Antisemitism Is a Test Americans Cannot Fail

Earlier this week, as the world commemorated the 88th anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogroms, a consortium of DSA-linked groups in Philadelphia organized a boycott of Jewish businesses and a protest in the heart of the city. It was, in the words of Governor Josh Shapiro, “blatant antisemitic targeting of Jewish-owned restaurants on the anniversary of Kristallnacht,” which could have only one aim: to fan the flames of hatred and impose collective punishment on the Jewish people in the City of Brotherly Love.

Thankfully, a grassroots movement quickly emerged to support the boycotted businesses, which are now seeing lines out the door as Jews and non-Jews stand in solidarity against these terroristic tactics. But the fact that such an antisemitic campaign – timed to coincide with one of the most infamous precursors to the Holocaust – could gain traction in a major American city is highly disturbing.

This is a time of testing for the Jewish people, both in America and around the world. The explosion of antisemitism that followed the October 7 atrocities has brought antisemitic violence, harassment, and intimidation to our streets. The situation is far more virulent in Europe, where social cohesion is under greater strain – but even in America, we are seeing politicians excuse, amplify, and even encourage mass displays of antisemitism that have inevitably resulted in a rising tide of violence against our Jewish community.

This isn’t just a test for the Jewish people, but of the willingness of all Americans – regardless of religion, politics, or cultural background – to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters against this ugly bigotry. That means calling out antisemitism whenever we see it; holding public officials accountable for excusing or fanning the flames of hatred; and refusing to engage in the nonsense peddled by everyone from Tucker Carlson to Zohran Mamdani that there is a substantive difference between “anti-Zionism” and antisemitism.

The Jewish people have been here before, and have responded to the millennia of persecution with incredible resilience. That is why despite this vile trend, I firmly believe that the future is bright for America’s Jewish community and for the people of Israel.

It’s bright because the Jewish people endure, and have shown they will not be bullied into submission. They will continue to gather in synagogues to pray; to run for public office; to speak out against hatred in all its forms; to make Aliyah; to raise funds for incredible charitable endeavors; to be good neighbors, citizens, and friends. And it’s bright because the land of Israel has finally been restored to the Jewish people – and despite all the efforts of its enemies, it has not only survived; it is thriving.

John Adams famously said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” As the world’s oldest conspiracy theory, antisemitism is the antithesis of a “fact,” though it is incredibly stubborn. We must be unequivocal in standing against the modern incarnations of this ancient evil – or surrender our hard-won values and freedoms to destruction and decay.

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