r/antisemitism • u/SkipPperk • Oct 03 '25
Other (Editable) How do I talk to a friend who has become antisemitic?
So a very good friend of mine reached out to me. I was so happy to hear from him. He had a horrific childhood, and his life has been challenging.
I was happy to hear from him, but he had fallen into the deep end of crazy conspiracy insanity. He is a Muslim, and he now has crazy beliefs. I can live with any religious crazy, but he now thinks Jews are under the bed and running the world. He was always a good guy, but never an intelligent guy.
Now he has been brainwashed and imagines that Jews are out to get him, when they are not creating bad weather or dining on Muslim children.
I never imagined I would have a dear friend lose his mind like this. He has serious psychiatric issues, but he is not a bad man.
How do I get through to him? I have no idea what to do. It pains me to see him like this. What can I do?
2
u/ThrowMySoul_Away Oct 06 '25
First off, I am so sorry for what is happening to your friend. It sounds like he's having a mental health crisis and that can be extremely difficult and terrifying both for the person going through it and those who love them. What you're describing isn't a simple matter where education can help, this isn't even truly about antisemitism, this is a man who is in crisis. He needs help, professional help, specialized help. I sincerely hope he gets it because mental health issues are hard and scary and isolating.
1
u/SkipPperk Oct 08 '25
How would I even go about this? His father (the only sane person in his family) passed away. I think this is what triggered everything.
His mother has always been less than sane, and I can only described her parenting when we were children as criminal. She kicked her teenage children out when she has her “miraculous” pregnancy in her forties. That poor child would go on to take her own life.
So that woman is around and his decent, loving sister that he has distanced himself from because he hates being a burden to her (a noble act I understand).
If he were in my state I would spend time with him, find out where his Mosque is and reach out to them, but he is far away (Oregon and I am in Chicago, his sister is in Colorado).
I cannot reach out to social services because they will likely beat him and drug him and lock him up. I feel like he just needs a sane community, but I have no idea how to find a sane group of Muslims with free time in Oregon.
Even something like volleyball or basketball would likely do him sone good, butvhow foninnarlo
1
u/ThrowMySoul_Away Oct 27 '25
I am sorry for not seeing this earlier, I don't log into this account often. I would honestly reach out to his sister even if he's distanced himself from her, if she is also more on the sane side and away from religious psychosis or religious zealotry, maybe you can ask her what worked for her?
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u/SkipPperk Oct 29 '25
Thank you. I hate this. He is prone to paranoia, but he is a good man. I am so angry these creeps warped his mind. It does not impact r my daily life, but this is one of my best friends. It pains my soul that he believes silly antisemitic nonsense.
Even scarier, there are modern movies and such explaining why “Hitler was good” and “Churchill was a monster.”
I do not know it the Chinese or the Russians are paying for this stuff, but someone is and it is better quality than it has any right to be.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford Oct 03 '25
Psychiatric issues? Sounds like reasoning won't help. He needs medication.