In Zionist
Newspeak Caryl Churchill’s 7 Jewish Children is anti-Semitic
Newspeak Caryl Churchill’s 7 Jewish Children is anti-Semitic
 |
| an anti-Semitic poster |
Doublespeak is the use of a euphemism to disguise
or obscure the truth of something. For
example the term ‘collateral damage’ is used to minimise the deliberate murder of
civilians, when bombing civilian areas, by describing them as ‘collateral’ or incidental to the war itself.
The term ‘peace keeping’ is another favourite for the waging of
war. The renaming of the Ministry of War
as the Ministry of Defence is yet another example of the phenomenon of using
language to invert the meaning of something.
It is close allied to Orwell’s concept of double think, the ability to
hold two mutually exclusive ideas at the same time inside one’s head.
or obscure the truth of something. For
example the term ‘collateral damage’ is used to minimise the deliberate murder of
civilians, when bombing civilian areas, by describing them as ‘collateral’ or incidental to the war itself.
The term ‘peace keeping’ is another favourite for the waging of
war. The renaming of the Ministry of War
as the Ministry of Defence is yet another example of the phenomenon of using
language to invert the meaning of something.
It is close allied to Orwell’s concept of double think, the ability to
hold two mutually exclusive ideas at the same time inside one’s head.
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| Caryl Churchill – author of 7 Jewish Children |
In the past few months the Zionist movement and its tabloid
mouthpieces, not least the BBC have waged a campaign to persuade people that
opposition to racism in Israel is in fact the same thing as anti-Jewish racism
(anti-Semitism). Who would know, because it is never reported in the mass media, that over half Israel’s population wish to expel Israel’s Palestinian citizens (never mind the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza).
mouthpieces, not least the BBC have waged a campaign to persuade people that
opposition to racism in Israel is in fact the same thing as anti-Jewish racism
(anti-Semitism). Who would know, because it is never reported in the mass media, that over half Israel’s population wish to expel Israel’s Palestinian citizens (never mind the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza).
Over the summer there were attempts to smear
Jeremy Corbyn as an anti-Semite, when it became clear that he was likely to
become leader of the Labour Party. This campaign was led by the
right-wing former editor of the Daily Express and current editor of the Jewish
Chronicle, Stephen Pollard. Ironically it was not so long ago that
Pollard was defending the anti-Semitic Polish MEP Michal Kaminski and the even
more virulently anti-Semitic Latvian MEP Robert Zile on the grounds that
whatever their views about Jews they were both devoted supporters of
Israel. [See Pollard’s article in The Guardian, 9.10.09. Poland’s Kaminski is not an antisemite: he’s a
friend to Jews, and also ‘The Hypocrisy of Jeremy Corbyn’s Accusers – Stephen
Pollard Jewish Chronicle Editor & Apologist for Europe’s anti-Semitic
politicians’
Michal Kaminski
the Polish Zionist & anti-Semite that Jewish Chronicle Editor Stephen
Pollard Just Loves]
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| Photo of an injured child – comparing this to Jewish suffering is ‘anti-Semitic’ |
In recent weeks there has been a vigorous and
determined campaign by sections of the media and right-wing Labour MPs such as
John Mann and Louise Ellman to portray supporters of the Palestinians and
opponents of Zionism as anti-Semitic.
This has reached ludicrous heights with the attempt to portray the Palestine
society at York University as ‘anti-Semitic’ for daring to show the play 7 Jewish
Children by Caryl Churchil. The play,
which is on the Guardian website is a sensitive and quite brilliant attempt to relate, through adults discussing
what to tell and what not to tell 7 Jewish children, at different periods of
time. The concern of the adults is both
to inform and not to frighten and the phrases ‘tell her’ and ‘don’t tell her’
are repeated throughout the play. The last line in the play is ‘don’t frighten her’. The time periods change from hiding a Jewish child
in an unnamed ghetto under Nazi occupation, to the murder of her relatives by
the Nazis, to the immigration to the State of Israel by a Jewish family in post-holocaust Europe to their coming to terms with Arabs in Israel and an increasingly hardline, racist attitude to the Arabs who live there.
 |
| Criticising Israeli bombing and the murder of children is ‘anti-Semitic’ |
‘Tell her this wasn’t their home’ is how they
explain the expulsion of the Arabs from Israel.
