(JEWISH GROUP) How the online knitting world unraveled over Israel and Gaza

Online crafting forums where members exchange sock patterns and stitching advice might not seem like the place to argue over allegations of genocide in Gaza. But lately, even knitters have become tangled up in the politics of the Israel–Hamas war.

“Knitting influencer in Israel? Anyone else find this unsettling?” a Reddit user wrote earlier this month in the online forum r/craftsnark, sharing screenshots from a knitter’s Instagram that showed her volunteering on an Israeli farm.

More than 500 commenters piled on, calling the knitter, who goes by @Illanna on Instagram and has 13,500 followers, a “genocide Barbie,” a “disgusting colonizer” and a “heartless ghoul.” She declined to comment to the Forward, citing threatening messages sent to both her and her employer.

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So earlier this month, fed-up Jewish crafting enthusiasts started their own Reddit community, with their own speech moderation rules: In r/JewishCrafts, which now has more than 200 members, discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is explicitly off-limits.

While the space is new, the dynamic is part of a post-Oct. 7 trend. Since the war started, more Jews have been separating themselves from spaces that suddenly feel unwelcoming or antagonistic. In their place, Jewish-led running clubs, gaming forums, and social groups have become “safe spaces” where members can connect over shared hobbies without fear of encountering antisemitism or anti-Israel rhetoric.

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It's a shame. Even more of shame when "safe spaces" aren't safe!