"I Was Wrong About Anti-Semitism": Sheryl Sandberg
Overview
In this episode of the "Honestly" podcast, host Bari Weiss interviews Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook (now Meta), about her documentary "Screams Before Silence" and her evolving perspectives on anti-Semitism following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. The conversation covers the sexual violence committed during the attack, the silence and denial from various groups and individuals, and the broader implications for Jewish identity and global attitudes towards Israel and Jews.
Key Points
Sandberg's documentary exposes the sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7th
The silence and denial from feminist organizations and progressive groups
The rise of anti-Semitism and its impact on Jewish identity
The changing political landscape for liberal Jews
The need for education and open dialogue about Israel and anti-Semitism
Detailed Discussion
1. Sandberg's Documentary on Hamas' Sexual Violence
Sandberg discusses her motivation for creating "Screams Before Silence," which documents the sexual violence committed by Hamas during the October 7th attack. She emphasizes the importance of exposing these atrocities and the shock at the lack of response from many feminist and human rights organizations.
Notable Quotes:
"What I found I mean, there was so much to be surprised about. Right? We could talk all day about it. But what I found the single most surprising thing is in the weeks that were following, people started coming out with what I thought was just clear evidence that this wasn't just mass murder, but there was rape. Women found naked, bloodied. Over and over, the stories were coming out. And what I then expected to happen is people to say, oh, my god. Rape is never supposed to be used as part of war. No sexual violence as part of conflict. And it just wasn't happening."
— Sheryl Sandberg
2. Silence and Denial from Feminist Organizations
The conversation highlights the unexpected silence or delayed responses from prominent feminist and human rights organizations regarding the sexual violence committed by Hamas. This silence is contrasted with these organizations' typical stances on sexual violence in other contexts.
Notable Quotes:
"I checked ahead of this conversation some of the most important feminist organizations in the country and what they've said since October 7th. The National Organization For Women only made a statement 2 months after the fact did not mention Hamas. UN Women, a group whose mission is to create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights, waited 55 days. The international committee of the Red Cross has said nothing. I could go on like the like, literally do that for 3 hours."
— Bari Weiss
3. Rise of Anti-Semitism and Its Impact
Sandberg discusses her realization about the prevalence of anti-Semitism and how it has affected her worldview and Jewish identity. She expresses surprise at finding herself speaking out against anti-Semitism, something she hadn't anticipated doing before October 7th.
Notable Quotes:
"I thought anti-semitism was a relic. And I have had a conversation. I had a conversation with a friend of mine. It just happened. I was on a walk with a really close friend who's not Jewish, and I what came out of my mouth, like, a month afterwards was, are you gonna hide me?"
— Sheryl Sandberg
4. Changing Political Landscape for Liberal Jews
The conversation explores how the events of October 7th and the subsequent reactions have challenged the political identities of many liberal Jews, including Sandberg herself. They discuss the difficulty of reconciling support for Israel with traditional liberal values in the current political climate.
Notable Quotes:
"I think a lot of women who maybe feel politically homeless right now and maybe especially since October 7th, feel like okay there's one group of people who I detest on their domestic policy, but I really like what they're saying in terms of the women that are being held hostage right now by Hamas. And there's another group of people who are completely silent on this foreign issue that feels extremely intimate to me, but have policies that I really like on things like choice and abortion."
— Bari Weiss
5. Need for Education and Open Dialogue
Sandberg emphasizes the importance of education and open dialogue about Israel, anti-Semitism, and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She argues for the need to break down simplistic narratives and foster more nuanced understanding.
Notable Quotes:
"I think what we are teaching people to do is not talk to each other, not listen to each other, not have real debates. And I think that's what has to happen. And I'm hoping, still hoping, and there has been some movement, there really has, that people will look at this issue because this is such an, in my view, an easy one."
— Sheryl Sandberg