls the indispensable guide to early American homicide. “More than a reading list,” she writes, “ ‘The Annals of Murder’ is a remarkable look at America’s long obsession with true crime: an eleven-hundred-and-twenty-six-round game of Clue, with a rotating roster of weapons and settings, murders and victims, verdicts and executions.” Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the daily newsletter from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2024. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.