The death of Rachel Corrie explained by ‘Don’t tell her not to look at
the bulldozer, Don’t tell her it was knocking the house down’. The attacks on Gaza are dealt with by through
not informing her ‘Don’t tell her about the family of dead girls’ and then immediately contradicting itself ‘Tell
her we killed the babies by mistake’ ‘Tell
her about the family of dead girls, tell her their names why not,’ and then the
final Zionist rationale ‘Tell her there’s dead babies, did she see babies? tell
her she’s got nothing to be ashamed of. Tell
her they did it to themselves. Tell her they want their children killed to make
people sorry for them.’
explain the expulsion of the Arabs from Israel.
The death of Rachel Corrie explained by ‘Don’t tell her not to look at
the bulldozer, Don’t tell her it was knocking the house down’. The attacks on Gaza are dealt with by through
not informing her ‘Don’t tell her about the family of dead girls’ and then immediately contradicting itself ‘Tell
her we killed the babies by mistake’ ‘Tell
her about the family of dead girls, tell her their names why not,’ and then the
final Zionist rationale ‘Tell her there’s dead babies, did she see babies? tell
her she’s got nothing to be ashamed of. Tell
her they did it to themselves. Tell her they want their children killed to make
people sorry for them.’
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| Comparing this to Jewish suffering is ‘anti-semitic’ |
That is indeed what the Zionists
say as some form of rationalisation for their crimes. They are ‘forced’ to kill
Palestinian children. It has disturbing
echoes of similar Nazi justifications.
They too were ‘forced’ to kill Jewish children. It was Golda Meir who
once said that
‘We can forgive the Arabs for
killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their
children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children
more than they hate us.” (although Harvey Rachlin in Ha’aretz has searched in vain for any evidence that
she actually said it!).
Caryl Churchill’s play was written at the
time of Operation Cast Lead when over 1,400 Palestinians were killed in Gaza by
Israel’s war criminals, hundreds of whom were children.
time of Operation Cast Lead when over 1,400 Palestinians were killed in Gaza by
Israel’s war criminals, hundreds of whom were children.
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| Howard Jacobson – sees anti-Semitism everywhere |
Although the more simple Zionists like Howard Jacobson assert
that it is ‘pure Jew hatred’ it is strange that they are unable to produce even one
quote from the play that would back up their assertions. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that
the associations between the Jewish experience of suffering in the second
world war and the Palestinians experience of suffering is too close for
comfort.
that it is ‘pure Jew hatred’ it is strange that they are unable to produce even one
quote from the play that would back up their assertions. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that
the associations between the Jewish experience of suffering in the second
world war and the Palestinians experience of suffering is too close for
comfort.
Below is the typically stupid and bombastic
article which one has come to expect in the Jewish Chronicle and beneath it is
a response from 6 Jewish and Israeli supporters of the play at York University. I have also included the dialogue in the play itself so you can judge whether it is anti-Semitic or not.
article which one has come to expect in the Jewish Chronicle and beneath it is
a response from 6 Jewish and Israeli supporters of the play at York University. I have also included the dialogue in the play itself so you can judge whether it is anti-Semitic or not.
EXCLUSIVE
By
Jewish Chronicle Reporter,
February 25, 2016
Jewish Chronicle Reporter,
February 25, 2016
A
pro-Palestinian student group co-run by the son of Labour Party leader Jeremy
Corbyn, has performed a play widely described as antisemitic as part of Israel
Apartheid Week.
pro-Palestinian student group co-run by the son of Labour Party leader Jeremy
Corbyn, has performed a play widely described as antisemitic as part of Israel
Apartheid Week.
