Antisemitism is a plague that has affected the Jewish people for thousands of years: Only the methods, justifications, and locations have changed across different eras and locales. Today’s version is antisemitism under the guise of anti-Zionism, and it is no longer on the fringes but has made it into the mainstream. In America, as bad as the situation is, it is only going to get worse: Opinion polls show that across all political parties and Independents, the younger a person is, the more anti-Israel they tend to be. Although not everyone who is unsupportive of Israel is antisemitic, a significant portion are. When these younger individuals grow older and attain powerful positions, they will have the opportunity to enforce their antisemitic views.
My father, a”h, who grew up on the Lower East Side, would have said: “Welcome to my childhood.” I recently had a discussion with someone who argued that antisemitism is worse today. I could spend an entire column proving that he is wrong, as some people tend to view the past through rose-colored glasses. However, I would rather spend this time addressing possible solutions.
On April 20, I visited the Museum of the Moving Image to see a film titled Resistance: They Fought Back, followed by a panel discussion. The movie was part of the Global Holocaust Film Series, with screenings held across New York City and Germany. Although our current situation pales in comparison to what our ancestors endured during the Holocaust, there is much we can learn from how they coped by fighting back in any way they could. We can also learn from how my parents’ generation and the generations before them dealt with rampant antisemitism in America.
There is one substantial difference between then and now: Today, Jews subject to antisemitism have a place to go in Israel. In last week’s Daf Yomi (Menachos 100a), Talmud mentions that the Rabbis disliked the Babylonians. This was due to the failure of so many Jews to leave Babylonia and return to Israel when the Second Temple was built. Perhaps this historical context explains current events. Although there is no Temple, there is a State of Israel: The first Jewish state in almost two thousand years. We Jewish Americans remain in America. Is this Hashem’s plan to push us toward Israel? I do not know, but it is certainly something to think about.
In any event, those who think that switching to the Republican Party is the sole solution are deluding themselves. When antisemitism becomes mainstream in a country, it does not limit itself to one party. Among younger members, the Republican Party is not significantly better than the Democratic Party or Independents. The only reason the tide has not yet fully turned is due to Donald Trump. If Trump changes his position toward Israel or becomes a less powerful figure in the party, the elected officials will likely follow the anti-Israel shifts seen in the Democratic Party. Furthermore, those who believe the rise in antisemitism is solely due to the Netanyahu government and will vanish once he is out of power are also mistaken.
There are things that everyone can do to respond to antisemitism. Antisemites want to strike fear into our communities: If we engage in conduct that shows we are not afraid, that is a way to counter them. Every time a Jewish man wears a yarmulka in public instead of a baseball cap, it is a testament that we are Jewish and proud of it. For others, it is wearing a Jewish star or displaying Israeli flags and posters in front of their homes.
Celebrate Israel Parade is the largest event that can show the world that we are proud supporters of Israel and that we will not back down. Thus, it is important to show our support this year at the parade. It will take place on May 31, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM, on Fifth Avenue from 62nd Street to 74th Street.
Another avenue is a political response. For example, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has sent a proposal to its House of Delegates to condemn Israel and demand that the United States stop providing arms and equipment. This mirrors what forty Democratic senators voted to do. What this has to do with a teachers’ union is beyond me. In response, United Jewish Teachers has prepared a petition opposing the request. To date, over three thousand teachers and other Department of Education employees have signed it. I call on those who work for the DOE to sign the petition: Further information can be found at unitedjewishteachers.org.
There are laws that can be relied upon to bring litigation when entities engage in antisemitic conduct toward Jews who support Israel. We can also stop providing financial support to any institution that supports BDS or otherwise engages in antisemitic conduct. Years ago, when Ivy League schools had strict limits on Jewish students, the brightest minds went to public colleges. The message to these elite universities is clear: If you engage in such conduct, there will be consequences.
Finally, we can provide financial support to candidates who oppose anti-Israel rhetoric, whether in the primary or the general election. Even if we are unsuccessful, it sends a message. These are just some options we can take to deal with the problem of antisemitism in America. The point is that we must be proactive and not spend our time wallowing in self-pity.