Recently, a congregant had the following experience:
Her heating system was down so she called in a technician. He was hard-working, competent and sociable. The technician commented on a menorah and other Jewish items that she had in the house. As he was finishing up, he casually mentioned that a particular business in town tried to “Jew me down.”
Ironically, this particular business is not Jewish-owned nor does it have any Jewish employees.
Fortunately, the congregant had the presence of mind, and the courage, to inform the technician that such talk was unwelcome in her home. She asked him to leave immediately.
To his credit, he soon called to apologize, confessing that he had not realized how hurtful his comments were. He mentioned that even his mother would be disappointed if she knew that he had used that ugly phrase.
I would like to call upon this community to banish this harmful and racist phrase, along with all other words and phrases that negatively stereotype any social group within the community.
It goes without saying that the use of an expression such as “Jew me down” perpetuates the dehumanization of the Jewish community and has the effect of transmitting this ugly stereotype to future generations.
Let us all resolve to avoid harmful speech in this upcoming season of communal warmth and camaraderie. When you use a racial slur, it demeans you as well as me and, most importantly, you run the risk of disappointing your mother.
Rabbi Sruli Dresdner, Auburn
Temple Shalom Synagogue Center
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