While I am a fan of Stan Lee and impressed by his legacy, I am not a huge Marvel fan (although my adult son is). For the most part, I ignored Mark Ruffalo’s continuous reshaping of history through an antisemitic lens, but when over 20 Marvel actors backed the release of a terrorist, I pulled my head out of the sand. It is no shock to any of us that celebrities we once applauded or even adored have become full-blown terrorist lovers. However, when they are Marvel actors, those who appear in films based on a Jew’s creation, and who are revered by young fans, things take a dark turn. The hero becomes the villain.

The following was posted on the Instagram page @freemarwannow:

Note that the hashtags for the post include Avengers, The Avengers, Doomsday, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day; all of these are successful Marvel franchises popular with young people. Riz Ahmed even petitioned to be the new James Bond by creating his own Bond Amazon series (yes, actors have huge egos). Ruffalo has jumped on board the grift of the pro-Palestine movement by spewing Nazi-like propaganda. Brian Cox showed little hubris when he stated that he was too old and too talented to stay silent on Gaza.

The responses to the IG post are not surprising, with the majority of responders applauding their celebrity heroes and calling out the Zionist actors. It is textbook performative activism.

However, what makes this performative activism worse is the fact that these so-called “heroes” are supporting the release of “a former leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a terrorist organization that carried out many suicide bombings and shooting attacks during the Second Intifada.” https://www.jpost.com/international/article-906270

Barghouti isn’t just any terrorist - recent polls in Gaza show that he would win a Presidential election in the area if it were held today. This man is not a hero; he is a villain whose life’s work is to wound and murder Israelis and Jews.

Actors have been peddling this narrative since 10/7; they proclaim that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but a revolutionary movement. Israelis, Jews, and those with a working brain understand this is a lie. Hamas is exactly what it appears to be - a terrorist group determined to kidnap, assault, and murder innocent partygoers or Kibbutz members. There is nothing heroic about supporting a group whose sole purpose is to destroy, even at the cost of their own people.

The IG post is specific - these are Marvel stars, not just any stars. When Lee and the artist Jack Kirby created many of the Marvel comics, their intent was to have superheroes with human emotions, faults, and insecurities. Lee is quoted as saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.” When actors, who appear as heroes on the screen, support the release of a terrorist, they have shirked that power. They are no longer heroes; they are the villains.

Braden Peters, best known as Clavicular, is a problematic figure. Best known for his “looksmaxing” philosophy, which pushes young men to transform themselves (even using a hammer to transform facial bones), he has a huge following across social media platforms. Peters livestreams his misbehavior, including hitting a person with his Cybertruck, demeaning Spanish-speaking individuals, and commenting on models' bodies at NY Fashion Week (his comments can not be shared here), where he walked for the controversial designer Elena Velez. His misogynist rantings, including sexually charged rhetoric about women’s bodies, have made him a “hero” among young men who feel marginalized.

In a 2025 TikTok, he even claimed to be Jewish. Yet, he continued his antisemitic rants across his platforms.

@wpfclipsClav reveals he is jewish 😔 #clavicular #clips #clav

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In January 2026, Clavicular, along with some of his buddies, appeared at a Miami nightclub, where they shouted “Heil Hitler” while Ye’s song played in the background. Ultimately, they were banned from the club.

So, why would this Jew hating individual come to Israel, and who sponsored this trip? That is the question at the center of all of this controversy.

Clavicular’s appearance in Tel Aviv surprised many, except for Yossi Farro (@FarroYossi on X), a Hasidic Jew who travels the world asking well-known individuals to wrap tefillin. Farro is seen in a video shared across his social media platforms gifting Clavicular an OpenAI logo with the Star of David in the middle. This necklace was created by JDrip Official, best known for its Maccabee sneakers.

The love for Clavicular did not end with Farro. He appeared on Israel’s Channel 13, where he claimed he came to Tel Aviv to party and show the world how wonderful the city is. He claimed that he should be honored for “how much he has done for this country,” helping to change its negative press. When pressed to apologize for his club appearance, he ended the interview immediately and walked out, claiming the reporter was hostile and negative. Clavicular’s personality comes through the screen.

Yesterday, the “love” for Clavicular took a crazy turn when it was reported that he was hanging out with the female IDF soldier, Shira Braun, who showed him the IDF TikTok account and appeared alongside him in livestreams, where he made sexual advances. She is not alone, however. Israeli influencer Shira Klein and others also welcomed the problematic streamer. It is important to note that many did not welcome him (he was removed from a club in Tel Aviv), and that the Israeli press has been negative in their portrayal.

