By Caren Leven, JNS
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Taylor Swift and even certain toy trends have all been on the receiving end of this label, which, apparently, is akin to an insult.
Until a few days ago, I had never heard the phrase “spiritually Israeli.” Then I came across an article explaining that it has become the latest internet label, used to describe people or things seen as overconfident, loud or too proud of themselves.
Apparently, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Taylor Swift and even certain viral toy trends have all been called “spiritually Israeli.” It is supposed to be a joke. I laughed when I first read it because, if confidence and passion are what qualify someone as “spiritually Israeli,” then I will take the title proudly.
As I kept reading, I realized there was something more behind the label. This phrase isn’t really about baseball or pop music. It’s about the way that Israel—and by extension, Jews—are still framed in popular culture not as people, but as caricatures. The term carries a familiar undertone.
This is what happens when old stereotypes get dressed up in modern slang. It is clever, shareable, and it slides right past most people. A few years ago, someone might have called a strong personality “pushy.” Now, they call them “spiritually Israeli.” It sounds funny enough to repost, but it means the same thing.
Anyone who has spent time in Israel knows that its citizens are very straightforward. They do not mince words. They argue, they question, they speak with conviction. It is part of the culture—not because people are rude or arrogant, but because life there demands honesty. There is not much room for pretending.
That same energy is what built Israel, and it continues to drive Jewish resilience around the world. When people use “Israeli” as shorthand for being too assertive or too visible, they are really showing their discomfort with strength.
I see it all the time—not just online, but in how people talk about Jewish pride, in general. Be proud, but not too proud. Speak up, but not too loudly. Support Israel, but only if it is convenient. There is a quiet expectation that Jews should stay within acceptable limits of identity, and anything beyond that becomes “too much.”
Maybe being “too much” is exactly what has kept us alive.
If “spiritually Israeli” means passionate, outspoken and unwilling to disappear into the background, then fine. Call me that. Because the alternative—blending in and saying nothing—is not an option. Not now, not after everything we have seen this past year.
Of course, I don’t think everyone who uses this phrase is antisemitic. Most people probably do not realize what they are echoing. But that is the danger of language like this. It spreads quietly, in jokes and memes, until confidence becomes a punchline.
The irony is that Israelis are some of the most generous, warm and community-driven people you will ever meet. They live with constant uncertainty and still find reasons to celebrate life. If that is “spiritually Israeli,” then the rest of the world could use more of it.
Maybe social media means these words as an insult; to me, however, it is something else entirely. It is another reminder that strength and self-assurance still make people uncomfortable, and that is exactly why we should keep showing both.
