This book is a celebration of Jewish racial diversity and a tirade against Jewish Euro-centrism, which places Ashkenazi Jews at the top of the Jewish hierarchy while marginalizing Jews of color.
Drawing on her work as an anti-racism activist as well as a series of interviews with other activists seeking to carve out space for non-Ashkenazim in the Jewish mainstream, Kaye/Kantrowitz argues convincingly that the Jewish world would benefit from a more inclusive attitude toward Jews of color. She calls this ideology of Jewish multiculturalism Diasporism and advocates radical Diasporism — the deliberate crossing of racial borders within the Jewish world — as a potent weapon against racism, including anti-Semitism.
Throughout the book, the author conjures a wonderfully rich and varied view of how the Jewish world would look if it “welcomed the stranger” in a genuine and meaningful way. Unfortunately, the picture is marred by her treatment of Israel — the greatest example of Jewish diversity in the world. The author completely ignores the cultural contributions of Israel’s many minority communities, focusing entirely on their negative encounters with Ashkenazim. Bibliography, notes.
