American Jews in the Era of Normalization of Antisemitism

Our goldene medina, we came here so we can live better lives, better than those we lived in the Old Country. This paradise lasted for a long time, but is it going to be around for much longer?

With upcoming mid-term elections liberal Jews are standing at major crossroads – they have to decide which road to take. Either they will continue supporting the new trajectory of the Democratic party that includes throwing Jews under the bus or not be afraid to severe or at least downgrade their ties to the Democratic party (e.g., not to vote for its antisemitic candidates) and vote for at least some Republican candidates who support Israel and speak against antisemitism (yes, they are such Republicans). Do not be another Dana Nessel, the Michigan attorney general who skipped the Michigan Democratic Party convention over safety concerns, citing antisemitism within the party in August. Just few weeks later she issued a somewhat pathetic call to Jews to vote for Democrats no matter how antisemitic and Israel-hating candidates are. She encouraged Jewish voters not to worry about their safety “in exchange for the opportunity to save the rest of humanity” referring to the choices facing Jewish Democrats in the closely contested Senate elections this November. This would include Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Troy Jackson in Maine. It should not be a major dilemma not to vote for openly antisemitic and anti-Israel candidates. Does Nessel imply that antisemitism within the Democratic party may lead to anti-Jewish violence, but that Democratic platform aimed at dealing with climate change, chas v”shalom killing Jews will save the planet?

First it was Israel and Netanyahu, the war criminal, followed by Zionists then it was AIPAC called “monsters” by Zohran Mamdani. Now it is just Jews, and not only supporters and advocates for Israel, it is Jews together with imposing sanctions and canceling business with Israel as well. Politicians like Scott Wiener, candidate for Congress seat vacated by retiring Nancy Pelosi and progressive Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee for a Congressional district in New York City, are both opposed to support of Israel and even they have been taunted by antisemitic mobs for being Jewish. As Dana Nessel mused, they should “not to worry about their safety in exchange for the opportunity to save the rest of humanity”. Are these mobs full of Jew-hatred representatives of “humanity”? I hope not.

These incidents are not random, they are part of a long running, well organized and unfortunately very successful campaign aimed at delegitimization of not just Israel but of Jews not only in the US but all over the world. One cannot miss the numerous reports about Jews denied service or even entry to restaurants and other public establishments and businesses on pretenses that “perpetrators of genocide are not welcome.” Jewish residents and tourists report being physically attacked on streets of many cities, not only in Europe, but also in Canada and Australia. Boycott of Jewish academicians, artists, intellectuals, scientists and writers and others has become de rigueur at conventions, universities and research institutes. Jewish writers, not to speak of Israeli ones, cannot publish their works. Israel and Jews get demeaned and exhorted by Hollywood actors and directors, musicians and rappers at performances. Certain Muslim organizations, including CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) are coming out with perfidious accusations, pursuits and stalking of Jews. They press charges, sanctions and worse against Jews whose works or words they do not approve of. One of the charges is that steps taken by some colleges and universities to limit pro-Palestinian demonstrations those resulting in physical damage to facilities and harassment of Jewish students (and at times of Jewish faculty as well) actually impinge on free speech of these groups. Of course, pro-Hamas sympathizers do not accord the same privilege to Jews even when no damages or harassment during Jewish activities are documented. Pro-Hamas protests erupted early on October 7, 2023, only a few hours after the massacre of Israelis by Hamas. The simultaneous appearance of these protests on many campuses and in many cities in the US and elsewhere indicates well organized activity. Presumably Qatar and Islamists (e.g., the Muslim Brotherhood) had been and are still working on the spread of Islamism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and anti-Americanism among college students and professors by pouring money into certain departments at colleges. In many countries Islamists blend among Muslim immigrants and population and are able to spread their word and lies.

The result is not just normalization of antisemitism but also normalization of cowardly attitude of some Jews in Hollywood claiming that such antisemites, such as Mark Ruffalo, protesting genocide in Gaza perpetrated by Israel mixed with typical antisemitic tropes are not antisemitic. Liberal Jews wavering whether to vote for or not for certain Democratic candidates subscribe to Nessel’s claim that it is better to immolate themselves in order to save the planet. Do they really believe that El-Sayed and his likes, that CAIR and the squad of Congressional representatives are our saviors? Why aren’t they disturbed by the inability or unwillingness of Democrats to fight off socialist and members of DSA intrusion into the Democratic party? Are we talking about a socialist coup in conspiracy with Islamists and Qatar? This is not just a movement aimed against Jews, but against Americans and the West. And if Jews are not able to mobilize themselves how can they expect that somebody else will do it for them, and anyway it might be too little, too late.

Last but not the least we should remind ourselves that at this time when we commemorate 25 years since the 9/11 attack we are facing similar dangers. We survived and are forever grateful to the first responders, firefighters, police and others who died while saving whom they could. Let’s make sure such people are still around in these precarious times.