Published: 16 October 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
The silence from artists when Jews are massacred raises concerns about the sincerity of their human rights commitment and suggests antisemitism in their activism.
I consider myself a Jewish artist working across various mediums, including music, writing, film, and painting. Artists, in their many forms, are storytellers and activists. We have a profound responsibility to comment on the world through our work, and there is a rich history of protest songs, political poetry, wartime paintings, and historical films as channels through which artists tell the truth.
Last week, the Jewish community endured a brutal and violent public pogrom, the deadliest since the Holocaust. In the midst of harrowing videos online, shattered faces in my neighbourhood, and heart-wrenching stories from my loved ones, including my mother and brother caught in the turmoil of Tel Aviv, one of the most disturbing aspects was the deafening silence from the creative community. It is unforgivable.
I am a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and my family's journey is one of immigrants seeking refuge, ultimately finding a home in Australia. My parents, who were humanist Zionists, moved to Israel, where I was born, with dreams of peace and unity.
Consequently, I consider myself a staunch advocate for human rights, including those of the Palestinians, who have endured generations of suffering and now face intensified intimidation from my homeland's dysfunctional government, which I strongly oppose.
However, the lack of support for Jews and Israeli citizens goes beyond the pale. It exposes underlying prejudices, and quite frankly, it's embarrassing to witness.
This past week, I’ve been exhausted and heartbroken, trying to make sense of this new reality. It's a darkness that feels simultaneously ancient and new.
The year 2021 was marked by the rise of anti-Israel sentiments that morphed into antisemitism. I lost lifelong friendships and faced cancellation in my creative life. I was publicly shamed and vilified on social media by the arts community, all for identifying as a supporter of Israel, or dare I say, a Zionist.
So what’s going on with arts festivals and arts leadership bodies? They have remained conspicuously silent. Of course, there have been some high-profile advocates, like Bono.
