Hatred Is Everyone’s Problem — Wake Up. Take Action. Spread Love
On Wednesday, in Washington, D.C., the couple Yaron Lishinsky and Sarah Milgram, employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., United States, were brutally murdered.
This is not just another isolated incident, not an event of ‘local violence,’ and not a burst of momentary madness. It was a deliberate, political, antisemitic attack.
It did not occur in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem — but in the heart of Washington, the capital of the world’s strongest democracy, in a place full of significance: Surrounded by national institutions, memorials, and museums that honor cultures, religions, and diversity. among them — the Jewish Museum, near which the horrific murder took place, during a conference of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
The location and the timing speaks for itself and is so painful: the target was not two Israelis — but much more than that; it was an attack on Jews as such — regardless of their political positions or their relations to Israel.
And more than that — a direct attack on the very foundations of America’s civil life: to human dignity, to democratic values, to tolerance, and to every person who believes in a shared society.
Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism
Again and again we hear: “This is not antisemitic, it’s just criticism of Israel’s policy. Or of the IDF’s actions in Gaza. Or of the Israeli government.”
But in practice — the reservations are sometimes used by extremists as a cover, or as an excuse, to incite, to radicalize, and to inflame the discourse.
When criticism turns into demonization, when Israel’s right to exist is denied, and when world leaders apply double standards, turn their backs, or close their eyes to moral extremism by others — everything becomes legitimate, and the atmosphere ignites.
This is no longer criticism. It is a method and language that prepares the ground for hatred.
The Data Speaks For Itself
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report for 2024 indicates an unprecedented peak in antisemitic incidents in the United States: 9,354 documented incidents — a 344% increase over the past five years, and 893% over the past decade.
For the first time, the majority of incidents (58%) were related to Israel or Zionism, with many occurring during anti-Israel demonstrations.
Out of more than 5,452 such demonstrations tracked by the ADL, 2,596 included antisemitic incitement through signs, chants, or speeches. (To explore the full findings, you can access the complete 2024 ADL report here)
The ADL emphasizes that while criticism of Israeli policy is not necessarily antisemitic, when it includes calls for the destruction of Israel, comparisons to Nazis, or the use of antisemitic clichés — it crosses the line into hatred.
When Hatred Sees The Future — We Must Shape It
This shocking event is not just material for political analysis or another post on the network.
It is an emergency lesson in civics. In belonging. In defending the human fabric that allows us to live together.
An antisemitic murder in the heart of Washington is not a ‘security issue’ — but an educational and moral one.it is a flashing warning sign for our value system and our daily educational actions.
Poet Wisława Szymborska wrote with striking precision to describe hatred in other dark periods of history:
“It is always ready for new challenges.
If it needs to wait — it will.
They say it is blind. Blind?
Its eyes are as sharp as a sniper’s,
And it stares into the future with courage —
As only it knows how.”
For the full text of the poem, see “Hatred” by Wisława Szymborska
Hatred does not disappear on its own — it spreads when we remain silent and fail to act decisively to uproot it. it is a cold, calculated, and deliberate force. People create it — and people can also stop it.
Education And Love Are Our Shield
This is the moment when every educator, every teacher, every counselor, rabbi, instructor, and parent must stop. Stop the day. Stop the syllabus. Stop the routine.
If we stay silent, we normalize. If we skip it, we miss the opportunity.
The fight against hatred — in all its forms — is the most important lesson we have to teach. not this year — but in life.
The task is not easy — but it is our moral obligation. ask yourselves — today and every day:
• How do you talk to your children about these issues?
• Are you listening enough to their experiences, their challenges, and the realities they face in their social lives and on social media?
• What personal example are you setting?
• And what future and reality do you wish to sow in their hearts and minds?
Demand that schools pause and talk — with the children and with the teaching staff.
Bring professional training to teachers so they can identify, respond to, and educate in light of the rising tide of hatred. challenge students with meaningful educational projects — ones that promote respect for others and a deep understanding of the costs of racism, discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudice.
Stay alert to what’s happening in your children’s social spaces and on social media.
Mobilize your community — and engage allies beyond it — who believe in shared society and a society built on shared values. lead by example — because what children see is what they learn. be proactive. don’t wait for hatred to show up at your doorstep.
“It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” (Avot 2:16)
לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמֹר, וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶן חוֹרִין לִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה“ (אבות, ב’ ,ט”ז)”
We cannot fix everything in one day. but we are not free to be indifferent — not to remain silent, not to look away, and not to justify hatred.
Hatred wears many faces — and it does not discriminate between religions, races, or genders.
We must stand with anyone who is targeted by hate — unconditionally, firmly, with a clear voice, and with action: Educational action. Civic action. Rooted in moral clarity.
Let it not be just a fleeting outrage that fades until the next incident.
This demands daily, consistent work — at home, in the classroom, in the community, and in the workplace. Through education. Personal example. Listening. And love.
This is how we confront hatred — This is how we drive out darkness and fear, and bring light. And love.
Let us honor the memory of Yaron Lishinsky and Sarah Milgram not only by mourning their loss — but by ensuring that no child grows up believing hate is normal, and no educator ever hesitates to teach courage, compassion, and truth.