So, the question I have is why? Why did he come to Israel? Why did these influencers welcome him? Why do we, as Jews and Zionists, engage with those who have a history of hating us? When I was in high school, I was unpopular (an understatement), and this manifested in gym class, where I was never picked for a team. For those of you old like me, you will remember raising your hand and screaming, “pick me, pick me” in the hopes that you wouldn’t be the last one standing. The analogy to that gym class applies here. These influencers and others who have welcomed a man who has openly expressed his love for the H man are the ultimate “pick me” Jews. Ones who put influence and clout over decency and morality. Ones who will sell their ethnicity, religion, and nationhood for the highest bidder.

Does Israel have a PR problem? Yes. Is welcoming Clavicular going to change that PR problem? No. I would argue that when one welcomes a bully into their orbit, they show the world that the bully’s past actions don’t matter at all. Is forgiveness important? Yes, but not at the expense of what makes us Jews, what makes Israel our nation.

Later in life, I realized how pathetic the “pick me” individuals were in gym class; they were sheep willing to forsake their individuality to be picked. I am glad that I stood alone on that white line.

“Liam Henrie, long-time crew member and one of Clearwater’s captains last season, is missing after a military interception yesterday in international waters near Cyprus. Liam was participating in a second wave of a nonviolent humanitarian flotilla sailing to Gaza with food and medical supplies for civilians.”

https://www.clearwater.org/clearwater-blog/former-crew-member-liam-henrie-captured-from-humanitarian-aid-flotilla/

Clearwater - an organization that was supposed to focus on environmental issues in the Hudson River area - was now discussing geopolitical issues, far from their original mission. When Henrie was released, Clearwater’s press release included this:

“Clearwater remains steadfast in our solidarity with all those undertaking peaceful humanitarian action at sea.”

https://www.clearwater.org/clearwater-blog/liam-henrie-released-and-returning-to-hudson-valley/

Clearwater doubled down on its support of the Gaza Flotilla. In a May 5, 2026 article on the Kingston Wire (a local paper), noted that “Clearwater Trio Would Keep Trying to Get Food to Gaza.” The article describes the flotilla members as Clearwater crew members.

https://newsatomic.com/news/2026/05/06/clearwater-trio-will-keep-trying-to-get-aid-to-gaza/192AhW?open_comments=1

Since October 7, the majority of progressive organizations I was once a member of have become vehemently antizionist. Clearwater was simply another in a long list of organizations that would no longer welcome me as both a Jew and a believer in the right of Jewish self-determination.

Over the weekend, during Sail250, the celebration of America’s 250th birthday on NY’s waterways, the Hudson River Clearwater sloop set sail. On its masts were banners proclaiming ‘indigenous rights, racial justice and climate solutions,” and “save the Clean Water Act.” About two hours after the ship sailed, they were stopped by the Coast Guard and told they had been removed from the parade because of the political nature of their banners.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EWqDC2MqN/

One may argue that such banners are innocuous, simply the delineation of the organization’s mission. However, given the organization's actions and focus since 2023, this argument falls short.

What is heartbreaking about the antizionist rhetoric of these organizations is that it has left many of us homeless. Would I feel comfortable going to the Clearwater Festival? Most likely, if I left my Star of David at home or hid my Shalom tattoo on my right wrist. Is this paranoia on my part? Three years ago, I would say yes - that I created drama where there wasn’t any. But, at present, I (and many other Jews and allies I know) have stopped attending events where my very existence is questioned.

Was the removal of the Clearwater Sloop warranted? I will let you, the reader, decide. For now, I will listen to Pete Seeger from the confines of my home.

Why was Wiener shocked? In January 2026, during a congressional candidate forum, Wiener refused to answer the following question: Are Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide? Days later, Wiener changed his mind and uploaded an Instagram video stating that he believed Israel intended to destroy Gaza and displace Palestinians. This, in his point of view, was genocide.

Shortly after the post went viral, Wiener stepped down from the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, which he co-chaired.

Wiener, in denouncing the only Jewish state, had passed the purity test. The purity test is the newest tool in the protester's toolbox - ask a Jewish person to either say “free Palestine” or to denounce zionism, or Judaism. If they refuse to respond or do so in a manner that is unacceptable (think Jerry Seinfeld’s response), they are a “BAD JEW”. However, if they respond in an acceptable manner, such as Wiener did in the video above, they are a “GOOD JEW”.

