Good Jew, bad Jew

The article, "Good Jew, Bad Jew," examines the historical and contemporary weaponization of antisemitism through the lens of categorizing Jews as "good" or "bad." Historically, this division has been used to justify persecution, from Nazi Germany's brief tolerance of certain Jews to 19th-century European monarchs favoring wealthy Jewish financiers while the majority faced hostility. In Muslim-controlled lands, Jews as "dhimmis" faced varying treatment, with periods of influence sometimes leading to violent backlash, such as the 1066 Granada Massacre.

"Jewish status has never been a secure one."

Today, the "Good Jew, Bad Jew" dynamic persists, with support for Israel now serving as the primary differentiator. Anti-Zionists and radical Islamists court "good Jews" who oppose Israel to legitimize anti-Israel rhetoric and legislation, dismissing the suffering of "bad Jews" (Zionists) as deserved. The article argues that anti-Zionism fuels traditional antisemitism, citing a recent FBI report showing anti-Jewish hate crimes as two-thirds of all religion-based incidents in the U.S. The author concludes that dividing Jews has historically failed to ensure their safety and should be resisted now.