Off-White: The Truth About Antisemitism

(Hardback)

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From Diane Abbotts recent letter in the Observer, to Whoopi Goldbergs assertion that the Holocaust wasnt about race, it still seems that no one can agree on what antisemitism actually is. Is it racism Religious persecution Prejudice More questions swiftly arise: Arent jews white Is the Labour party antisemitic Whats the difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism Picking apart these claims and counterclaims, Rachel Shabi provides a comprehensive analysis of contemporary antisemitism. Reflecting on its various and nebulous forms, Shabi demonstrates how this quagmire of confusions, conspiracies and misinformation is by design. And how there might be a hopeful way forward for progressive politics.

Reviews

'I am so grateful toRachelShabi for this supple, generous and original investigation into the uses and abuses of antisemitism. Faced with surging fascism, she makes an urgent case for a form of multiracial solidarity that is capable of holding and understanding our profound differences, while requiring no ones self-negation. I cannot wait for Off-White to be read, debated and put into practice.' Naomi Klein, author of Doppelganger

'Wise, thoughtful and engaging, this is a great book, that navigates complexity with sensitivity and intelligence. It's an invaluable guide for anyone who seeks to understand issues over which we stumble far too often.' George Monbiot

'The rise in antisemitism in recent years should concern us all. In a necessary exploration, Rachel Shabi asks the questions that few seem willing to address: why has antisemitism become such an Achilles Heel for the left,why is there little attention given to right-wing antisemitism and how can progressives build more inclusive anti racist politics.' Billy Bragg

'A masterpiece defined by moral clarity, humanity and insight, which injects what seem like impossible nuances in one of the most fraught discussions of our time. That rare book in the bleakest moment one that educates, and one that offers hope.' Owen Jones

'Rachel Shabi is deeply knowledgeable, across the territories of prejudice from the modern far-right to the near-historical left, and interweaves the personal and political with assurance, humour, passion and love. This is a challenging and nuanced book; an urgent read but also an enormously enjoyable one.' Zoe Williams

'Incisive, principled, engaging. With a generous spirit and a humane compass, Rachel Shabi guides us through a minefield.' Gary Younge

'While you probably wont agree with everything in this timely book, it will force you to look at contemporary antisemitism, post October 7, in a deeper way. Shabi rejects the simplified, amplified story of us and them, heroes and villains, good and evil. She also tackles another binary and its implications: Jews are seen by some as simply white and by others as anti-white. Shabi calls out antisemitism on the political right and left, and makes the case that fighting antisemitism is, at heart, a progressive cause.' Kenneth S. Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate

'Moving deftly between history and the present day, and engaging with an array of voices and forces, from evangelical Christian Zionists to the anti-Zionist Left, Rachel Shabi explores and explains why the issue of antisemitism divides the Left today. Written in the context of Israels war on Gaza, a sharp rise recorded antisemitic incidents across the globe, and fierce debates over what actually counts as antisemitism,Off-Whiteis essential reading for anyone who thinks our response to antisemitism requires better thinking and a better politics.' David Feldman, Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism

'There is no better guide than Rachel Shabi to this vital and widely misunderstood issue. A thoughtful and compelling examination of one of the most polarising issues in the world today. Shabi shows why progressives and the left need to tackle this issue as part of a more genuinely inclusive antiracist struggle.' Chris Doyle, Director of Caabu (Council for Arab-British Understanding)

'Over the last few years, some on the left, inside and outside the Labour Party, have not only denied individual instances of antisemitism questioned whether it really exists at all. Meanwhile, much of the right and indeed the leadership of the Labour Party has used it as a cudgel to attack both the left and those expressing solidarity with Palestinians, while ignoring not just far-right antisemitism but the antisemitic roots of much supposedly mainstream anti-immigration ideology both here and abroad. Rachel Shabis cogent and succinct explanation of these trends is not just well-argued, but deeply personal, and an invaluable guide to progressives who - whether Jewish or not who seek a way through this impasse.' Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, KCL

Author Bio

Rachel Shabi is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor for the Guardian. She has also written for the New York Times, Independent, New Statesman, Al Jazeera and The Times. In 2011 she was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Journalism and her last book, Not the Enemy: Israel's Jews from Arab Lands, won a National Jewish Book Award.