It’s Open Season for Jews

“It is open season on Jews.” Meghan McCain couldn’t have characterized the current state of affairs more accurately, or really, devastatingly.

I’m not Israeli. I didn’t serve in the IDF. I didn’t vote for Netanyahu.  And yet, I’m a sitting duck any time I celebrate my Jewish faith or heritage in America.

Last night, Yaron Lischinksy and Sarah Milgrim, both in their 20s, were shot and killed by a gunman at a young Jewish professionals’ cocktails and conversation event hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Washington, DC. Their murderer shouted “Free Palestine” as he shot them at close range.

Yaron and Sarah were murdered for being Jewish. This is antisemitism. This is Jew hatred at its core.

The media portrayal, however, is grossly misleading. Here are some headlines:

• CNN: “2 Israeli Embassy staff members killed outside Jewish museum in Washington, DC.”
• ABC News: “2 Israeli Embassy staffers killed in apparent ‘targeted attack’ in Washington.”
• Associated Press: “2 staff members of Israeli Embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC.”

The list goes on.

Let’s break this down. Yaron and Sarah were not “killed.” They were murdered. Their employer is irrelevant. They were having cocktails at a Jewish event, off-duty and after work. Their murder was not an “air quotes” apparent targeted attack. They unequivocally were targeted for being Jewish.

This senseless murder should be a wakeup call to any “ally” or “friend” of Jews.  (Yes, these air quotes are intentional). Your Jewish friends are not safe, not even in America. When I worship in a synagogue, I walk through a metal detector and have my bag searched. Security teams in bulletproof vests with automatic rifles circle the sanctuary to protect me and my community while we pray. When I attend a Jewish cocktail event, the venue isn’t shared with attendees until a couple of hours before for security reasons. I removed my outdoor mezuzah after October 7 to allay my mother’s fear. It broke my heart, but keeps me safe(r). Maybe.

Put simply, any time I publicly identify as a Jew, I am a target. I could be Yaron or Sarah. Not because of Israel, or Gaza, or politics, or war. But because I am Jewish.

World, please wake up and stand up for your Jewish friends. The time is now.