Seattle, WA
Seattle Jews to remount an antisemitism exhibit alone, after staff shut it down for Zionism
After dozens of staffers at a Seattle museum walked off the job to protest an exhibit on antisemitism they claimed was “Zionist,” area Jewish groups and the museum all pledged that the exhibit would find a new home.
Months later, the Jewish groups are still planning to mount a version of the exhibit, called “Confronting Hate Together.” But they will do so without their original partners, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and a museum dedicated to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage. Instead, the Jewish groups say the exhibit will be housed in a Jewish space.
The groups cited “circumstances out of our control” and said that the experience had left local Jews feeling isolated at a time of great need.
“Immense harm has been caused to the Jewish community by not being able to show the exhibit,” the Washington State Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Seattle said in a joint statement. “Antisemitism today is at its highest levels in over 40 years, and more allyship is needed to help meet the moment.”
The statement summarized a feeling that Jews in many quarters have expressed over the last 10 months, since Hamas attacked Israel and triggered an ongoing war that has induced tensions in countless museums, universities, cultural centers and workplaces. Many Jews have lamented not feeling the support they say they have shown to people from other backgrounds in the past.
“We need partners who are stakeholders in the safety and well-being of the Jewish people and who stand with us even when it gets hard,” the Jewish groups said. “Ironically, in an exhibit that was supposed to be about coming together to confront hate, hate has won. And, our community feels more alone as a result.”
Crafting the exhibit
The Jewish Historical Society had spent 18 months crafting the exhibit alongside the Black Heritage Society and Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum. Modeled after a World War II-era American Jewish Committee anti-hate campaign, the exhibit first opened at the Wing Luke in late May and included descriptions of how all three ethnic communities have experienced hate over the years.
But controversy quickly engulfed the project when 26 Wing Luke staffers walked off the job days later, claiming the parts of the exhibit that were focused on antisemitism contained material that “conveyed Zionist perspectives.” The museum promptly closed altogether, and the staff, declaring themselves “on strike,” launched a GoFundMe that has raised more than $11,000 to date.
Museum leaders announced the exhibit would be reconfigured and presented to the public at a different venue later in the summer. The Wing Luke’s executive director, Joël Barraquiel Tan, in a piece for the Seattle Times, shared what he said were “lessons learned” from the efforts to restage the exhibit, including, “Our best work happens when we offer platforms for complex dialogue and vulnerability to inspire civility, grace and understanding across differences.”
The reason the Jewish groups decided to go their own way stemmed from challenges surrounding the search for a new venue, the Jewish Historical Society’s director, Lisa Kranseler, indicated to the Cholent, an independent newsletter covering Jewish Seattle.
But the ultimate decision to pull back was the Jewish groups’, a representative for the Wing Luke Museum told the Cholent. “We are naturally disappointed that the Jewish Historical Society felt they needed to do that,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the Seattle JCRC did not respond to repeated requests for comment. In its own statement, the Black Heritage Society seemed to take issue with the Jewish groups’ narrative of events, noting their statement “questions our allyship and tenacity for when times get tough.”
“We have been good and tolerant partners,” the society’s president, Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, wrote. Johnson-Toliver concluded by thanking the Wing Luke museum and “the writers, editors, interns, consulting staff, and funders whose contributions have been great,” but did not mention the Jewish groups by name. (Asked for comment, the society directed JTA to the statement.)
In their objections to the original exhibit, the Wing Luke’s staff contingent, WLM4Palestine, cited portions that read “Today, antisemitism is often disguised as anti-Zionism” and spotlighted campus protests and the phrase “from the river to the sea.” Such passages, the staff allege on their GoFundMe page, “attempt to frame Palestinian liberation and anti-Zionism as antisemitism.”
On Instagram, they further alleged that the exhibit “sets a dangerous precedent of platforming colonial, white supremacist perspectives and goes against the Museum’s mission as a community-based museum advancing racial and social equity.”
Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat argued that the staffers’ anger was misplaced, and had the effect of abandoning Jews.
“What the exhibit is saying is, don’t take your anger about the Middle East conflict out on local Jews, who are independent, freethinking humans,” he wrote. “For a highly fraught subject, this is pretty basic stuff.”
While decrying the staff response as “fueled” by “anti-Jewish ideas and attitudes,” the Jewish groups added that they had made “adjustments and modifications” to the exhibit following the walkout. They said this was done “to help people better understand the exhibit by clarifying language regarding the exhibition’s intent to focus on confronting hate locally by three historically redlined communities.”
A digital version of the exhibit with the original partners listed, including content focused on the Black and Asian-American experiences, is viewable on the Jewish Historical Society’s website. An accompanying podcast, released shortly after the museum staff walkout and featuring guests including the mayor of Seattle, is also still accessible.
Kranseler told JTA that the Jewish Historical Society was “still working with our partners on two additional panels that will explain the genesis of our collaboration on this exhibit and provide additional information regarding the history of our three communities working together.”
The digital version still includes language the Wing Luke staff had walked out over, such as the declaration that “Today antisemitism is often disguised as anti-Zionism.”
(Colorful clouds during Saturday’s sunset – photo by Sara Walsh; tonight’s sunset is at 9:04 pm)
After a wildly busy Saturday, it’s a quieter Sunday on our West Seattle Event Calendar – here are highlights of what’s happening (and not) on June’s first Sunday, starting with some good news if you have to head east off the peninsula:
TRAFFIC NOTE – I-5 REOPENED EARLY: Thanks for the tip! What was expected to be a full-weekend closure of I-5 northbound between I-90 and the U-District has ended early, and the freeway’s back open.
