Photo: Gabriel Lerner / Impremedia
For: Kenneth Jacobson
Thursday, November 14
Jewish fears of rising anti-Semitism are a wake-up call to America
The recent Anti-Defamation League (ADL) survey of American Jewish experiences with anti-Semitism revealed a greatly increased concern about being targeted by Jewish haters.
This peak was far greater than any we’ve seen in recent years, even after the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre or the attacks on Jews in Brooklyn and other areas of New York and New Jersey.
This is truly a wake-up call for America. For the first time in decades, Jews are concerned for their safety, not at the hands of some extremist who might believe anti-Semitic conspiracy theories – as we saw in Pittsburgh and Poway – but from individuals who use the Middle East conflict as a pretext to attack. Jews.
The combination of the widespread demonization of Israel, the rise of anti-Semitism across the political spectrum, concern about the The security of Jewish institutions and the seemingly casual attacks on Jews creates a sense that American Jews are beginning to lose that privileged status that has characterized Jewish life in America.
The question is increasingly being raised whether American Jewish life is becoming Europeanized.
When the In the Pittsburgh case, there was much talk about the role played by the President’s rhetoric in emboldening the supremacists. white ists. The consensus was that while the attacker was an anti-Semite – regardless of any presidential comment – the environment that made him feel comfortable to exercise his hatred was fostered by the President’s comments following the anti-Semitism and hate march in Charlottesville.
This distinction should be applied in the numerous cases of attacks on Jews across the United States in recent days, whether in Times Square, in a synagogue in Brooklyn or in Los Angeles. These haters – including one who, after being arrested for his crime, made it clear that he would do so again if given the opportunity – are anti-Semites who may be using the Middle East conflict as an excuse to act on their anti-Semitic beliefs.
However, there is no doubt that the rhetoric of some politicians and media figures – who demonize Israel, accuse the Jewish state of everything: from being a child murderer to apartheid and genocide — he also has his share of responsibility. These kinds of demonizing comments have nothing to do with a legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. Rather, they are provocative comments from respectable figures who give space to those who hate Jews and seize the moment to attack innocent Jews.
It is time for all good people to condemn the rhetoric that paves the way for these attacks. It is not enough to condemn anti-Semitism; It is also vital to stop the outrageous attacks on the good name of the Jewish State.
How to return to a time when Jews did not fear for their security in the country that has served its Jewish population better than any other in diaspora history?
The answer begins with ending the partisan politicking about anti-Semitism and recognize that it can arise from the right or the left, from majority communities or minority communities, and that we not only have to condemn it – wherever it comes from – but also identify where the danger arises from every situation. A few years ago there was no hesitation in singling out white supremacists who targeted Jews. Today, the threat emerges under the guise of anti-Israel activists, many of whom come from minority communities.
We have to get over the idea that the minorities, whose communities are often objects of hatred, should not be condemned in the same way as white supremacists when they engage in anti-Semitism. In this sense, the fact that America’s leading anti-Semite – Louis Farrakhan – continues to have so many followers and is treated with respect by too many respectable people, undermines the fight against anti-Semitism and contributes to emboldening the haters.
So yes, we need Congress to act against anti-Semitism, as recently happened in relation to hatred against Asians; the recent Senate resolution condemning the rise in anti-Semitic attacks was a good start. It was also encouraging to see Silicon Valley leaders take a stance against anti-Semitism in a public letter, but clearly they must do more to prevent anti-Semitism on the platforms they run.
Above all, we need clarity of thought about the pernicious nature of anti-Semitism, the role that demonization and delegitimization of the Jewish state play in spreading anti-Semitic ideas, and the need to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
The fact that American Jews are so concerned should concern the entire United States.
Kenneth Jacobson is Deputy National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.