A   C o m p r e h e n s i v e   M a n u a l

for many being Jewish is an ethnicity 

M

Not openly discussing costs when

and/or culture.

planning a group activity, assuming

everyone has the necessary resources;

Jewish experience in the United States is

very diverse, although all Jews are affect 

ed by anti Semitism.  Although we may

M

Assuming that someone else should do

the drudge work, so you can be free to

think of Jews as white or middle class, in

do the more creative work;

reality there are Jews of every race and

class, from all parts of the world, reli 

gious and secular.  Many of us equate

M

Not noticing or relating to the service

workers (janitors, secretaries) around

anti Semitism with the Holocaust.  Since

you   believing your are  entitled  to

that's not happening now we don't see or

their services; 

acknowledge the subtler forms of anti 

Semitism.  Many of us may have rejected

our religious upbringing and can't under 

M

Generally believing yourself to be

stand why Jews still want to identify with

superior to poor and working class

a  patriarchal  religion.  But Jewish iden 

people; and

tity is more than a religious practice; it's

belonging to a people.  We can acknowl 

M 

Assuming certain communication

edge differences.  Saying or thinking,  It

styles ( polite,   quiet,   non emo 

doesn't matter to me that you're Jewish 

tional ) are superior.

is not a compliment.  We can educate our 

Class differences are often un named and

selves about Jewish experience, history,

un spoken, but this does not mean they

and culture; we often don't learn this in

are un real.  In the U.S. class differences

school, and it is not up to Jews to educate

are obscured.  Many of us grow up think 

us.  Specifically understanding that some

ing we're middle class, when in reality

Jews follow certain dietary rules (keeping

we're working class or upper middle

Kosher), make sure there are kosher

class.  People who don't make it are

options available if you are serving food. 

blamed for their failure, and so often feel

ashamed and bad.  Judging people by

what  status  symbols they have is a dif 

Examples of Classism

ficult habit to break.  This includes judg 

ing ourselves.  We may also judge people

M

Expecting people to be able to front

money out of their own pockets and get

by how they talk, dress, how much edu 

reimbursed later;

cation they have, or where they live.  We

can be more direct and open about mon 

ey.  We can plan events that take into

M

Valuing formal over informal educa 

tion; valuing intellectual skills over

account a range of financial situations.

practical skills; valuing head work

We can have sliding scales.  We can inter 

over manual labor;

rupt when people put down or make fun

of poor and working people.  We can con 

sider and evaluate our own sense of enti 

M

Assuming that working class people

tlement, how this affects the decisions we

are more prejudiced, unintelligent,

make and how we act.

ignorant, homophobic, etc.;

M a n a g i n g   Y o u r   G r o u p

M     7 1