Antisemitic Trope 'The Jew Cries Out in Pain as He Strikes You' Identified as Dogwhistling

A social media user, Will Spencer, recently highlighted the use of a phrase recognized as an antisemitic trope, labeling it as "dogwhistling." Spencer explicitly quoted the phrase, stating, > "This is dogwhistling another anti-Semitic trope. 'The Jew cries out in pain as he strikes you.' They will shout over and over again that they are not what you accuse of being. Until they claim the label for themselves."

The phrase, "The Jew cries out in pain as he strikes you," is widely identified as a historical antisemitic canard. It functions to portray Jewish individuals as aggressors who simultaneously claim victimhood, thereby discrediting any suffering they experience and fueling animosity. This narrative falsely depicts Jewish people as the source of suffering for others while presenting them as perpetrators of their own victimization.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), this trope has seen contemporary use in online spaces, particularly during discussions involving Jewish public figures. For instance, the ADL noted its deployment in commentary surrounding the Mar-a-Lago search, where Jewish officials were accused of "playing the victim" while allegedly carrying out "evil actions." Such usage underscores how the trope is leveraged to delegitimize Jewish concerns and accusations of antisemitism.

Discussions on platforms like Reddit further illustrate the phrase's problematic nature, with users pointing to its Nazi origins and its continued use, sometimes in modified forms, to criticize Israel while retaining antisemitic undertones. While some argue that individuals may repeat such phrases without full knowledge of their history, the specific wording is often linked to its historical context of generalizing about an entire ethno-religious group.

The condemnation by Will Spencer draws attention to the insidious nature of dogwhistling, where prejudiced messages are conveyed subtly to specific audiences without explicit statements. This tactic allows those using the trope to deny antisemitic intent while still propagating harmful stereotypes, contributing to a climate where genuine concerns about antisemitism can be dismissed or distorted.