We saw this play out in the NY primaries this week, where Brad Lander, considered a “good Jew,” beat Dan Goldman, considered a “bad Jew”. Lander has pandered to the antizionist crew for months, even reading from the Quran and meeting with the likes of Linda Sarsour. On the other hand, Goldman was denied service by Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn because he was a Zionist.

Wiener experienced two concerning incidents over the last week. First, at a Mission District bar, where he was watching a World Cup game. A man began yelling at Wiener, and then cornered him and the staffers with him. Ejected from the bar, the man waited outside for Wiener. According to Wiener’s X post, this man had verbally attacked Wiener in December 2023 at the airport, shouting about Wiener's tainted bloodline.

The second incident occurred as he was walking through San Francisco’s Dolores Park on his way to a trans-led Shabbat (Wiener is openly gay), when he was surrounded by individuals screaming antizionist and antisemitic rhetoric. The rhetoric turned physical when Wiener was pushed by the protestors. According to the news organization, The Hill, one individual stated, “you stopped being queer the moment you started supporting Israel, you piece of s-”. Ultimately, Wiener was forced to leave the park due to safety concerns.

Response to Wiener’s social media posts was quick and vicious.

Babushka’s GPU

I have less sympathy for Wiener than I want to have.

This is what he gets for laundering the genocide libel through his Jewish identity. He made his bed, now he lies in it.

He tried to purchase a moral exception (”I’m not like those other bad Jews, the evil Zios”) by trading

Dave Rubin

@RubinReport

Good luck, chump.

Kangmin Lee | 이강민

@kangminlee

lmao enjoy the monster you created

Patrick Ferguson

@Yo_Soy_Patricio

Claiming to be the victim after you helped silence pro-Palestine protesters?

You really are a scumbag

/video/

What Wiener learned (or maybe didn’t) is that he is a Jew. His response to the purity test holds no weight because, in the end, there is no good or bad. It doesn’t matter if he renounces Israel and zionism. It doesn’t matter if he protests with the pro-Palestinian side. It doesn’t matter if he has supported the LGBTQIA community. It all doesn’t matter. Because, in the end, he is a Jew, and they want all of us dead.

There is no Wizard behind the screen, no good witch versus bad witch, and the land of Oz is named Israel.

As many of us do, I doomscrolled Instagram and TikTok to find others who felt like me. After all, parasocial community is a community, right? Then, it happened - a video came across my feed that shattered all of my grief for the unrecognizable world. I watched as @james.uk.us visited Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Texas, and was shocked by the aisles of beef jerky, the indoor aquarium, and the laser rifle range. What makes the video so engaging is the cowboy hat on his head as he walks through the store's aisles. You can find this video at:

Then there’s @FreddyLA7 on X, a German traversing the country as he follows the German soccer team. His pure joy at eating In-and-Out Burgers for the first time in Houston reminds all of us that sometimes we need to view things through rose-colored glasses, even when it comes to fast-food chains. In a very American turn of events, Freddy has become a celebrity in America, gaining access to a private NASA tour, five-star hotels, and behind-the-scenes tours with sports teams.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Scottish Tartan Army's takeover of Boston, which caused the city to run out of beer. TikTok user @tartanarmyhamish shares the spirit and energy of the Scots visiting the city.

@tartanarmyhamishDANCING THROUGH THE USA. TARTAN ARMY TARTAN ARMY Oh I’m proud to be from Scotland with McTominay on the ball. Robertson with the armband on he heard big Steve Clarke’s call. It seemed to late but Tierney didnae give a FUCK. I’ll be proud to be from Scotland at the 26 WORLD CUP. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #tartanarmy #scotlandfootball #worldcup2026

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Seeing these Europeans love fast-food chains, cowboy hats, rodeos, Costco, and Walmart shifted something in me, even if it was only for a couple of hours. We take for granted the craziness, the largess, the culture, and the beauty of America. Instead, we focus on our division, forgetting that we are all America - unique, stubborn, loud, funny, welcoming, interesting, and filled with heart. It’s become “cool” to hate the country we all live in, but what if we looked at it as the Europeans have? What if we expressed wonder at the things we take for granted? What if we chose joy each day instead of hate?

As a kid, I begged my parents for sleepovers. Although I was pretty unpopular as a kid, those sleepovers were special: lying on our sleeping bags on the basement floor, eating junk food as we watched The Partridge Family, and gossiping until morning.

