By MADISON KANE and WILLA LEFKOWICZ
In recent months, students at Jericho High School have been reacting to increased amounts of antisemitism due to Kanye West’s controversial social media outbursts. The rapper, who has a large and devoted following, has used his platform to spread conspiracy theories and promote misinformation about Jews. The situation has caused concern among students and Jews in the Jericho community.
Students at Jericho High School agree that Kanye does not understand the magnitude of the comments he posts about Jews. Freshman Achura A. said, “His comments are disgusting, and he doesn’t understand his influence on the kids in our grade and generation.”
On the other hand, there are students who choose not to acknowledge the rapper’s remarks. Freshman Mason S., who is Jewish and a major fan of Kanye, isn’t alarmed by the rapper’s problematic statements. “I don’t care what he says and it doesn’t matter,” Mason said.
Unlike Mason, senior Logan D. does care about Kanye’s remarks but will not let that affect his listening to the artist’s music. “The transition to blocking Kanye’s music would be very difficult for me. I couldn’t imagine myself never listening to his songs again, since I consider many of his older songs classics in the genre of pop music.”
Sophomore member of the Jewish community and former Kanye fan Max S. will no longer listen to the artist’s music. “In terms of his music, it’s made songs that I once found happiness in virtually unlistenable without thinking of antisemitism. He’s no longer a public figure who does crazy things to laugh at. His actions now have serious consequences in my mind, as a harmful person and not a figure,” Max said.
Rabbi Jack Dermer from Temple Beth Torah in Jericho feels strongly that the Kanye West’s social media comments should inspire Jewish teens to uplift and support the Jewish religion. “Few can succeed against the many. If we have the courage to stand up, we can do wonderful things,” he said.
Rabbi Dermer was taken aback when Kanye’s comments were brought to his attention. He feels that the way Kanye attacks the Jews is a very dated trope. He said, “These are tropes that have been used by the Nazis. Before the Nazis, all the way back to Pharaoh in Egypt, claiming that the Jews are too powerful, and therefore they must be stopped. So that’s, in a nutshell, what we’re seeing. It’s very ugly, it’s very sad, and most importantly, it’s very dangerous.”
The effect of West’s words and actions have made members of the Jewish community feel unsafe in places where they once felt comfortable. Junior Rayna G. said, “I never used to be scared to be Jewish, but now I am scared because Kanye influences so many little kids, and they listen to whatever he says.”
Rabbi Dermer has witnessed his congregants experience verbal abuse following services directly outside the temple. The rabbi wants to implement higher security at Temple Beth Torah to ensure the members’ protection. “I’ve heard stories of people leaving the temple on the high holidays wearing a yarmulke and getting yelled at by people driving down the street. We are affected by it,” he said.
Rabbi Dermer remains on high alert. He added, “I worry every time I get on the bema, that someone’s going to walk into the synagogue and point a gun at me.”