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY PRIDE PARTY: 9 am, Westies Run Club runs from Marination Ma Kai (1660 Harbor SW) today, in “Pride Party” mode – rainbows and glitter encouraged!
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: In The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games are happening at The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
(Saturday photo by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS’ GRAND OPENING WEEKEND: Second day of the celebration for Thunder Road Guitars and The Bass Shop (both WSB sponsors) in their new location at 2611 California SW, 10 am-6 pm, featuring another set of “massive giveaways” plus discounts – details here; our Saturday coverage is here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open every Sunday year-round on California SW between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in almost-summer produce-and-products season – asparagus, lettuce, greens, microgreens, peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, beans, garlic, fruit (strawberries and cherries!), more – and many options for baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, poultry, fresh- and pre-prepared foods, nuts, condiments, pasta …
MASTER GARDENERS AT THE MARKET: If you have a gardening question, you can get an answer from a Master Gardener! Their weekly clinics at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market continue today, 10 am-2 pm. (Look for their booth toward the south end of the market.)
VOLUNTEER AT THE BEE GARDEN: 10 am-noon, all welcome to help at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham & Graham):
The garden looks great but could use a little taming. Weeding is the name of our game this weekend! As usual:
-Dress for the weather
-Bring a water bottle
-And a heads up: The closest restroom is at QED coffee a block or two up the streetNo experience is necessary, just your gardening spirit. Thanks so much for your support of our community garden! I look forward to seeing you out there.
WEEKEND SINGALONG BRUNCH: 10 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), sing to hits of the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and enjoy a buffet breakfast – if this morning is sold out, look at dates ahead.
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily splashing continues, rain or shine, at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need/want to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to find it at, and borrow it from, the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: Regular weekly West Seattle Resist Sunday sign-holding event, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
FREE FLAG-FOOTBALL CLINIC: Girls 10-16 interested in flag football are invited – noon-2 pm on the field at 2701 SW Kenyon, free, just show up! Presented by (but not at) the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor).
COLMAN POOL’S FINAL PRESEASON WEEKEND: Noon-7 pm, final preseason weekend concludes at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the session schedule here, with 7-day-a-week operations starting next weekend. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: You’re welcome this afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
SIP & SCULPT AT MR. B’S: 6 pm creativity opportunity at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW).
BLACK TEA AT REVELRY ROOM: 7 pm-midnight, late-night tea service with host Jack Sanders, info and RSVP here. (4547 California SW)
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: Trivia starts at 7:30 pm – free to play, and you can win prizes! (4302 SW Alaska)
EVENING SCREAMING: This month’s gathering of Scream Club Seattle on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is at 8 pm.
LIVE JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm jazz, with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Organizing, or helping with, an event that we could add to the WSB community calendar – whether one-time or recurring? Please email the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN FOR WEST SEATTLE BLOG)
Three hours of remembering and reconnecting are just wrapping up at West Seattle High School, where alumni from many years gathered for the annual All-School Reunion.
Above, WSHS Alumni Association president Karen (Seamens) Dobbs and Nancy (Rutherford) Sleight led attendees in singing the historic alma mater song. Memorabilia was on display as usual:
And more-modern logos adorned school merch offered for sale:
Along with gathering in the commons …
… people also gathered class by class in smaller spaces including classrooms and the library:
Every year the 50th-anniversary class is spotlighted – that meant this year was the turn for those who graduated in the bicentennial year, 1976. You can read what various classes’ alums are up to – and about this year’s two Hall of Fame inductees – in the latest issue of the Alumni Association publication, the Chinook.
A third-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2012, Russell Wilson proved to be a steal for the Seattle Seahawks.
He surprisingly won the starting job as a rookie, leading Seattle to an 11-5 campaign. They followed that up with a 13-win season in 2013, with Wilson helping them win the first Super Bowl in franchise history. They returned to the Super Bowl in 2014, which they lost in painful fashion.
Wilson continued to lead Seattle to wins, but they eventually decided to move on. That happened in 2022 when Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos, along with a fourth-round pick in 2022, for the Broncos’ first, second, and fifth-round picks in 2022 and their first and second-round picks in 2023. Seattle also received quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris.
Russell Wilson trade among the biggest in NFL history
That trade didn’t work out for Denver, but the Seahawks were more than happy with the results. As Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox says, it helped them rebuild their roster, ultimately leading to their latest title. That’s why he ranked this as the fourth-biggest trade in league history.
“Seattle had won the Super Bowl in 2013 with Wilson at the helm, and it reached the big game again in 2014. However, while Wilson had earned his ninth Pro Bowl nod in 2021, the Seahawks hadn’t advanced past the divisional round since 2014 and were clearly looking for a fresh start,” Knox wrote.
“They got it by dealing Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for a massive haul. The Seahawks’ return netted key contributors to their 2026 run, including outside linebacker Derick Hall, edge rusher Boye Mafe, offensive tackle Charles Cross, and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.”
All of those players were vital to their recent Super Bowl win. Mafe, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, is the only one who is no longer with the Seahawks, whereas Witherspoon, Hall, and Cross remain as key pieces.
Russell Wilson was never the same after leaving Seattle
As happy as Seattle was with the trade, the Broncos weren’t thrilled with the results. Wilson wasn’t the same player in Denver and they went 11-19 in two seasons with Wilson as the starter.
He then spent one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the New York Giants in 2026. Following an 0-3 start with the Giants, Wilson was benched in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart and recently announced his retirement from the NFL.
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