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Progressive Outlet Asks: ‘Is Jordan Peterson Enabling Jew Hatred?’

Photo Credit: YouTube/Jordan B Peterson

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Rob Shimshock Education Reporter
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A progressive outlet published an article Friday asking if University of Toronto psychology professor and author Jordan Peterson was “enabling Jew hatred.”

Progressive Jewish paper The Forward published “Is Jordan Peterson Enabling Jew Hatred?” in which author Ari Feldman solicited the opinions of a progressive activist at People for the American Way and the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as that of a university professor. The article slaps a picture of Peterson lecturing on top of a picture of Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute. (RELATED: Exclusive: Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Talks Gender Pronouns, Potential Harvard Frat Ban [VIDEO])

“[Peterson] has answered questions about global Jewish influence several times, in person and online,” Feldman wrote. “In an April blog post, he attributed that alleged influence to Jewish intelligence —an old anti-Semitic dog whistle.”

The Forward insisted that the professor, author of “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos,” rarely discusses anti-Semitism.

“Part of your responsibility when you have a platform like that, especially when you present yourself as an academic, is to make sure that you’re giving those audiences the full truth,” People for the American Way researcher Jared Holt told The Forward.

Feldman also interviewed Emory University history professor and Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt, author of “History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier,” who called Peterson’s assertions regarding Jewish success and analysis of IQ “suspicious.”

“It’s not [Holocaust] denial, but when people start asking questions like that, I begin to get leery,” Lipstadt said. The Forward piece did not make clear to which questions she was referring. “The question is, is he a self-help guru who find the Holocaust a convenient way of attracting attention, or is there serious thought going on here?”

The professor criticized Peterson’s assertion that human nature caused the Holocaust, positing this claim undermined the factor anti-Semitism played. (RELATED: Google And YouTube Ban Prof Who Refused To Use Gender-Neutral Pronouns)

“His audience is without a doubt a large chunk of people in the ‘alt-right,’ and that’s the kind of signaling that would appeal to them,” Southern Poverty Law Center director Heidi Beirich told The Forward. “If you play fast and loose with the issue, you’re going to be seen as a possible ally in Holocaust denial.”

Peterson objected to the characterization of his arguments as a sort of dog-whistling to the alt-right.

“You can assume that they [Jews] are intelligent and have a culture of learning, or you can think that there’s some kind of cabal,” Peterson told The Forward. “So if I’m gonna hit the hornets nest, I might as well hit it on the side that takes the wind out of the sails of far-righters and their idiot anti-Semitism.”

The professor proceeded to blast Feldman and Lipstadt for the article.

“The most contemptible journalist I ever had the carelessness and naivete to talk with produces the most contemptible piece yet written about me,” Peterson tweeted Saturday. “You pathetic weasel. You had your damn article written before you even talked to me.” (RELATED: Liberal TV Host Gets Stumped By Anti-PC Professor)

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to the University of Toronto professor for further comment but received none in time for press.

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