Reviewed by Ol Rappaport.
If you’re going to read just one book on antisemitism then I suggest this one. In Off-White, Rachel Shabi offers a thoughtful and perceptive exploration of contemporary antisemitism and the ways in which it is often misunderstood within modern political discourse. The book’s central concept: Jews as ‘off-white’, captures the ambiguous position Jews frequently occupy in Western racial frameworks: sometimes recognised as a minority with a history of persecution, yet at other times treated as part of a privileged white majority. Shabi argues that this ambiguity leads to antisemitism being misunderstood, particularly in progressive environments that view racism through the simplistic lens of dominance, oppressed and oppressing.
Rachel Shabi’s prose is clear, direct and accessible, avoiding jargon while remaining analytically precise. She describes antisemitism in historically informed terms, showing how it operates differently from other forms of racism. Rather than portraying Jews as inferior, antisemitic narratives frequently depict them as secretly powerful or manipulative. By highlighting these patterns, Shabi avoids glib explanations and instead offers a careful account of how antisemitic ideas evolve and persist in different political contexts.
Shabi’s own background plays a significant role in shaping her perspective. As the daughter of Iraqi Jewish (Mizrahi) immigrants to Israel, she writes from the position of what might be called a ‘minority within a minority.’ She describes the historical marginalisation of Mizrahi Jews within Israel’s early Ashkenazi-dominated institutions and the cultural pressures that encouraged Middle Eastern Jewish communities to adopt European norms.
This personal and historical perspective informs her broader argument that Jewish identity cannot be neatly classified within conventional racial categories that emphasise skin colour.
Her discussion of Mizrahi history also highlights common mistaken political narratives about Israel. The majority of Israel’s Jewish population comes from Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds, often refugees expelled from Arab countries. This challenges the depictions of Israel as a European colonial project, while her critique of Ashkenazi dominance and social inequalities within Israel prevents the discussion from becoming defensive or one-sided.
Crucially, Shabi writes explicitly from the political left and identifies strongly with progressive values. This allows her to address antisemitism within progressive movements without resorting to conservative or nationalist agendas. Antisemitism must be recognised wherever it appears, including in spaces that see themselves as committed to anti-racism. Her discussion of the portrayal of George Soros and his Open Society Foundations illustrates this point: criticism of wealthy political actors may be legitimate, she notes, but conspiracy narratives surrounding Soros often use longstanding antisemitic tropes about hidden Jewish control.
Because Shabi criticises both Israeli social hierarchies and antisemitic tendencies within progressive activism, Off-White examines antisemitism without aligning itself with any single ideological camp. This is the book’s central achievement.
The book broadens the conversation rather than narrows it. By combining personal experience, historical analysis, and political reflection, Shabi encourages readers to recognise antisemitism wherever it appears, including in spaces that see themselves as committed to anti-racism. Off-White is a timely and thoughtful contribution to current debates about racism, identity, and political responsibility.
Ol Rappaport (May 2026).
Quaker Socialist Society 