York
University’s student Palestinian Solidarity Society staged two productions of
“Seven Jewish Children – A Play for Palestine” on Thursday afternoon.
University’s student Palestinian Solidarity Society staged two productions of
“Seven Jewish Children – A Play for Palestine” on Thursday afternoon.
Tommy
Corbyn, who is studying electrical engineering at York, is the society’s events
manager.
Corbyn, who is studying electrical engineering at York, is the society’s events
manager.
The
play, written by Caryl Churchill as a response to an Israeli attack on Gaza,
was first performed in 2009. In seven short scenes, totalling only 10 minutes,
it examines modern Jewish history.
play, written by Caryl Churchill as a response to an Israeli attack on Gaza,
was first performed in 2009. In seven short scenes, totalling only 10 minutes,
it examines modern Jewish history.
The
JC’s theatre critic described the work as antisemitic, highlighting a moment
when one Jewish character appears to be glorifying in Palestinian suffering.
JC’s theatre critic described the work as antisemitic, highlighting a moment
when one Jewish character appears to be glorifying in Palestinian suffering.
Author
Howard Jacobson described it as “Jew-hating, pure and simple”.
Howard Jacobson described it as “Jew-hating, pure and simple”.
The
play at York was a joint production by the Palestinian Solidarity Society and
another group, the Antigone Collective.
play at York was a joint production by the Palestinian Solidarity Society and
another group, the Antigone Collective.
Israel
supporters issued flyers opposing the production, asking if York University
“supports antisemitic culture”.
supporters issued flyers opposing the production, asking if York University
“supports antisemitic culture”.
In
a statement, the university Jewish Society condemned the staging.
a statement, the university Jewish Society condemned the staging.
The
society added that in rejecting opposition to the event, York students’ union
had showed a lack of concern about antisemitism on campus.
society added that in rejecting opposition to the event, York students’ union
had showed a lack of concern about antisemitism on campus.
The
staging was one of a series of events mounted by students across the country as
part of the annual anti-Israel campaign at universities. Other activities
included stunts such as the construction of mock Israeli military checkpoints
and talks by anti-Israel propagandists backing an academic boycott of the
country.
staging was one of a series of events mounted by students across the country as
part of the annual anti-Israel campaign at universities. Other activities
included stunts such as the construction of mock Israeli military checkpoints
and talks by anti-Israel propagandists backing an academic boycott of the
country.
Jewish
students have responded by mounting an initiative under the title “Building
Bridges” designed to promote dialogue about Israel’s positive role in the
world.
students have responded by mounting an initiative under the title “Building
Bridges” designed to promote dialogue about Israel’s positive role in the
world.
Responding
to the JC article , the Jewish members of the York Palestine Solidarity Society
have released this statement
to the JC article , the Jewish members of the York Palestine Solidarity Society
have released this statement
To
whom it may concern,
whom it may concern,
We
are Jews and Israelis who work and study in York. Some of us were in the
audience for the recent performance of Caryl Churchill’s ten minute play Seven
Jewish Children at the University of York; others were involved in its
production and acted in it. All of us are committed to seeing a just peace in
Israel and Palestine.
are Jews and Israelis who work and study in York. Some of us were in the
audience for the recent performance of Caryl Churchill’s ten minute play Seven
Jewish Children at the University of York; others were involved in its
production and acted in it. All of us are committed to seeing a just peace in
Israel and Palestine.
