Humans of New York, the widely followed photojournalism project with nearly 30 million social media followers, recently featured members of Neturei Karta, a fringe Orthodox Jewish group known for its outspoken anti-Israel stance. Accompanying the photo, the post author declared support for the Palestinian people and for “Jewish people worldwide who are embarrassed and appalled by what is being done in their name.”
In the past, Neturei Karta leadership has met multiple times with the leaders of Iran, an Islamic theocracy and Israel’s chief regional adversary, including with former President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied the Holocaust. The group faced particular backlash, as well as condemnation from other Orthodox Jewish leaders, for appearing at an Iranian conference centered on Holocaust denial in 2007.
Here’s my take: Humans of New York misrepresented the Jewish community by platforming Neturei Karta. They are a fringe group widely rejected by mainstream Judaism, presented as if they speak for all Jewish people.
One commenter captured the concern well, writing: “Wow, this is embarrassing tokenization. This is a tiny, extreme, and racist sect of Judaism that is rejected by nearly every Jew in America.”
In an age of viral content and curated narratives, it’s more important than ever for us to think critically, fact-check, and seek out the broader truth behind what we read and see online, especially about Israel and the Jewish people.
