From Slate Magazine · Alex Kirshner · · 3m
Jewish leaders celebrate Macklemore's tour removal
Major Jewish organizations pushed to blackball a rapper for Israel criticism, but rank-and-file Jews disagree with their hardline stance.
In brief
Major Jewish organizations pushed to blackball a rapper for Israel criticism, but rank-and-file Jews disagree with their hardline stance. Jewish organizational leaders are out of step with ordinary American Jews on what counts as antisemitism versus legitimate Israel criticism. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Rapper removed from Ed Sheeran tour
On September 4, Macklemore called for a free Palestine and used the words genocide and apartheid about Israel during a speech. Ed Sheeran dropped him from the tour after pressure from NFL owners.
NFL owner Robert Kraft confirmed the ban
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, confirmed he prohibited Macklemore from performing at his stadium, saying the speech would cross the line into hate speech.
“cross that line”
ADL head encouraged the blackballing
Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League publicly encouraged stadium owners to deny Macklemore a venue, then celebrated when it happened.
“Glad to see Macklemore off Ed Sheeran's tour”
Jewish groups played a risky game
By coordinating to blackball Macklemore, major Jewish organizations risked fueling antisemitic tropes about Jewish control of media and culture.
They're redefining antisemitism narrowly
These organizations frame support for Palestine as the most pressing antisemitism, a position that contradicts the views of many American Jews.
Macklemore's speech was mainstream
His September 4 speech stayed within normal bounds of debate. He explicitly said criticism of Israel is not criticism of Jewish people, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars agrees with his assessment.
“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you”
Jewish groups expanded antisemitism definition
In 2024, major Jewish organizations signed a declaration saying that demonizing or delegitimizing Israel can be antisemitic, leaving demonizing undefined and calling genocide accusations a blood libel.
Rank-and-file Jews disagree sharply
A Washington Post poll found 39 percent of American Jews agreed Israel committed genocide in Gaza and 61 percent thought it committed war crimes. Yet major organizations treat such accusations as antisemitic.
Organizations marginalized dissenting Jews
Within weeks of October 7, the Conference of Presidents called Jewish groups supporting Palestine activism useful idiots and questioned their Jewishness, starting years of internal conflict.
“useful idiots”
Connection to Israel doesn't mean support
Seventy-six percent of American Jews say Israel's existence is vital to the Jewish future, but only 36 percent say supporting Israel is extremely or very important, showing a gap between attachment and endorsement.
Organizations are out of step
Major Jewish groups claim to represent American Jews while pushing a position that contradicts what most American Jews actually believe about Israel and accountability.
Inconsistent enforcement shows the problem
Organizations pushed hard to blackball Macklemore for Israel criticism but didn't mount similar campaigns against Kanye West, who released a song called Heil Hitler in 2025.
This fracture will have consequences
The gap between organizational leadership and American Jews on Israel cannot hold indefinitely. Something will eventually have to give.
The essence
Jewish organizational leaders are out of step with ordinary American Jews on what counts as antisemitism versus legitimate Israel criticism.