Some
of us have only attended Palestinian Solidarity Society events, others are
ordinary members and committee members of this university society. It is clear
to us that the society is committed to fighting racism and prejudice in all its
guises, in particular intolerance of Palestinians in Israel, as well as
Palestinian prejudice against Jews. One audience member, Dr. Lisa Peschel, a
lecturer in York’s theatre department who conducts research on Jewish ghetto
theatre, said, “This play does not claim to be a balanced and objective look at
the entire range of Israeli political opinions, but it accurately represents
certain voices in Israeli politics while acknowledging Jewish suffering as
well. It addresses a humanitarian crisis that urgently needs to be discussed.”
of us have only attended Palestinian Solidarity Society events, others are
ordinary members and committee members of this university society. It is clear
to us that the society is committed to fighting racism and prejudice in all its
guises, in particular intolerance of Palestinians in Israel, as well as
Palestinian prejudice against Jews. One audience member, Dr. Lisa Peschel, a
lecturer in York’s theatre department who conducts research on Jewish ghetto
theatre, said, “This play does not claim to be a balanced and objective look at
the entire range of Israeli political opinions, but it accurately represents
certain voices in Israeli politics while acknowledging Jewish suffering as
well. It addresses a humanitarian crisis that urgently needs to be discussed.”
As
Israelis and Jews, some of us have personal experiences of being labelled
antisemitic because we have expressed criticism of the abusive and intolerant
attitudes of many Israelis, or of Israeli policies, towards the Palestinian
people. Our support of an occupied, oppressed people is often mistakenly
perceived, particularly by those Jews who identify as Zionist, as anti-Semitic
sentiment.
Israelis and Jews, some of us have personal experiences of being labelled
antisemitic because we have expressed criticism of the abusive and intolerant
attitudes of many Israelis, or of Israeli policies, towards the Palestinian
people. Our support of an occupied, oppressed people is often mistakenly
perceived, particularly by those Jews who identify as Zionist, as anti-Semitic
sentiment.
To
equate criticism of Zionism with anti-Semitism is not only dishonest, it also
has an adverse effect for those Jews who do suffer actual intolerant,
anti-Semitic abuse which should be taken seriously. Moreover, this misplaced
accusation calls into question our own Jewishness, which we find an offensive
gesture.
equate criticism of Zionism with anti-Semitism is not only dishonest, it also
has an adverse effect for those Jews who do suffer actual intolerant,
anti-Semitic abuse which should be taken seriously. Moreover, this misplaced
accusation calls into question our own Jewishness, which we find an offensive
gesture.
Finally,
we would like to make it clear that Tommy Corbyn, son of the leader of the
Labour Party, had nothing to do with organising, producing or even promoting
the play.
we would like to make it clear that Tommy Corbyn, son of the leader of the
Labour Party, had nothing to do with organising, producing or even promoting
the play.
Sincerely,
Maddie
Boden
Eran Cohen
Edmund Dable-Heath
Hagar Geula
Juliana Morrison
Adrian Tellwright
Boden
Eran Cohen
Edmund Dable-Heath
Hagar Geula
Juliana Morrison
Adrian Tellwright
7 Jewish Children
1
Tell her it’s a game
Tell her it’s serious
But don’t frighten her
Don’t tell her they’ll kill
her
her
Tell her it’s important to be
quiet
quiet
Tell her she’ll have cake if
she’s good
she’s good
Tell her to curl up as if she’s
in bed
in bed
But not to sing.
Tell her not to come out
Tell her not to come out even
if she hears shouting
if she hears shouting
Don’t frighten her
Tell her not to come out even
if she hears nothing for a long time
if she hears nothing for a long time
Tell her we’ll come and find
her
her
Tell her we’ll be here all the
time.
time.
Tell her something about the
men
men
Tell her they’re bad in the
game
game
Tell her it’s a story
Tell her they’ll go away
Tell her she can make them go
away if she keeps still
away if she keeps still
By magic
But not to sing.
2
Tell her this is a photograph
of her grandmother, her uncles and me
of her grandmother, her uncles and me
Tell her her uncles died
Don’t tell her they were
killed
killed
Tell her they were killed
Don’t frighten her.
Tell her her grandmother was
clever
clever
Don’t tell her what they did
Tell her she was brave
Tell her she taught me how to
make cakes
make cakes
Don’t tell her what they did
Tell her something
Tell her more when she’s
older.
older.
