'Spiritually Israeli' – Viral slang term spurs debate over antisemitic stereotypes

The slang term, ‘Spiritually Israeli,” originally used to describe trends in commercialism, has gained popularity across the internet as a contemptuous expression, raising concerns over its antisemitic undertones.

The saying originated after an Israeli artist, Albert Levy, posted a TikTok video showcasing his art, which received both praise and criticism. Levy’s piece featured a blue horse, a sports car, a lion, a parrot and a woman screaming and smiling. The artwork garnered 16,500 likes and was viewed over 195,000 times. Some critics, however, labeled it “materialistic” and “soulless,” sparking a new trend that used the term “Spiritually Israeli” as a pejorative.

According to the website Know Your Meme, a year later, in May 2025, a user commented on a video on 𝕏 of a matcha rave in Dubai, saying, “This is Spiritually Israeli,” a post that drew nearly 10,000 likes and further propelled the term across social media.

A video about pop artist Taylor Swift’s new album, "The Life of a Showgirl"– which drew more than 100,000 likes – along with Dubai-made chocolate, the Burning Man festival, the American sitcom "Friends," Justin Bieber, and matcha drinks have all been labeled with the derogatory term. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for acquiring top players and building significant wealth, were mocked as the “Tel Aviv Dodgers” and “spiritually Israeli” after their recent World Series win.

Reddit users say the phrase has been used primarily by the progressive left to describe things they perceive as culturally shallow or morally hypocritical, such as large corporations. Israeli culture is sometimes included among the list of things criticized.

However, several users have condemned the phrase as antisemitic, claiming it is simply repackaging age-old tropes and stereotypes by replacing the word “Jewish” with “Israeli,” portraying and demonizing Israelis as greedy or manipulative.

“The phrase 'Spiritually' Israeli is barely disguised antisemitism, and it’s such a weird thing to say,” one social media user wrote, sparking a hostile response from hundreds of others.

The Instagram account @jewstalkjustice, which promotes awareness of antisemitism and social justice issues, wrote in a post: “Antisemitism doesn’t need to use the word ‘Jew’ to express hatred of Jews. Often people hide it behind words like ‘Israeli’ or ‘Zionist.’ Spiritually Israeli relies on antisemitic stereotypes – portraying Jews as bloodthirsty, greedy and obsessed with money.”