I suggest watching some of these videos (once you start, you may not stop) and joining the World Cup Sleepover 2026, even from afar. Even if for a moment, you may remember what it is like to feel pure, unadulterated joy.

On May 17, my account was deactivated without warning, and I received the post seen below. Let me be clear: I have never pretended to be in a relationship for financial gain, never pretended to be someone else (although my username is fictitious), and never posted misinformation or disinformation. In fact, earlier this week, I removed a post after discovering it was fabricated and apologized to my followers for my error. Accordingly, I was shocked at the decision made by some AI bot at Meta.

I do believe that I was targeted by a larger antisemitic, antizionist creator with whom I engaged (mea culpa), and for that I am accountable. These creators will send mass posts out telling their followers to dox, harass, or even threaten Jewish creators. It is not a coincidence that my account was deactivated after I questioned their post supporting the IRGC.

Normally, when one’s account is disabled, there is the ability to appeal. However, in my case (as indicated by the post), no appeal is allowed. My account is gone, and that’s that.

For two years, I have been researching and writing about Meta’s anti-Jewish, antizionist bias, a bias I believe has violated their Tier 1 and Tier 2 policies concerning hate speech. Hate speech against Jews and Zionists has been allowed to spread like wildfire, something known as the “contagion complex.” This complex argues that the wider something is shared, whether true or not, the more likely it is to be believed. For example, if Jane posts something false about John, and it goes viral, the false post becomes true to all who engaged with it. When one wonders why so many people believe tropes about Jews, the contagion complex is why.

My research has shown that Meta allows Jew hate to proliferate across their platforms, while silencing Jewish/Zionist content creators. A recent example is the content creator, Nick Matau, who lost his platform without warning earlier in the week. Matau, a pro-Israel, pro-Judaism creator, is not Jewish and had a substantial platform. Nick is not alone - numerous large accounts have either been disabled or banned permanently by Meta. What do they all have in common? They are pro-Israel and pro-Judaism. Meanwhile, the hate-filled accounts continue to thrive.

There is irony in all of this - the biggest grift on social media is the GoFundMe accounts set up by those who feel “wronged” by the big bad Zionist (see the recent Cornell student’s story). Many have reported these GoFundMe accounts as deceptive, yet they continue to receive donations.

I have never set up a GoFundMe, never asked for money from anyone on the Internet, never been a bot, and I am not a Nigerian Princess. My only crime is being Jewish.

This morning, after putting it off for over two years, I met with a psychiatrist. Working in higher education, with a focus on Holocaust education, and fighting Jew hate in academia, has taken its toll. After October 7, and a series of problematic events at my institution, I began to have extreme panic attacks. These attacks leave me unable to focus, fearful of leaving my house, and unable to function at times.

Right after they began (around October 11), my internist sent me to a therapist as he was concerned about my mental health. My internist is an Orthodox Jew, and someone who is very conscious of the concerns of his Jewish patients. However, he is part of a large medical corporation, so he had no say in who the therapist would be.

The first meeting with the therapist was fine; she performed intake, had me take the “depression” scale, and discussed coping strategies. I discussed how stressful things were at work, how my daughter-in-law’s cousins were hostages in Gaza (another story for another post), and that I was feeling fearful for my kids and grandkids. She appeared to be listening, taking notes, and nodding her head as therapists do.

Things changed, however, at our second meeting, which was virtual. She started the session by telling me how proud she was of her patients for protesting for Palestinian rights, how much she supported the pro-Palestine movement, and how much she hated Israel and Zionists. Her comments came out of nowhere as we had not started our session, and were not discussing any of these issues. She was mocking me. I was speechless, and began to feel a panic attack coming on. I asked to stop the session, and when I expressed my dismay over her comments, she laughed. The therapist, who was supposed to help me, laughed. My pain, my mental health, meant nothing to her as I was one thing, and only one thing: a Jew and a Zionist.

It shook me to my core. At that time, I never considered that a therapist would not treat me with empathy because I was a Jew. However, as of today, the reality is that Jews must question who treats them, as our lives could depend upon it. Let’s take a real-life example from a psychotherapy practice in NYC called Bloom Psychotherapy. Here are some screenshots from their website:

While the practice does not state outright that it will not take Jewish/Zionist patients, the coded language makes it pretty clear. This is a practice that has no intention of helping NYC Jews, especially those who are proud Zionists. Do they know? Is there a purity test one must take before being treated? Or is it simply assumed that every Zionist is a bad Jew, and every antizionist a good Jew? Earlier today, I was told by another Jew that any Jew who was Zionist was “bad” and that the only good Jews were those who renounced zionism. I would place a bet that the team at Bloom Therapy believes all Jews are bad and have no intention of treating them.

