Barenboim broadcast is taken down due to antisemitic comments
NewsRadio Berlin-Brandenburg has pulled a feature about simmering discontent with Daniel Barenboim at the Staatsoper after one of the two regular presenters of the show uttered what is believed to be an anti-Jewish remark.
The station has posted this statement:
Wir haben das Audio zu diesem Beitrag depubliziert. In dem Gespräch fiel eine antisemitische Äußerung, die wir so nicht stehenlassen. Der rbb steht für Vielfalt und Demokratie – Antisemitismus hat bei uns keinen Platz. Die Veröffentlichung war ein Fehler. Wir bitten um Entschuldigung.
We have unpublished the audio for this post. An anti-Semitic statement was made during the conversation, which we will not let stand. The rbb stands for diversity and democracy – anti-Semitism has no place with us. Publishing it was a mistake. We apologise.
Apparently just one anti-semitic statement. Three questions:
1. How did it slip through the net?
2. Can the broadcast not be presented with the statement deleted?
3. What disciplinary action has been taken against the offending presenter?
1.) Apparently it was a live studio talk.
2.) Here the question seems to be rather what happened backstage.
3.) It would be a caesura, and quite a loss, if RBB will not accept further contributions from Kai Luehrs-Kaiser, or the other way round he is not interested in contributing anymore after being exposed this way. (The quoted text page remains online, still with his name.)
Is it clear who made the comment in question? If DB, that is truly unforgivable.
“…after one of the two regular presenters of the show uttered what is believed to be an anti-Jewish remark.”
I cannot imagine that presenters from RBB, a perfectly decent media organisation, in a discussion with a famous Jewish conductor, uttered antisemitic comments. It seems much more likely that some wokism was intervening which was only later detected by a woke spotter. Given the paranoid climate nowadays in Germany, Europe, America and the rest of the globe about possible offense, this is the most probable explanation – until more evidence is produced.
For instance, something like this could have happened:
(Presenter:) But how does your ideal of musical mixed collaboration tie-in with the illegal and totally destructive policies of the Israelian government?
(Woke spotter:) Ha! Antisemitism!
Even the assumption of wokism would qualify as antisemitism in today’s climate.
As the programme was about DB, it is the more likely the comment was aimed at DB. But this post is clear as mud.
Hello?? DB was not on this show!! two presentors spoke ABOUT him!!!
and one of them made this comment…
If nobody here knows what has been said, then nobody can possibly comment.
yet you did…. how ironic!
I don’t agree! everybody can do it. I comment regularly everywhere on anything without knowing what was said. It is not difficult, you have to get used to it and then it comes naturally.
Sally
Well, Sally, it does indeed come naturally to your alter ego, as his comment above demonstrates.
I agree!
Sally
Yet another regrettable example of white male cross-dressing privilege.
I know perfectly what was said- since I listened to this disgusting broadcast- the guy who commented is known for cheap and horrible comments about whoever he personally dislikes-
so- taking of the broadcast from the www is the least RBB could do in this matter…
That is completely NOT true – and you know that. May be you are an opera singer who once got a negative review from this nicely, clever, brillant guy. This broadcast was just a short interview about the situation with Barenboim in Berlin. And nobody expected that the reaction could be like that. But as I know, there were several people (I am sure: Barenboim ultras) who called the radio station with the completely silly argument, that something “antisemitic” happend in the broadcast. But again: it didn’t. He just used the words “the jewish composer Daniel Barenboim”, with no intention ever to be “antisemitic” or whatever. And: this guy is still working for the rbb (like today f.e.). So: does the rbb tolerate antisemitism? Or were the just afraid of the wrong spectators? I mean, you know: the real antisemitic people, which we all hate.
why don’t people describe others with adjective the Christian….composer
Any now a certain hollywood ‘star’ who appropriated a Jewish sounding surname is suspended from a certain American tv show for two weeks, apparently. What is the world coming to? And now the talk of war, concerning land. So we have a school system, we have people in power who went to school, what did they learn?
Much as I have always liked Whoopi Goldberg as an actress and comedian, ABC did the right thing. She was completely unable or unwilling in the aftermath to articulate clearly or intelligently what she had purportedly intended to say. She has millions of followers who should not be misinformed.
