A New York City public school teacher has sparked controversy after allegedly sharing a caricature of Argentinian soccer superstar Lionel Messi that appears to be rooted in antisemitic stereotypes. Per NY Post, Park Slope Collegiate math teacher Maysa Jarara is said to have posted the image on Facebook on July 19 under the name Maysa, depicting a crying, groveling Messi with an exaggerated nose, wearing a yarmulke, and rubbing his hands together.
“The look on his face is priceless,” Jarara reportedly captioned the photo, which resembles the antisemitic internet meme known as “The Happy Merchant.” This meme depicts Jewish people using offensive stereotypes about greed, dishonesty, and manipulation. The imagery has a long history in antisemitic propaganda, including material used to dehumanize Jewish people during the Nazi era.
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