Is this a violation of the licensing laws? Probably, but I am not a therapist or social worker and can not comment on that. What it is, however, is a violation of the empathy and kindness one would expect from a therapist.

I expected such empathy when I entered that virtual room after October 7, but I was met with hate and venom. This is not therapeutic; it is harmful, and we are entitled to feel safe in these spaces.

Even after I reported that therapist, she remains at the practice, pushing hate on one patient at a time.

And now it's feelin' like the whole world's cursed
The devil lurks while he ushers in this hell on Earth
And a one world government's loomin' out in the distance
A New World Order is comin' for the resistance
While all we do is bicker 'til it's rippin' us apart
As the globalists controllin' us is strippin' us for parts

The track doesn’t stop there. It incorporates coded references to Jeffrey Epstein, the Illuminata and it calls for violence in the following lyrics:

And now it's feelin' like the whole world's cursed
The devil lurks while he ushers in this hell on Earth
And a one world government's loomin' out in the distance
A New World Order is comin' for the resistance
While all we do is bicker 'til it's rippin' us apart
As the globalists controllin' us is strippin' us for parts

Webby’s track has garnered over 3 million plays across the three main music platforms. Three million plays equals 3 million individuals who may now believe that Jews are devils and should be blamed for the world’s ills.

The International Legal Forum, an organization whose mission is to use the rules of law to fight antisemitism, requested that Spotify remove the track from its site. The argument put forth by the ILF is that the track furthers antisemitic conspiracy theories and is a violation of the platform’s policies. Spotify refused the request, arguing that while their policies do prohibit content that “incites violence or hatred against a protected group,” they do not police the creator (in this case, Chris Webby).

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896885

In a recent press release about their hate speech policies, Spotify stated:

At the same time, however, it’s important to remember that cultural standards and sensitivities vary widely. There will always be content that is acceptable in some circumstances, but is offensive in others, and we will always look at the entire context.

This paragraph gives Spotify the “out” - their excuse can be as simple as “different cultures, different sensitivities.”

The ILF responded on X with the following:

The International Legal Forum - ILF

@The_ILF

AI DetectedGPTZero

@Spotify

claims to ban content that incites hatred based on religion or race - yet it continues to host Chris Webby’s overtly antisemitic and violent track “Raw Thoughts VII.”

This isn’t harmless online chatter. Online antisemitism spills from the internet into campuses and streets, fueling real-world violence.

Selective enforcement renders platform rules meaningless - protecting no one.

This isn’t just dangerous for Jews. It’s dangerous for everyone.

Content creator and advocate Hen Mazzig also weighed in on X:

Of course, the Jew haters came out en masse to promote Webby and proclaim his greatness. Here is a sampling of responses to the official video on YouTube:

@IamtheResistance4228

“We’ll never really know what’s Israeli going on” is the hardest fycking bar I’ve ever heard!!!!!

@izaak457

This is more than just content, its a warning. We gotta stand up now or never

@SlightlyStitious

Redacting the lyrics was a nice touch, this shit hits it on the head with a 33lb. hammer.

@PTDBond

I don’t call webby a rapper.. I call him a revolutionary

@lunar33icious

Seven minutes of solid, unapologetic truths being dropped like fire from the sky. Awesome.

@PunkRock.101

This song is our battle cry. United we stand.

Note the references to the song as “a warning” and “a battle cry.” That language promotes violence. Jew hate becomes a “revolution.”

What’s even more concerning is that Spotify has been here before. When Ye released his antisemitic tracks and demonized Jews in public forums, numerous organizations requested that Spotify remove the tracks. Spotify’s response was as follows (to Reuters):

Ek told Reuters that those remarks are “just awful comments,” but he cautioned that Spotify would not remove his content because they were not made on the platform itself.

“It’s really just his music, and his music doesn’t violate our policy,” Ek told the outlet.

https://www.wtnh.com/news/national/spotify-chief-ye-antisemitic-comments-were-awful-but-music-wont-be-pulled/

Jew hate (I don’t think antisemitism is a strong enough word at this juncture) has become cool, and a means to gain clout (and in Webby’s case, three million plays). When a song becomes a tool to further conspiracy theories and to further blood libel, it is no longer just a song. It is a call to violence.

Spotify should be ashamed.

