Partisans Aren’t Fighting Antisemitism—They’re Fueling It

Antisemitism is not just on the rise in America—it’s becoming normalized. And disturbingly, much of that normalization is coming from the top.

According to the FBI’s most recent hate crime statistics, Jews, who make up just 2.4% of the US population, were the victims in 68% of all religious-based hate crimes in 2023. That’s 1,832 separate incidents. It marks a 63% spike from the previous year and the highest total since federal tracking began.

For American Jews, this isn’t an abstraction—it’s daily life. Many are afraid to wear a kippah or Magen David in public. College students are hiding their Jewish identity. Synagogues operate like fortresses. Armed guards are a routine expense for Jewish day schools and places of worship, not to enhance security, but to ensure basic survival.

We are the only religious group in America that needs armed protection just to gather and pray.

And yet, in the face of this growing danger, political leaders from both parties are failing us—because too many only call out antisemitism when it comes from the other side.

Hypocrisy on the Left

When Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted that US support for Israel is “all about the Benjamins,” she wasn’t just criticizing a foreign policy stance—she was invoking one of the oldest and most toxic antisemitic tropes: that Jews use money to control the government.

Instead of issuing a clear condemnation, House Democrats diluted the moment into a generic resolution condemning “all forms of hate.” Then-Congressman Ted Deutch gave a powerful floor speech asking why Congress couldn’t just call out antisemitism as antisemitism. “When someone uses antisemitic tropes,” he said, “we must be able to say that is antisemitism.”

But too often, Democratic leaders downplay or excuse antisemitism when it comes from progressives aligned with their agenda. Several members of “The Squad” have spread misinformation, engaged in dehumanizing rhetoric, and promoted blood libels about Israel deliberately targeting civilians—all while claiming moral high ground when Jewish communities are attacked.

Less than 48 hours after a group of Jews was firebombed while engaging in a walk to raise awareness for the hostages being held in Gaza, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was tweeting debunked blood libels claiming that Israeli forces were shooting at people as they sought food from a US and Israeli-organized humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza.

What is the response from Democratic leadership? Silence.

Hakeem Jeffreies never hesitates to make clear that he and the Democratic Caucus in the House stand with Israel. He’s unwavering in condemning antisemitism—unless it comes from a member of the caucus.

Hypocrisy on the Right

The Republican Party is no less culpable. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has compared COVID restrictions to the Holocaust, pushed antisemitic conspiracy theories, and associated with known extremists. Other GOP figures have appeared at events or on platforms with Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust denier and white nationalist. Donald Trump hosted Kanye West and Fuentes at his home for dinner. Multiple Republican members of Congress have appeared on Stew Peters’ show even though Peters regularly traffics in antisemitic tropes, including claims that Jews control all the central banks. Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was Donald Trump’s top choice to be Attorney General, brought a Holocaust denier as his guest to the State of the Union.

Instead of swift accountability, these actions are met with silence, deflection, or protection—so long as the offender remains useful to the party.

This selective outrage—where antisemitism is condemned based on who says it, not what is said—sends a chilling message: Jewish safety is conditional, and political expediency will always come first.

Antisemitism Needs to Be Named—Alone

When Jews are targeted, our pain should not be minimized by calls to mention every other form of hate in the same breath. Let’s be clear: Condemning antisemitism does not mean you are ignoring Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, or other injustices. But there is no moral requirement to balance hate crimes. If a community is being attacked, the response must be centered on that community.

We don’t respond to anti-Asian hate by saying “we condemn all prejudice.” We don’t talk about antisemitic violence by saying, “but let’s also not forget other kinds of hate.” This impulse to generalize is uniquely and unfairly applied to Jews. It dilutes urgency and undermines solidarity.

Authentic Leadership Exists—But It’s Rare

There are, thankfully, public servants who refuse to play politics with antisemitism. Rep. Ritchie Torres and Rep. Jared Moskowitz have been fearless in speaking out against antisemites in their own party and in the opposing one. They understand that moral clarity doesn’t change based on party lines. They’re not alone, but they’re part of a small contingent of principled leaders who refrain from considering politics when speaking out against hatred.

We need more leaders like them—and we need to hold every politician to the same standard, no matter how “aligned” they may seem with our other values.

Jews Must Demand More

American Jews cannot afford to be passive observers in this fight. We cannot let either party pretend that antisemitism is only the other side’s problem. It’s on both sides. It’s growing. And if we don’t call it out wherever it festers, it will consume us.

This is not about politics. It’s about survival. And silence, from friends or foes, is no longer an option.

Calling out antisemitism only when it comes from the other side of the aisle isn’t taking a principled stand, it’s taking a politically convenient one. We as Jews can’t allow ourselves to be used as political pawns.

Author’s Note: If you’re reading this and thinking, “But what about…?”—pause. Ask yourself why, when Jews are sounding the alarm about hate, the instinct is to qualify the concern instead of hearing it. That instinct is part of the problem.