Tell her there were people who
hated Jews
hated Jews
Don’t tell her
Tell her it’s over now
Tell her there are still
people who hate Jews
people who hate Jews
Tell her there are people who
love Jews
love Jews
Don’t tell her to think Jews
or not Jews
or not Jews
Tell her more when she’s older
Tell her how many when she’s
older
older
Tell her it was before she was
born and she’s not in danger
born and she’s not in danger
Don’t tell her there’s any
question of danger.
question of danger.
Tell her we love her
Tell her dead or alive her
family all love her
family all love her
Tell her her grandmother would
be proud of her.
be proud of her.
3
Don’t tell her we’re going for
ever
ever
Tell her she can write to her
friends, tell her her friends can maybe
friends, tell her her friends can maybe
come and visit
Tell her it’s sunny there
Tell her we’re going home
Tell her it’s the land God
gave us
gave us
Don’t tell her religion
Tell her her great great great
great lots of greats grandad lived there
great lots of greats grandad lived there
Don’t tell her he was driven
out
out
Tell her, of course tell her,
tell her everyone was driven out and
tell her everyone was driven out and
the country is waiting for us
to come home
to come home
Don’t tell her she doesn’t
belong here
belong here
Tell her of course she likes
it here but she’ll like it there even more.
it here but she’ll like it there even more.
Tell her it’s an adventure
Tell her no one will tease her
Tell her she’ll have new
friends
friends
Tell her she can take her toys
Don’t tell her she can take
all her toys
all her toys
Tell her she’s a special girl
Tell her about Jerusalem.
4
Don’t tell her who they are
Tell her something
Tell her they’re Bedouin, they
travel about
travel about
Tell her about camels in the
desert and dates
desert and dates
Tell her they live in tents
Tell her this wasn’t their
home
home
Don’t tell her home, not home,
tell her they’re going away
tell her they’re going away
Don’t tell her they don’t like
her
her
Tell her to be careful.
Don’t tell her who used to
live in this house
live in this house
No but don’t tell her her
great great grandfather used to live in this house
great great grandfather used to live in this house
No but don’t tell her Arabs
used to sleep in her bedroom.
used to sleep in her bedroom.
Tell her not to be rude to
them
them
Tell her not to be frightened
Don’t tell her she can’t play
with the children
with the children
Don’t tell her she can have
them in the house.
them in the house.
Tell her they have plenty of
friends and family
friends and family
Tell her for miles and miles
all round they have lands of their own
all round they have lands of their own
Tell her again this is our
promised land.
promised land.
Don’t tell her they said it
was a land without people
was a land without people
Don’t tell her I wouldn’t have
come if I’d known.
come if I’d known.
Tell her maybe we can share.
Don’t tell her that.
5
Tell her we won
Tell her her brother’s a hero
Tell her how big their armies
are
are
Tell her we turned them back
Tell her we’re fighters
Tell her we’ve got new land.
6
Don’t tell her
Don’t tell her the trouble
about the swimming pool
about the swimming pool
Tell her it’s our water, we
have the right
have the right
Tell her it’s not the water
for their fields
for their fields
Don’t tell her anything about
water.
water.
Don’t tell her about the
bulldozer
bulldozer
Don’t tell her not to look at
the bulldozer
the bulldozer
Don’t tell her it was knocking
the house down
the house down
Tell her it’s a building site
Don’t tell her anything about
bulldozers.
bulldozers.
Don’t tell her about the
queues at the checkpoint
queues at the checkpoint
Tell her we’ll be there in no
time
time
Don’t tell her anything she
doesn’t ask
doesn’t ask
Don’t tell her the boy was
shot
shot
Don’t tell her anything.
Tell her we’re making new
farms in the desert
farms in the desert
Don’t tell her about the olive
trees
trees
Tell her we’re building new
towns in the wilderness.
towns in the wilderness.
Don’t tell her they throw stones
Tell her they’re not much good
against tanks
against tanks
Don’t tell her that.