One of her more concerning posts focuses on her belief (and she claims she has evidence) that her opponents are being funded by Zionists. The caption to this video states the following:

“When Zionists kill Semites all over the Middle East, that is anti-Semitic. All politicians who have been associated with Israeli money must be tried for treason.”

She takes her claims one step further by arguing (don’t be shocked, my friends) that real Jews aren’t Zionists. Let’s look at some screenshots from her Instagram:

Although she posts images of herself with captions that say “anti-zio is not anti-semitic,” she includes music that is pure Jew hate, calling for the killing of Zionists. In addition, she calls the city of San Antonio “Israel’s biggest sugar daddy.” If this isn’t bad enough (the word zio is a David Duke original), she has a list of Zionists she hates, including Peter Holt, the owner of the San Antonio Spurs. In one post, she uses the blood libel trope, calling Holt a looter who takes profits from citizens.

The argument that Zionists are bad and Jews who aren’t Zionists are good is simply an attempt at “absolution,” where the individual is justifying their Jew hate. The fact that the Democratic Party has not only enabled this but has platformed a person like Galindo is a pattern. Galindo is not alone - the party has made Jew hate and antizionism a part of their platform.

Years ago, my father (may his memory be a blessing) and I had an argument about his conservative, ultra Republican views. I was progressive and fought for the rights of every oppressed group, and I couldn’t grasp his belief system. My dad told me that one day I would understand why he believed what he did. Today, after looking at Galindo’s Instagram, it might be the day he was talking about.

• Iran’s nuclear program remains, but it must be completely dismantled

• A reduction of American financial support for Israel’s military is a long-term goal

• The war is not over

• Trump met with and continues to strategize with Israel

Netanyahu noted that the world must understand that Iran’s intent is “not merely death to Israel but death to America, that’s what they want to achieve.”

Of course, one must recognize that many disagree with Bibi’s policies, as they have a right to do. This writer has no intent of dissecting the nuances of Middle Eastern politics (it would take a decade to do so). However, the reactions on social media were not simply disagreement with a political figure. The reactions furthered the conspiracy theory that Israel determines every decision the US makes, both at home and overseas.

Let’s look at some of the reactions on Facebook.

David Smith posted the following:

The first response, one that threatens the life of the Israeli leader, remains after being reported numerous times.

Now, let’s look at another post (split into two images) that not only furthers the conspiracy that Israel controls America (the media, politicians, and pandemics), but it also claims that Israel had a hand in the spread of the hantavirus on the cruise ship. Meet Sherry Lynn:

Finally, let’s take a look at user Bablyonbibi, whose entire account is focused on Jew hate.

*************************************************************************************************************

A recurring trend across social media is what I call the “damned if we do, damned if we don’t” paradigm. Simply put, it is the idea that whatever a Jew/Zionist/Israeli says is immediately dismissed. Nothing we can say or do will change the view of the content creator, and their audience as their minds were made up before they engaged. There is no dialogue, no determination of facts, no critical response other than “the Jews own America” and “Bibi pulls Trump’s strings”. When one attempts to respond with a semblance of calm and grace, one is attacked viciously; we have become the fodder for every ailment begetting mankind.

The fact that social media relies on the “contagion complex,” where misinformation and disinformation can spread quickly through reposting and commenting, allows these dangerous arguments to further. After seeing twenty posts that state the exact same thing, the “viewer” starts to believe what they are reading. If twenty people believe the same thing, it must be true.

The challenge is this - how do we fight against this when no one is willing to listen to another side, another way of thinking? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The full transcript is available at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/read-the-full-transcript-of-major-garretts-interview-with-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-here/.

Goldberg-Polin and her husband became the face of the Bring the Hostages Home movement. With incredible fortitude and grace, they toured the world sharing Hersh’s story and begging for his return. I was privileged to see them speak at the Israel on Campus Coalition Conference last September. The suffering of these parents was palpable (almost unbearable); yet, they spoke to hundreds of young people with strength and resilience.

When the Facebook post appeared, my stomach sank. Of course, there would be positive responses, but after analyzing thousands of social media posts over the last year, I knew what was coming. Cue the Jew haters.

Trigger warning because the responses I am about to share are shocking in their lack of empathy and their vile hatred.

To place these in context, many were responses to a post by user Effy Miranda, who expressed sympathy for Rachel. Nothing in her post mentioned Jews or Israel.

The original post is below (italics used were not in the FB post):

Effy Miranda

I just saw her interview on TV yesterday with Anderson Cooper. The story of her son hit me hard back in 2023. I have a son about his age.

