Thanks for painting such a vivid picture of what it is like to be on the receiving end of the white Ashkenazi unawareness. Speaking as a white Ashkenazi woman, I know I often need to have these things spelled out for me. We Ashkenazi Jews have been inundated with messages that tell us we are the "real" Jews.
I believe this Ashkenazi frame of reference is partly a result of internalizing centuries of anti-Semitism. (Not that Ashkenazi Jews are the only Jews who have experienced anti-Semitism, but right now I am trying to talk about this from an Ashkenazi point of view.) In defending ourselves against anti-Semitism, we've learned to separate ourselves from the dominant culture. In many ways separation has been necessary to protect our precious heritage, religion, and values (and sometimes our lives) from attacks and assimilation. However, there are problems with having inherited a mental framework that tells us that our survival depends on being separate. We can easily fall into the habit of seeing those who have a Ì¢âÂÒdifferentÌ¢âÂå history, culture, or race as not one of us. We separate ourselves from our Jewish brothers and sisters who have different backgrounds than us.
This habit, of course, affects not only relationships between Jews, but with groups of non-Jews who we want to establish closer connections with. Perhaps addressing our (Ashkenazi) racism and cultural unawareness towards non-white and non-Ashkenazi Jews, will not only enrich our lives, but will also provide us with a foundation for addressing racism towards people of color who are not Jewish.
Thanks for painting such a vivid picture of what it is like to be on the receiving end of the white Ashkenazi unawareness. Speaking as a white Ashkenazi woman, I know I often need to have these things spelled out for me. We Ashkenazi Jews have been inundated with messages that tell us we are the "real" Jews.
I believe this Ashkenazi frame of reference is partly a result of internalizing centuries of anti-Semitism. (Not that Ashkenazi Jews are the only Jews who have experienced anti-Semitism, but right now I am trying to talk about this from an Ashkenazi point of view.) In defending ourselves against anti-Semitism, we've learned to separate ourselves from the dominant culture. In many ways separation has been necessary to protect our precious heritage, religion, and values (and sometimes our lives) from attacks and assimilation. However, there are problems with having inherited a mental framework that tells us that our survival depends on being separate. We can easily fall into the habit of seeing those who have a Ì¢âÂÒdifferentÌ¢âÂå history, culture, or race as not one of us. We separate ourselves from our Jewish brothers and sisters who have different backgrounds than us.
This habit, of course, affects not only relationships between Jews, but with groups of non-Jews who we want to establish closer connections with. Perhaps addressing our (Ashkenazi) racism and cultural unawareness towards non-white and non-Ashkenazi Jews, will not only enrich our lives, but will also provide us with a foundation for addressing racism towards people of color who are not Jewish.