Don’t tell her they set off
bombs in cafés
bombs in cafés
Tell her, tell her they set
off bombs in cafés
off bombs in cafés
Tell her to be careful
Don’t frighten her.
Tell her we need the wall to
keep us safe
keep us safe
Tell her they want to drive us
into the sea
into the sea
Tell her they don’t
Tell her they want to drive us
into the sea.
into the sea.
Tell her we kill far more of
them
them
Don’t tell her that
Tell her that
Tell her we’re stronger
Tell her we’re entitled
Tell her they don’t understand
anything except violence
anything except violence
Tell her we want peace
Tell her we’re going swimming.
7
Tell her she can’t watch the
news
news
Tell her she can watch
cartoons
cartoons
Tell her she can stay up late
and watch Friends.
and watch Friends.
Tell her they’re attacking
with rockets
with rockets
Don’t frighten her
Tell her only a few of us have
been killed
been killed
Tell her the army has come to
our defence
our defence
Don’t tell her her cousin
refused to serve in the army.
refused to serve in the army.
Don’t tell her how many of
them have been killed
them have been killed
Tell her the Hamas fighters
have been killed
have been killed
Tell her they’re terrorists
Tell her they’re filth
Don’t
Don’t tell her about the
family of dead girls
family of dead girls
Tell her you can’t believe
what you see on television
what you see on television
Tell her we killed the babies
by mistake
by mistake
Don’t tell her anything about
the army
the army
Tell her, tell her about the
army, tell her to be proud of the army.
army, tell her to be proud of the army.
Tell her about the family of
dead girls, tell her their names why not,
dead girls, tell her their names why not,
tell her the whole world knows
why shouldn’t she know?
why shouldn’t she know?
Tell her there’s dead babies,
did she see babies?
did she see babies?
tell her she’s got nothing to
be ashamed of.
be ashamed of.
Tell her they did it to
themselves.
themselves.
Tell her they want their
children killed to make people sorry for them,
children killed to make people sorry for them,
tell her I’m not sorry for
them, tell her not to be sorry for them,
them, tell her not to be sorry for them,
tell her we’re the ones to be
sorry for,
sorry for,
tell her they can’t talk suffering
to us.
to us.
Tell her we’re the iron fist
now, tell her it’s the fog of war,
now, tell her it’s the fog of war,
tell her we won’t stop killing
them till we’re safe,
them till we’re safe,
tell her I laughed when I saw
the dead policemen,
the dead policemen,
tell her they’re animals living
in rubble now,
in rubble now,
tell her I wouldn’t care if we
wiped them out,
wiped them out,
the world would hate us is the
only thing,
only thing,
tell her I don’t care if the
world hates us,
world hates us,
tell her we’re better haters,
tell her we’re chosen people,
tell her we’re chosen people,
tell her I look at one of
their children covered in blood and what do I feel?
their children covered in blood and what do I feel?
tell her all I feel is happy
it’s not her.
it’s not her.
Don’t tell her that.
Tell her we love her.
Don’t frighten her.
Seven Jewish Children is Caryl Churchill’s
response to the situation in
Gaza in January
Gaza in January
2009, when the play was
written.
written.
Seven
Jewish Children first published in
Great Britain in 2009 by
Jewish Children first published in
Great Britain in 2009 by
Nick Hern Books Limited, 14
Larden Road, London, W3 7ST,
Larden Road, London, W3 7ST,
in association with the Royal
Court Theatre, London
Court Theatre, London
Seven
Jewish Children copyright © 2009
Caryl Churchill Limited
Jewish Children copyright © 2009
Caryl Churchill Limited
Caryl Churchill has asserted
her moral right to be identified as the author of this work
her moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Typeset by Nick Hern Books,
London
London
ISBN 978 1 84842 047 2
Performing Rights
Seven
Jewish Children was first
performed at the Royal Court
Jewish Children was first
performed at the Royal Court
Theatre, London, on 6 February
2009.
2009.
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