In this recent interview, she said something to the effect that she only had one child because somehow the universe found the perfect person for her to bring into the world. That’s exactly how I feel about my son and I cried so many tears for hers.

God be with you, Rachel. You are so strong.

Now, let’s look at the responses:

Deirdre Mary

Effy Miranda Did you cry for the murdered Palestinian children? Or is your empathy selective and reserved for one side only?

Jamie Liu

Effy Miranda oh gosh...you would’ve cried watching the story about Ali Dawsbsheh...poor boy was only 18 months old. Burnt to death along with his parents, in their own home......by illegal settlers. You would’ve cried watching these old ex soldiers talking on a documentary that they screened on their own network stations, The Massacre of Tantura....Laughing away about how they r@ped young girls, then slaughtered them, then buried them and then took their homes. Thing is Iffy, Iffy...this happened a very long time ago. Thing is it’s been happening since 1948 when they stepped off that boat as immigrants and its never stopped. Your ears pricked up on Oct 7th 2023 only. These atrocities have been happening since day 1. They knew there’d be resistance sooner or later, but they present it to people that can’t think for themselves as terrorists....because they know you won’t actually do any thinking on the subject.

Then there was this meme, inferring that Rachel was simply “acting” when discussing her son. The lack of a moral compass is terrifying.

Nile Rivera

Aadar Atreya

How to get this bs off my feed? Anyone? Tired of these non sense news articles

Evan Alexander Birdell Harp

If only she knew peace and taught her son to love others instead of teaching his hatred and racism.

This loss is tragic, but I’m sure she learned a valuable lesson about the horrible lessons she raised her children with.

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Loss of a child’s life during a conflict will always challenge us, force us to look at our own beliefs and values. But, what if the moral compass is so broken that you can’t (or won’t) find empathy for a mother who has lost her child, simply because she is Jewish?

And, yes, I do have empathy for every child lost in war. Every single one.

The fact that the video is from 2019 and that the burning of the effigy was condemned does not appear on any of the new X posts sharing this video. In fact, many believe it is a contemporary video and are applauding its content.

While this is not shocking considering the climate we live in, what did shock me was the use of the Borat video titled “Throw the Jew Down the Well” by numerous creators as a response to the original post. These creators shared the video as evidence that Jews should be thrown down the well (literally and physically), and that artists such as Borat agree. No mention in any of the posts that Borat is a character played by Sacha Baron Cohen, in an ironic/sarcastic attempt to show how ridiculous this concept/wish is. In fact, one response (see below) argued that Borat is the real person, and Sacha Baron Cohen is the character.

When one goes to the original video clip on YouTube (posted by @Darth Yucko with over 5k subscribers), the following responses are found:

@Who-whatwhere1

7 months ago

More relevant now than ever before

@satiroglu44

7 months ago

I just genuinely love this song.

@colbyroe3334

3 weeks ago (edited)

Shockingly accurate performance in 2026

@mickbolton2276

1 month ago

Less teeth in that crowd than a shattered gearbox!

@Afrologist

4 years ago

Borat telling us how to fix 90% of our nations’ problems: tackling infrastucture and the smallhats.

@bradleyrivera3529

2 years ago

They should play this at Oakland A’s games in place of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”

@Opin-m5j

1 month ago

This song is so profound, and the solution to all the problems of the world and not having a big party one finds a plethora of responses:

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According to Merriam-Webster, “sarcasm is the use of words that mean the opposite of what one intends to say, especially in order to insult, to show irritation, or to be funny: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on ironic and usually bitter and caustic language often directed against an individual.” This was Cohen’s intent when he created the character: to play a character that was so outlandish that viewers would laugh at the stupidity. However, what is clear in recent social media posts on X and on YouTube is that those who hate Jews fail to view the Cohen video as what it is: sarcasm.

In a 2024 interview on the Conan O’Brien show, Cohen discussed the dangers of playing this character, as many see him as real. Certainly, those who posted and shared the video as a means of furthering Jew hate seem to believe the video’s message: destroy all Jews by whatever means necessary.

We have come to the juncture where sarcasm is not only misunderstood but is seen as true and real, and is being inverted to further Jew hate online.

