New York Jews: It’s Time To Stand And Fight

Yes, Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election. We knew that this was most likely the case. While 60% of our community righteously voted for Andrew Cuomo in hopes that a miracle could happen, the writing was always on the wall that the City would elect Mamdani. Never mind the antisemitism; his selective outrage against the Jewish state; or that none of his policies will ever be enacted because he will not wield the power to make them happen. Yet, a small majority of New Yorkers did not heed the warning signs in favor of “vibes” and raging against the machine.

But this is not–nor should it be–the beginning of the end of New York Jewry. Our history in this City goes back nearly four centuries. We fought in or helped finance the American Revolution. We contributed greatly to the economic, cultural, and spiritual life that made this City the metropolis it is today. We built (and rebuilt) schools, yeshivas, skyscrapers, and housing in this City. Additionally, we helped break down barriers that kept others from achieving the American Dream. Hell, we embody the American Dream! More relevantly, we have built institutions in this City that have helped spearhead a revival of Jewish pride and unity that nowhere other than the modern State of Israel has achieved. This is our legacy that nobody–not even the Democratic Socialists of America–can take away from us.

And we should not be so quick to let it all go. Is there cause to be concerned? Yes. Anti-Jewish hate crimes have skyrocketed over the past few years. We saw pro-Hamas protests with tens of thousands of people chanting genocidal, anti-Jewish slogans in our streets. Rabid antisemites hijacked the public school system to teach despicable curricula dedicated to demonizing the Jewish people–not just Israel–to fit their outrageous oppressor/oppressed narratives. Worse, the mainstream communal Jewish organizations have categorically failed to successfully combat these problems for inexplicable reasons. Yet this should not stop our resolve to dig in our heels and remain firm in our convictions openly and notoriously. Indeed, we have an entire legacy behind us that compels us to fight back.

Recall the following from Menachem Begin’s “The Revolt”:

[O]ut of blood and fire and tears and ashes a new specimen of human being was born, a specimen completely unknown to the world for over eighteen hundred years, ‘THE FIGHTING JEW.’ That Jew, whom the world considered dead and buried never to rise again, whom the world considered dead and buried never to rise again, has arisen. For he has learned that ‘simple truth’ of life and death, and he will never again go down to the sides of the pit and vanish from off the earth.

As eloquently outlined in Benjamin Kerstein’s “Self Defense: A Jewish Manifesto”, the Jewish people have had a long history of fighting back against evil forces. For example, it is a Torah obligation that we never forget what Amalek did to us at our weakest moments. And while we laud the bravery of the ZOB during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising as well as the chayalim who secured Israeli independence, American Jews remained far too attenuated from such spiritual and moral necessities to fight back against potential oppressors. And at a time where too many Jews–especially in communal leadership–seem keen to avoid conflict altogether, it ultimately becomes necessary for a paradigm shift. When a potential enemy is at the gates, we often do not have the luxury to “reason” with him. Instead, one must be ready to hold the line and defend the keep. As this election has shown us, we are no longer able to rely solely on reason. Other options must be explored.

To this end, I suggest that we correct the course on how we communally respond to this moment. It requires that we reaffirm who we are, what we stand for, and rally behind those who have the stomach to push back against whatever the incoming mayor and his loyalists have in store for us. In my opinion, it means that we consider ditching the ineffective leaders of our major communal organizations that stood idly by the past two years–and especially the past few months–when it became so evidently clear that our community was facing a generational crisis. It is not the time to play nice with those who seek appeasement in our ranks. We need to embrace a new mentality of Jewish self-defense. And sometimes, a good self-defense requires us to go on the offensive to call out evil for what it is without fear and without political correctness.

So where do we begin in this endeavor? It starts by reminding ourselves who we are and what we represent.

First, we are a nation that was given an incredible opportunity long ago to serve G-d when we assented to the Covenant at Sinai. HaShem gave us the secrets to living a meaningful and purpose-driven life through our written and oral traditions. If we are to stand firm in who we are, we should all have a better understanding of our values and principles as it provides the foundation that keeps our feet planted on the ground. I suggest that we start (or continue) to embrace the traditions and the ideals that our faith instills in us.

Second, we have outlasted our greatest oppressors over millennia. Because we accepted His covenant, HaShem has ensured that nobody can truly defeat us. Indeed, we have held off all attempts by savage empires, genocidal maniacs, and overzealous religious fanatics to accomplish their goal to kill all the Jews. So, facing another potential threat to our safety should not be cause for us to cower. In fact, we know how the story ends. I believe we should act like we are the eventual victors in this battle.

Finally, and most importantly in my opinion, we must assert that we are proud Americans who want to see this City and this country stand firm in its founding principles. This includes, inter alia, that of religious tolerance and free exercise. Anyone who seeks to revoke our people’s declarations of faith–including supporting the State of Israel and its communities in Judea and Samaria–stands thoroughly against the original public meaning of our Constitution. Moreover, we have ample civil rights protections at the local, state, and federal level that further guarantees the promises of liberty that were endowed by G-d to protect all Americans–including Jews. And we should assert those rights with alacrity.

So do not despair, New York Jews. It may be easy to turn and run, to relocate, and to seek greener pastures. And I respect those individualized choices. Nevertheless, I implore the community to take on the responsibility to stand and fight for our rights. To paraphrase Ze’ev Jabotinsky, we are New Yorkers and Americans like all other citizens regardless of background. We should not apologize for being Jewish. In fact, we should stand and fight to protect our place in the fabric in this City when those who seek to harass us try to push us away.

With the help of HaShem, we will make plain that we shall remain. It is time for the Fighting Jews of New York City to obtain its foothold and hold the line.