In the Haggadah, we read about Yaakov going down to Egypt and the subsequent mistreatment of the B’nei Yisrael by the Egyptians. The Haggadah then mentions Pharaoh’s statement, which is the first public antisemitic comment by the leader of another nation: “Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and it come to pass that when a war occurs, they might join our enemies.”
What is not mentioned in the Haggadah is the absurdity of this claim. If not for Yosef, Egypt may not have survived as a country. Yosef not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, but he also ran the economy and ensured that grain was stored for the future famine. This not only sustained the country, but it also generated great wealth and power for Pharaoh. Thus, to later claim that Yosef’s nation would become a fifth column is absurd. However, when it comes to antisemitism, logic does not matter.
Unfortunately, this is what many Jews throughout history have not understood. They believed that if they converted, as in Spain, or became “good Germans,” or rose to prominence in society, it would protect them. The Spanish Inquisition and the Holocaust demonstrate the fallacy of this belief.
Today, there are Jews who believe that being anti-Israel and supporting those who seek to destroy Israel—under the guise of Palestinian rights—will protect them from antisemitism. History shows otherwise.
I grew up in America at a time when antisemitism was widely condemned and support for Israel was strong across the political spectrum. The country understood the murder of the Jewish people in Europe and accepted the argument that Jews needed a homeland in Israel, the historic homeland of the Jewish people. They saw the attempts of five Arab nations to destroy Israel in 1948, the Six-Day War in 1967, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. They viewed terrorist groups such as the PLO as the face of those advocating for Palestinian statehood.
Now we live in a different world. Support for Israel has declined, and antisemitism has risen. For those who think these trends are unrelated, the correlation is evident in the data. For years, the Democratic Party was a stronger supporter of Israel than the Republican Party. Today, much of the Democratic Party is no longer supportive of Israel, and elements within the Republican Party are beginning to follow suit. The trend is even more pronounced among younger age groups. The situation is likely to worsen.
There are two recent examples that illustrate this connection. Temple Israel in Michigan was attacked because the perpetrator hated Israel and wanted to kill Jews in America. The attacker claimed he had family members killed by the IDF and was seeking revenge. (It was later revealed by Israel that those family members were affiliated with Hezbollah.)
Another example is the comments made by Joe Kent in his resignation letter from his position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. He wrote that “it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He further claimed that Israeli officials and members of the American media promoted misinformation to push the United States into war with Iran, and that similar tactics were used to draw America into the Iraq War.
This is classic antisemitism—the claim that Jews control governments and the media. In reality, Trump acts independently and does not take direction from foreign governments. There is also no credible evidence that Israel drew the United States into the Iraq War.
Kent’s position lent an air of credibility to his remarks. The fact that he is a MAGA isolationist who has associated with white Christian nationalists and used them in his failed campaigns did not receive the attention it should have.
The reaction to Kent’s comments also revealed a troubling hypocrisy. A New York Times column referenced his remarks about Israel and its supporters influencing Trump, yet omitted his background and his claims about Israel’s role in the Iraq War. Many responses to the column agreed with his assertion that Iran was not an imminent threat.
More troubling, many also agreed with—or ignored—his comments about Israel and the Jews. Very few called out these statements as antisemitic. These are often the same voices that are quick to denounce Islamophobia or homophobia. If similar claims had been made about other groups, there would have been widespread outrage. Yet when it comes to Jews, many remain silent—or worse, agree.
In some ways, this is even more troubling than the rhetoric of far-right white Christian nationalists. At least they are transparent about their views. Those on the left often present themselves as principled while applying a different standard when it comes to Jews.
Both progressives and elements of the far right attempt to justify their rhetoric by claiming they are not antisemitic, but merely criticizing Israel. At times, the distinction may seem unclear, but there is a clear line. Criticizing Israeli policy—such as questioning a military action—is legitimate. However, claiming that Israel, its supporters, or the media control U.S. foreign policy is antisemitic. Similarly, blaming Israel for the Iraq War is baseless and antisemitic.
Trump himself is not immune to such claims. He suggested that Israel acted without U.S. knowledge in attacking Iran’s South Pars Gas Field, and then stated that Israel would not act again, which Netanyahu reportedly accepted. Regardless of the accuracy of these claims, Israel’s response demonstrates that the United States—not Israel—drives policy. That reality is often ignored by those eager to blame the Jews.
A friend of mine who made aliyah asked why the reaction to recent events in Israel has been more muted compared to prior crises, such as Iran’s missile attack last year or the events of October 7, 2023. It may be due to fatigue. However, it may also reflect a Jewish community grappling with the rise of antisemitism.
For those familiar with Jewish history, beginning with ancient Egypt, this should not be surprising. For many American Jews who have not experienced this level of hostility, it is a shock.
There is, however, hope. As stated in the Haggadah, “…In every generation, they rise up to destroy us, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, saves us from their hands.”
Have a Chag Kasher V’Sameach.