As with many Jew hate-focused posts, these posts included blood libel, tropes, and reference to Israel. The post below is a sample:

The original creator of this hate filled post decided they would bypass Meta moderation of hate speech by writing in numerous languages (English and French seen in this screenshot). In any language, the intent of the post is clear: to “tag” diaspora Zionists with some type of mark so others could easily identify those who support Israel. What makes this post especially interesting is the use of “Judeo” before Zionist (“judeo-Zionist), indicating that the creator wants all Jews to be marked or tagged. Such a post contradicts the argument by many in the antizionist movement who argue that they don’t hate all Jews, they only hate zionists. Although, we normally see the term Judeo in combination with Christian (i.e. Judeo-Christian), Judeo is a prefix, referring to those who connect to or identify themselves as Jewish.

David Duke, former grand wizard of the KKK, pushed the use of “zio” rather than Jew to avoid detection by social media moderators. Since its initial use, “zio” has become the code word for Jews, Zionists, and allies who believe in Judeo-Christian values, and, in many instances, the state of Israel. Although social media platforms are aware of the perjorative nature of this term, it remains unchecked across all platforms. It has also taken a new form: the “zio nazi.”

For Jews, any reference to Nazism triggers an emotional response. We know what happens when hate goes unchecked. Those that spew this term are determined to dehumanize the experience of our ancestors during the Holocaust, arguing that we are the new Nazis. Make no mistake - this is not concern for Gazans. It is pure, unadulterated hate. Let’s look at an example from Crescent International which proclaims itself to be the “newsmagazine of the Islamic movement.” TRIGGER WARNING

Ayman Ahmed writes:

“Zio-Nazis’ (or zionist-Nazis) ongoing genocide in Gaza killing women and children has outstripped the Nazis’ barbarism in Germany. Adolf Hitler was driven by the notion of German nationalism and the racist ideology of Aryan superiority. Rightly or wrongly, he held the Jews responsible for Germany’s economic and financial woes.”

https://crescent.icit-digital.org/articles/zio-nazis-surpass-hitler-s-nazis-in-barbarism

Ahmed’s post includes the hateful term, while “z-tagging” Jews for Germany’s economic and financial fall. Note that Ahmed does not include Israel in this post, removing the mask of those that argue Zionists are bad, Jews who aren’t Zionists are good.

Another instance where once coded speech is no longer coded. The terminology is clear, and a violation of Meta’s Tier 1 policy.

On March 28th, in a Facebook post, notorious antisemite Norman Finkelstein wrote,

“This is why there is so much hate for the ZIONIST JOOS... showing RESPECT costs NOTHING when you go travelling” (Note, traveling was misspelled in the post).

This post was in response to a video that allegedly showed Jewish schoolchildren creating a Jewish star out of rocks while on a trip. While the video is clearly AI-generated, Finkelstein felt compelled to not only respond but to use a term that is a designated form of hate speech (see the ADL report on online antisemitism, 2023). Finkelstein, however, is not the only one who has used this term.

When checking the Urban Dictionary, one finds the following definition:

a word you can use instead of ‘’jews’‘ when you want to be racist but you don’t want to be zucced (also it sounds funny)

- hey i am having a history quiz and i am stuck in this question. ‘’who got kicked out of 109 countries?’‘ can you help me?
- it’s the joos

In a phenomenal YouTube video, creator Tinashe Peter discusses the Jew hate he has received since posting his disgust with antisemitism. Peter, a Black American, describes comments on both his Instagram and YouTube that include statements such as “blame the joos.” Peter is not Jewish or Israeli, yet he receives death threats for supporting the Jewish community.

Let’s look at an example that, in my opinion, clearly violates Meta’s Tier 2 policies against hate speech (see my last article for more details). In a Facebook post dated January 31, 2025, a user named EXPOSINGTHELIESINQURAN writes the following:

According Talmud you allow to kill non joos and r*p* none joos

The user doesn’t stop at the misspelling but includes a video of an Israeli cult leader being arrested, and the following image (trigger warning):

While the user led with his use of “joos”, the attached video and meme move the coded word to a violation of the Meta policies by being both false information, hateful language, and potentially a call to violence.

When singer Hakol Sababa, creator of Jewish and Israeli AI content, posted a satirical YouTube video titled “It’s da Jooz!” in November of 2025, the video was massively reported and removed from the platform. Sababa appealed, arguing that the video was poking fun at those who used the words, he won, and reposted the video with a disclaimer. Unfortunately, if I repost the video, I will lose this Substack.

Misspelling Jews is another way to bypass Meta's moderation on its platforms, especially with the recent move to AI moderation.

Next time, I’ll take a deep dive into the use of ZioNazi, something I’ve been called more times than I can count.