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Jews uniquely thrived in America because of its exceptionalism and rule of law. The prosecution of former President Donald Trump could mark the end of the era of safety.

(May 31, 2024 / JNS) The last eight months have shaken the faith of many American Jews in the future of their community. The surge in antisemitism, especially on college campuses, has shattered any illusions we might have had about ensuring that Jew-hatred would be confined to the fever swamps of the far right and left in U.S. society. But as grievous as that threat to their safety may be—and the gravity of that peril cannot be overestimated—the Jewish community should also be pondering just how secure they can be in an America whose democratic norms and the rule of law can no longer be relied upon.

This year, I was determined to participate in what was called the “Israel Day on Fifth” parade. I had stomach issues starting Shabbos afternoon, but fortunately on Sunday morning I was able to go to the parade despite not eating the right foods for breakfast. Sunday night, after going to the parade and later in the afternoon to the Nova exhibit, I again had stomach issues. I did not have any problem during the parade whether as a marcher or a spectator, or when I went to the Nova exhibition afterwards with my family. I look at this as a sign that going to the parade was the right thing to do.

Spain, Ireland, and Norway appeared on domestic news broadcasts for the first time in the better part of a century because they made an asinine statement regarding the fictional state of Palestine: They declared that they recognize a state that does not exist, has no functional government, borders or citizenry.  If they got on the podium and announced that they recognized Never-Never Land, Narnia, or Wakanda, the leaders of those countries would have been rightly mocked.  Instead, in our backwards world, they are lauded.  For all their blubbering pronouncements, there will never be a Palestinian state, for obvious reasons. 

Leader and Innovator in Healthcare Industry Pays it Forward with Scholarships to Help Touro Students Succeed

Morris Oiring, founder of the Oiring Group and long-time COO of Pleet Homecare, will be presented with the 2024 Alumnus of the Year Award at the 50th anniversary commencement for Touro’s Lander Colleges, to be held in Lincoln Center on June 2.

Campus Chaos Abounds

On campuses of public universities like CUNY, and of “elite” private institutions such as NYU, Columbia, and Harvard, chaos abounds. Student activists, supported and incited by outsiders, occupy large swatches of these ivory towers, preventing unobstructed passage, freedom of speech, and access to class for their fellow students. Violent actions such as looting, destruction of property, and bodily harm to pro-Israel students accompany protests in support of the Palestinians.

There’s a new race category slated for the next census, and it could offer an opportunity for American Jews to redefine themselves in the context of Israel, minority representation, and self-identification.