Normalization of Antisemitism Threatens American Democracy

Pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian protests on US university campuses won the battle for turning American soul if not against Jews (at least not yet) then for sure against Israel. It all started with the arrival of certain Arab academicians, most notably Edward Said and Rashid Khalidi who, and the financial support provided a few years later by Qatar were able to expand many departments of humanities into bastions of anti-Israel and anti-Zionist preaching, including turning settler-colonialism on its head and inciting violence and hatred of Israel. Coming October 7, 2023 all was in place and the fire was ignited not only in the south of Israel and Gaza but also on American campuses. All was noted, observed and recorded not just by general public but by social media and newspapers (yes, some are still around), and influencers. And the torch of hatred has been carried around the USA from campus to campus, from cities and college towns to the approval by cheering masses of students, some of them future US leaders. The same process has been repeated in Europe, Canada and Australia. And now anti-Zionism inspired radical Muslims and others already suffering from “ordinary” type of antisemitism to commit odious terrorist attacks even in countries not known for significant degree of antisemitism. The heinous shooting resulting in death of 15 people celebrating Chanukkah at Bondi Beach in Australia last December, recent shooting at synagogues in Toronto, and various events in the US should not surprise anybody.

Antisemitism in the US has been normalized in Academia, art and literary world, among intellectuals and among lawmakers and politicians on both sides of the aisle. As it used to thrive among occasional influencers and speakers who until recently were unwelcome in polite society now it is an inherent part of the vernacular. Some ordinary citizens approve of the terrorist attacks, including the ones at Bondi Beach and the murders of staffers of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC in May 2025 as a natural consequence of Israeli actions in Gaza. Bashing of Israel has become de rigueur at rock concerts, Eurovision, sports events and movie awards, including a likely criticism at the 98th Academy Oscar Awards ceremony on March 15 2026. What is most disturbing that many Jewish personalities, artists and celebrities seem to enjoy pouring more fire into the bonfire of hatred.

Until recently antisemitism appeared mostly among progressives and more radical leftists. Hasan Piker is one of them, though it is hard to tell what is the difference between him and the newly emerging anti-Semites on the right. Tucker Carlson, previously known as a conservative journalist and commentator, turned into a vicious and unscrupulous antisemite who does not have any inhibition in spreading conspiracies appealing to worst segments of American society. His latest outburst was aimed at Chabad-Lubavitch claiming that Chabad’s goal is to destroy Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock mosques in preparations for construction of the Third Temple and that Chabad is behind the war against Iran. He does not believe that Jews are indigenous to Israel and said the DNA analysis would prove it. Other personas such Candace Owens and Nicolas Fuentes spread similar nonsense on TV and social media to attentive audiences consisting to large extent of young people.

Yes, it is bad enough these antisemites attract large young audiences but it is even worse and more threatening that antisemitism is normalized among our political elite, mostly on the left. Many would be candidates for Congress in midterm elections in November 2026, or even candidates in preparation for presidential elections in 2028 feel compelled to denounce Israel as an apartheid state that is committing genocide in Gaza. Even some Jewish candidates who claimed to support Israel turned 180o to gain support by whom? Antisemites? Do we have so many antisemitic voters that the candidates feel the nudge to humiliate themselves, to betray their own tribe to gain entry into the Congress, the American sacrosanct temple? And do the two aspiring presidential Democratic candidates such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), a Congress Representative, and lately Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California have to pepper their public speeches and appearances with denouncements of Israel as an apartheid state committing genocide? OK, AOC, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist has been doing this for some years, but Gavin Newsom? Et tu mi fili? Perhaps he should retake his SAT exam so he can do more reading and score above 1,000! He is not the only one, after all Zohran Mamdani made anti-Israel agenda part of his successful election platform, and he is busy implementing it as the Mayor of New York City. And how about the DNC report written in consultation with the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, an anti-Israel think tank supported by radical pro-Palestinian organizations, if not by Al-Jazeera itself. The report attributed loss of Democrats and of Kamala Harris to Trump in 2024 elections to Biden’s support for Israel. Baruch Hashem that she did not become our president!!
Antisemitism became Modus vivendi for some people and as such has been incorporated as legitimate component of political discourse. This is what I call normalization of antisemitism, something we need to fight it, and not just for our own sake. Antisemitism presents a big threat to democracy in America as we know it. I do not like to repeat a cliché, but I need to do it: First they came for Jews, then they came for others. As I pointed out above, some members of our tribe feel that for them to get ahead or even survive they need to appease their haters. So how should we proceed?

According to Bret Stephens, the well-respected NYT columnist, fighting antisemitism per se is not as important as Jewish education. He proposes big investment into Jewish Day Schools that would transform Jewish kids into proud Jews. I am afraid that this takes a lot of time and it is not enough. What we need now, to influence social media, by writing articles, blogs etc., by giving lectures why antisemitism is wrong and point out to people how antisemites spread lies and how close their thinking is to Nazis.

Yes, we need more Jewish schools and they need to be more affordable, but this will take years. Before this would bring fruit we need to inject more Jewish and Israel education into our university campuses, we need to encourage faculty, especially young faculty to push back against antisemitic events and faculty, to bring Jewish, including Israeli speakers and engage support of university administrators. We need Kenneth Marcus, the founder and chairman of Brandeis center for legal support. We need to fund more centers like this and great leaders like him, and we need it fast. We need to convince faculty not to be afraid to act because students depend on their leadership. And a just published book by Izabella Tabarovsky (Be a Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide) with an introduction by Nathan Sharansky, the refusenik par excellence should be distributed as a gift to all Jewish students, faculty and others to imbue courage and resilience. This can be done at Hillel and Chabad Houses all over the country.

We also need new think tanks populated with young thinkers and activists, and not just Jewish. Perhaps we need to look for allies among moderate Muslims, Black Americans and other minorities. Seeking out moderate Muslims for allyship should be our priority. I know they are around, most are afraid to speak up, afraid of their more radical (and dangerous) co-religionists. Moderate Muslims need more support from us as many of them are afraid of severe consequences. And bringing enlightenment, hascalah to Islam has a great potential for bringing Islam into the 21st century.