The excerpts below have been edited for clarity and length. Mickie Weiss said she considered the bomb threats and building evacuations she lived through while working for a Jewish organization, but decided they were ultimately not as hurtful as what she experienced as a social-j ustice activist over the last 20 years. Many had been told they do not look or act Jewish, whatever those mean. Many had overheard offensive remarks because they were not visibly Jewish. Several military veterans shared harsh encounters several civilians spoke of love spurned or dates gone awry. Some were harassed online or attacked physically in just the last few years. Some recalled being denied access to jobs, college admissions, neighborhoods or clubs back in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. I invited readers to share their worst-ever antisemitic experiences, and a flood poured in: 197 by Sunday morning, more than 44,000 words worth. Ten days ago, I wrote a column about the most antisemitic thing that had ever happened to me, which was when a drunk British barrister said he should have figured I’d be the one to cut a buffet line, because I’m Jewish. Even more recalled someone bragging about having “Jewed down” an opponent in negotiations. Many reported being asked about their horns - not in a joking way. There were dozens of stories - dozens! - of being called a dirty Jew or a Christ-killer, mostly in the tender days of elementary school.