In fairness to Whoopi Goldberg, I think she was trying to make a legitimate point but did so clumsily and, perhaps, ignorantly. I gather she made an abject on-air apology, and she certainly had to be called out on it. But I doubt she has an anti-Semitic bone in her body. The suspension is perhaps more symbolic than anything else — it can hardly affect either her income or her reputation particularly badly.
The Holocaust is quite properly a very sensitive matter, especially as it is constantly under attack by so many very nasty types. People in the spotlight must take particular care when they discuss it, but it would be very nasty indeed if Whoopi Goldberg were to be lumped in with such types. I know a lot of Jewish friends who would argue this, but I think intention DOES matter. And that also applies to matters other than anti-Semitism, BTW.
She has been engaged in Jewish cosplay and cultural appropriation her entire career. Her comments regarding the Holocaust and race are the cherry on top of an unfortunate sundae of problematic statements: defending Roman Polanski (not rape rape) and Michael Vicks’ dogfighting (cultural, deep South). In her position she should be better educated and less bigoted.
The problem comes that a lot of people have been taught that being beinf Jewish is a religion, which is fundamentally wrong, and was especially wrong during the Holocaust. Now we can argue whether it’s race or ethnicity, but the term “racism” actually applies to both as per definition, and obviously the Nazis considered Jews an inferior race, so there really is no argument about this.
I would believe that she is not antisemitic if she gave up her name that she chose to advance her career. You can’t just become jewish on a whim, without also suffering the generational trauma and the shared experiences of jewish people. Also the comment that “white people were fighting each other” is outrageously wrong and heartless.
But, she could turn this wrong into a right. She can educate herself and then educate all the millions of people that listen to her from her mega platform of fame.
I totally agree. However ABC have suspended her for two weeks. I think it should be a termination.
It’s called HYPOCRISY.
No, it’s called a silly old woman who says stupid things – does that ring any bells for you?
Hillary Clinton says and does disgusting things constantly.
That’s why even the Democrats abandoned her.
The learned not to trust the enemy and if an anti-Semite threatens you he means it.
MENACHEM BEGIN: “I BELIEVE THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST ARE THESE…”
“First, if an enemy of our people says he seeks to destroy us, believe him. Don’t doubt him for a moment. Don’t make light of it. Do all in your power to deny him the means of carrying out his satanic intent.
Second, when a Jew anywhere in the world is threatened or under attack, do all in your power to come to his aid. Never pause to wonder what the world will think or say. The world will never pity slaughtered Jews. The world may not necessarily like the fighting Jew, but the world will have to take account of him.
Third, a Jew must learn to defend himself. He must forever be prepared for whenever threat looms.
Fourth, Jewish dignity and honor must be protected in all circumstances. The seeds of Jewish destruction lie in passively enabling the enemy to humiliate us. Only when the enemy succeeds in turning the spirit of the Jew into dust and ashes in life, can he turn the Jew into dust and ashes in death. During the Holocaust it was after the enemy had humiliated the Jews, trampled them underfoot, divided them, deceived them, afflicted them, drove brother against brother, only then could he lead them, almost without resistance, to the gates of Auschwitz.
Therefore, at all times and whatever the cost, safeguard the dignity and honor of the Jewish people.
Fifth, stand united in the face of the enemy. We Jews love life, for life is holy. But there are things in life more precious than life itself. There are times when one must risk life for the sake of rescuing the lives of others. And when the few risk their own lives for the sake of the many, then they, too, stand the chance of saving themselves.
Sixth, there is a pattern to Jewish history. In our long annals as a nation, we rise, we fall, we return, we are exiled, we are enslaved, we rebel, we liberate ourselves, we are oppressed once more, we rebuild, and again we suffer destruction, climaxing in our own lifetime in the calamity of calamities, the Holocaust, followed by the rebirth of the Jewish State.
So, yes, we have come full circle, and with G-d’s help, with the rebirth of sovereign Israel we have finally broken the historic cycle: no more destruction and no more defeats, and no more oppression – only Jewish liberty, with dignity and honor. These, I believe, are the underlying lessons to be learned from the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust.”
It sounds as if the whole world is driving Jewish people back into the Old testament. Antisemitism is infective sickness, obviously.
disapponted?
Anybody know what was said? It’s a shame to axe a program with such an interesting topic
The opera critic Kai Luehrs-Kaiser said, that the politicians in Berlin are afraid not to sign the next contract for Barenboim, because “the jewish conductor Barenboim is so influential”. That’s it.
Hmmm…I always thought Barenboim was Argentine.
If I’m not mistaken, DB detains 2 passports: Israeli and Palestinian. Correct me if I am wrong.
The one thing a Berlin politician will never do is something.
No thoughtful review and clear course of action designed to protect the opera house, which is what matters, will be forthcoming.
This quote plays on a cheap antisemitic trope. There is a backstory, also covered in SD, namely that DB’s contract was renewed in spite of scandals about his leadership.
The word “conductor,” unmodified, would have made the point.
A very nice, very thoughtful, Polish friend of mine once — struggling to remember the name — referred to Leonard Cohen (whose music he liked and was preparing to discuss) referred to “that Jewish singer from Montreal. My anti-Semitism detector was immediately alerted, but the moment passed. However I have been particularly alert ever since to any conversation in which someone Jewish is mentioned. I sometimes wonder which of us has more racial bias.
Once, when I was in Poland, another good friend, who works as a steward on cruise ships, came back when I was there and visiting his wife. I asked him which port on the Mediterranean cruise he had liked best, and he said, “Tel Aviv.” I must have registered surprise — I suppose I imagined he was going to say Livorno or somewhere in Greece, which he had also visited on this trip. When he smiled at me and said, “Surprised?” he was tacitly acknowledging my own wariness regarding Poles and anything Jewish.
I doubt bad intentions in either of these people.
That would be a seriously inappropriate comment under any circumstances, and especially so because it falls in line with exactly the sort of propaganda favored by the Nazis. It is only natural and fortunate that the RRB would be especially sensitive about this.
That’s quite something, no?
If that’s what he said, the it was a very unnecessary comment. Very much in line with what a certain conductor with the initials CT once said about Barenboim contract extension over 20 years ago in Berlin. What is driving these nutcases to utter such words? It is disgusting.
In the case of Daniel Barenboim it is also particularly nonsense, since DB is very much NOT supported by many Jews, who rather see in him him a traitor, since he is a strong advocate for peaceful collaboration with the Palestinians. Yes DB is very influential. Yes DB is Jewish. But no, he is not influential because he is a Jew.
Kai Luehrs-Kaiser shall be fired in my opinion.
Nobody said that he is influential because he is a jew. That‘s absolutely not true.
Danny is renowned for his Jewish jokes.
For his constant attacks on Israel, more like it. He must love Hamas!!??
When I was young, tender, impressionable and soaking up the world like a sponge, my parents, both Holocaust survivors commented and shared opinions on the perpetrators and on their experiences in Hell. Honestly, it was like living in Schindler’s list 24 hours a day. But who else could they tell? No family left at all, no real handle on English or their new “neighbors”…. so I was the chosen one. My point? You can’t teach a dog new tricks…but a pup can be molded in the wink of an eye. Moral of the story…be very careful of what you say and to whom you are saying it.
I can’t find out where the antisemitic comment was!!!
RUmors …once again!
What about Barenboim’s own anti-Semitism?
Barenboim, and anti-Zionist thinkers like him, believer that criticizing and relentlessly admonishing and bad mouthing Israel is just tough love.
First, it is NOT “anti-semitic” to deplore the actions and policies of the Israeli government. Palestinians are semites too! Second, people who so lightly throw these labels around, demonstrate all too well their own ignorance.
There are many intelligent people who disagree with you, especially many Israeli’s whose families were thrown out of the ancient arabic homelands and those who live in areas of Israel today with the threat of murder and bombing, and they have not brought this kind of Islamic muslim terror upon themselves by what the UN and Amnesty International and like minded folks call apartheid and occupation.
So the question, why mention that he is Jewish at all? What does that add to a conversation? Apart from a certain shade of something, something to enhance the word “influential”. It’s not like they couldn’t remember his name and said “You know, that Jewish conductor, whatever his name is”. We can all discuss how conductors in fact have too much influence in general, how often the orchestras hate the conductor but can’t get rid of them because of management/business/PR, and how Barenboim indeed is a huge figure in the musical world. But to make a point of him being Jewish is to make a point of him being Jewish.
It has always been clear, many Germans do not learn from their past. Shameful.
a thought not limited to just Germans….