BCTC events: “Why Is That the One Thing That Gets Tagged Onto Me?”

What Happens When People Actually Talk About Jewish Hatred

Inside a BCTC Conversation on Belonging, Truth, and Standing Up

At a recent BCTC gathering, participants explored belonging, Jewish identity, and Jewish hatred — and left with a simple question: how do we stand up for our neighbors?

It Started with a Simple Question: When Have You Felt You Didn’t Belong?

Like many BCTC conversations, the evening did not begin with politics or headlines. It began with something universal.

Participants were invited to turn to the people next to them and share a moment when they felt they did not belong — a time when they were “othered.”

The room quickly filled with quiet conversations as people shared experiences from childhood, school, workplaces, and everyday life.

The exercise grounded the conversation in empathy before moving into more complex topics.

One participant described how suddenly belonging can disappear:

“I was in a store that I’ve been to thousands of times… and suddenly I went into shock. I felt so scared and uncomfortable. From that moment on, I’m afraid to go there alone. I just don’t feel like I belong there anymore.”

Another participant shared a more subtle experience that many Jews recognize:

“When people learn that I’m Jewish, suddenly that becomes the thing they focus on… and I’m like, why? Of all the things about me, why is that the one thing that gets tagged onto me?”

She added:

“Sometimes I realize I’m in a group and suddenly I’m representing Judaism to them… and I’m thinking, I’m not an expert. I’m just one person.”

Moments like these helped ground the evening in lived experience before the discussion turned outward.

How Does Hatred Actually Show Up?

Participants were asked a simple but powerful question:

What does hatred look like?

The room quickly responded with examples:

• Violence
• Exclusion
• Name-calling
• Conspiracy theories
• Double standards
• Fear of difference

One participant summarized something many recognized:

“I think Jewish hatred happens frequently — maybe 90% — because of ignorance. People are ignorant, and they believe lies.”

Another participant added:

“Ignorance and being afraid of the difference.”

From there, the conversation explored how Jewish hatred has appeared across different eras — shifting in language but often repeating similar patterns: scapegoating, conspiracy theories, exclusion, and violence.

Understanding those patterns helps people recognize them when they appear again today.

Who Are the Jewish People? More Than a Religion

Another important part of the evening focused on a question that is often misunderstood:

Who are the Jewish people?

Participants explored how Judaism is not only a religion but also a peoplehood — a shared history, culture, ancestry, and identity.

As was explained during the discussion:

“Judaism is religion, but not just. It’s people. I can be an atheist and still be Jewish.”

Jewish identity has been shaped by thousands of years of history, migration, and cultural development.

Jewish communities developed across many regions of the world — Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond — while maintaining shared traditions and historical connections.

Understanding that complexity helps explain why Jewish identity cannot be reduced to a single category.

Zionism, Slogans, and the Importance of Definitions

When Words Are Used Without Understanding

Another part of the evening focused on language — particularly words and slogans that circulate widely but are often repeated without understanding.

Participants unpacked terms such as Zionism, self-determination, and colonization, exploring their historical meaning rather than the simplified versions often circulating online.

One explanation shared during the discussion:

“If someone is a Zionist, they believe that Israel has a right to exist and that Jews can live there because it is their ancestral homeland.”

Participants also discussed slogans commonly heard on campuses and social media.

For example, the phrase “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free” was examined geographically and historically. Many people repeating the phrase, participants noted, often do not know which river or which sea is being referenced — or that “Palestine will be free” actually means free of Jews and eliminating Israel.

These moments highlighted how easily words can spread faster than understanding.

The goal of the conversation was not to shut down questions — but to create space for better questions and deeper understanding.

When Allies Speak Up

One meaningful dimension of the evening was hearing from participants outside the Jewish community who spoke openly about why the conversation mattered to them.

One participant shared:

“I grew up in church loving Israel and loving the Jewish people… and I feel strongly that people should understand why standing up for their Jewish neighbors matters.”

Another reflected on the spread of misinformation within their own community:

“It’s disturbing how many people are uninformed or believing things that simply aren’t true.”

These reflections reinforced an important part of BCTC’s work — building relationships across communities where people can learn from one another with honesty and respect.

Learning Before Speaking

The evening also emphasized something central to BCTC’s approach:

Education is empowerment.

Participants shared books, films, and resources that help deepen understanding of Jewish history, antisemitism, and the current information environment.

One participant described why learning felt necessary before speaking:

“I felt I couldn’t speak about anything until I read more… and then I felt more educated.”

Learning, in this context, is not about winning arguments.

It is about taking responsibility to seek truth before repeating claims, slogans, or narratives.

The Question We Left With

By the end of the evening, participants had explored personal stories, historical context, language, and difficult questions.

But the most important part of the conversation was the final reflection.

Not simply what did we learn?

But what will we do now?

Participants were invited to stay engaged — to continue learning, share resources, challenge misinformation, and stand with neighbors who feel vulnerable.

BCTC’s philosophy is simple:

Real change rarely begins with a speech.

It begins with conversation — when people are willing to listen honestly, learn deeply, and speak with courage when it matters.

Stay connected

We invite you to continue the conversation with us.

Explore our resources, follow along on social media, share a post, attend a future event, and help bring more thoughtful, informed, and compassionate conversation into your own circles and communities.

Because words matter.
Because belonging matters.
Because understanding matters.

And because standing up against Jewish hatred begins, often, with being open.

Because sometimes the most powerful step forward is simply starting a conversation.