Last month The Anti-Defamation League condemned Glenn Beck for comments he made about Reform Judaism. Speaking on his radio show, Beck dismissed the branch as akin to “radicalized Islam.” Reform rabbis, he said, “are generally political in nature. It’s almost like Islam, radicalized Islam in a way.”
Abe Foxman at ADL responded:
“Glenn Beck’s comparison of Reform Judaism to radical Islam demonstrates his bigoted ignorance. Despite his feeble attempt to suggest that he was not equating Reform Judaism with Islamic extremist terrorism, the simple fact that he would mention them in the same breath is highly offensive and outrageous…Glenn Beck has no business discounting the faith of any people, and he should think twice before commenting on something he doesn’t know much about. He owes the Reform movement an apology.”
It’s a good thing that the ADL, according to its website, “fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad.” As Congressman Peter King, the Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, opens hearings that he has said will address exclusively the “radicalization of the American Muslim community and homegrown terrorism,” can we look forward to this statement from Foxman?
“Peter King’s comparison of the American Muslim community to homegrown terrorism demonstrates his bigoted ignorance. Despite any feeble attempt to suggest that he is not equating Islam with Islamic extremist terrorism, the simple fact that he would mention them in the same breath is highly offensive and outrageous. Peter King has no business discounting the faith of any people, and he should think twice before commenting on something he doesn’t know much about. He owes the American Muslim community an apology.”
I’m not holding my breath. So far, not one major Jewish American organization has has spoken out against the hearings or signed on to this letter from 51 faith, civil rights and human rights organizations opposing them.
Amy Kaplan is a professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania
