# ‘It’s A Shanda to Use Jewish Identity’ To Commit Genocide

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHmOe4RbxMs
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/xHmOe4RbxMs
Generated: 2025-11-07T15:02:47.03+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The artist Iliana asserts that using Jewish identity as a shield to commit genocide, which she defines through actions like starvation, poisoning water/air, separating families, murder, and rape, is a "shanda" (a shame), arguing that a government's fundamental job is to create social safety nets ensuring basic human rights, not enabling such atrocities.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker, an artist, defines genocide not just as mass killing but as a set of weapons including starvation, poisoning water/air, separating families, murder, and cutting off healthcare access.
- She states that utilizing Jewish identity as a shield to facilitate genocide is a "shanda" (a shame), a term she contrasts with the simplistic binary of Zionist/anti-Zionist.
- The biggest determining factor or "dial" for genocide is time, implying that its slow execution allows it to be normalized or dismissed.
- The core responsibility of a government is to establish social safety nets so that everybody can have their basic human rights met.
- The speaker expresses confidence in her capacity as an artist, writer, and producer to create work for herself and others, citing the enjoyment of working with talented people on projects like *Good Night, and Good Luck*.
- The host mentions that non-Jewish artists, like Mark Ruffalo, have also spoken out on behalf of Palestine, relating this to a similar concept of "shanda" observed in Jewish artists speaking out in Hollywood.

![Screenshot at 00:00: The artist, Iliana, wearing glasses and speaking into a microphone, introduces her perspective by stating her belief that using Jewish identity to commit genocide is a 'shanda'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-00.png)

**Context:** This video appears to be an excerpt from an interview or podcast, likely on the Zeteo platform, featuring an artist (Iliana) discussing the moral and ethical implications of political conflict, specifically criticizing the use of identity politics to justify violence, which she terms genocide. The discussion centers on the concept of 'shanda' (shame) in this context and critiques the forced political binary facing individuals, especially those within the Jewish community.

## Detailed Analysis

The artist argues against the reduction of complex political issues into a simple binary, specifically contrasting the forced choice between being a Zionist or an anti-Zionist with the gravity of genocide. She explicitly states that using Jewish identity as a shield to commit genocide is a "shanda," or a shame, in Yiddish. She defines genocide broadly as a set of weapons used against a population, including starvation, poisoning water and air, separating families, murder, rape, and cutting off access to healthcare, emphasizing that 'time' is the biggest dial for genocide, suggesting that prolonged suffering or slow processes can normalize the atrocity. The speaker contrasts this with what she believes a government should do: create social safety nets to ensure everyone's basic human rights. She also reflects on her role as an artist, writer, and producer, stating she feels confident in creating work for herself and others, enjoying the collaboration with talented people, referencing the film *Good Night, and Good Luck*. The host then brings up that non-Jewish artists, like Mark Ruffalo, have also spoken out for Palestine, connecting this back to the concept of shame ("shanda") for Jewish artists who speak out, and asks if the artist has faced censorship or career repercussions for her views.

### Genocide Definition and Critique

- Genocide is a set of weapons used against a population, including starvation, poisoning water/air, separating families, murder, and cutting off healthcare access
- The biggest dial for genocide is time, suggesting a spectrum of execution
- Using Jewish identity as a shield to achieve genocide at any point on the spectrum is a 'shanda' (shame).

### Role of Government

- A government's job is to take care of its people at a basic level by creating social safety nets that guarantee basic human rights
- Governments can do this, rather than enabling genocide.

### Artistic Identity and Career Concerns

- The speaker loves being a vessel for someone else's vision but feels confident in her capacity to create work for herself and others
- The host mentions that Jewish artists speaking out in Hollywood face criticism, citing a similar concept of 'shanda' and asking about censorship attempts and career worries.

### Contextual References

- The discussion references a Zeteo podcast episode 'Beyond Israelism' featuring Simon Zimmerman
- Mark Ruffalo is mentioned as a non-Jewish artist who has spoken out for Palestine.

![Screenshot at 00:00: The artist, Iliana, introduces her main thesis, stating it is a 'shanda to use Jewish identity to commit genocide'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-00.png)
![Screenshot at 00:09: Iliana states that the binary of 'Zionist or an anti-Zionist' is being forced upon people in a situation that constitutes genocide.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-09.png)
![Screenshot at 00:27: Iliana defines genocide as 'a set of weapons used against a population of people', gesturing to emphasize the scope.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-27.png)
![Screenshot at 00:37: Iliana identifies 'time' as the biggest dial for genocide, suggesting that duration is a key factor in its execution or perception.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-37.png)
![Screenshot at 00:48: Iliana lists acts constituting genocide, including starvation, poisoning water/air, separating families, murder, rape, and cutting off access to healthcare.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-48.png)
![Screenshot at 00:56: Iliana discusses the concept of 'shanda' \(shame\) in Yiddish, applying it to using Jewish identity as a shield for harmful actions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-00-56.png)
![Screenshot at 01:27: Iliana explains that such political framing primes any population, including White nationalist Christian Americans, to accept government actions against others.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-01-27.png)
![Screenshot at 01:57: The host agrees with the sentiment and references the previous discussion about 'shanda' related to Jewish artists speaking out.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xHmOe4RbxMs/00-01-57.png)