When History Knocks Again: Jewish Philanthropy in an Age of Rising Antisemitism
Jews make up less than two-tenths of one percent of the world’s population. Yet our impact on global philanthropy is significant. Jewish donors have built hospitals, endowed universities, funded medical breakthroughs, and stood at the frontlines of social justice. For generations, we believed that by giving beyond ourselves, by living the principle of tikkun olam, repairing the world, we were building a more compassionate future for everyone.
But history has a way of knocking on our door when we least expect it. And today, as antisemitism rises across the globe, many Jews are asking a painful question: Where are our allies when we need them most?
When the News Feels Like Déjà Vu
Already in 2025, Jews have been attacked and harassed across nearly every continent. In Washington, DC, a gunman opened fire outside the Capital Jewish Museum during a Jewish event. In Boulder, Colorado, a Molotov cocktail attack on a solidarity walk left an elderly Jewish woman dead. On college campuses, Jewish students face hostility unseen in decades.
In Canada, synagogues and schools have been shot at and vandalized. In Australia, a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed while neo-Nazi mobs marched openly in the streets. Across Europe, Jewish parents are afraid to place mezuzahs on their doors. Synagogues defaced; children threatened; cemeteries desecrated.
And these are only the stories we hear. Countless threats never make headlines, whispered insults, playground swastikas, neighbors who look away.
The Promise We Believed In
After the Holocaust, “Never Again” wasn’t just a promise of Jewish survival; it was a moral code for humanity. We gave to medicine, climate, education, and justice. We believed that if we stood up for others, they would stand up for us. But history, as they say, often rhymes.
Israeli Politics Are Not an Excuse for Antisemitism
Debates over Israeli policy are legitimate, Israelis themselves argue passionately. But when those debates are used to justify harassment of Jewish students, vandalism of synagogues, or violence against Jews in the street, that is no longer politics. That is antisemitism. And too often, those who are loudest when other minorities are targeted fall silent when Jews are.
That silence cuts deeply because we believed solidarity would be reciprocal.
Why Jewish Giving Must Come Home
Does this mean Jews should stop giving to universal causes? Absolutely not. Giving is integral to being Jewish. But now is the moment to re-anchor our philanthropy in Jewish continuity and security. If we do not invest in Jewish education, identity, culture, and safety, who will?
Supporting Jewish institutions isn’t selfish; it’s urgent. Jewish survival underpins everything Jews contribute to the world: breakthroughs in medicine, leadership in justice, a passion for healing, and a commitment to humanity. If we disappear, so does that voice.
A Legacy for the Future
Our ancestors left us more than survival; they left us a mission. Now it is our turn to give not only to the world, but also to our people.
This is why initiatives like the Jewish Future Promise matter so much: by promising that at least half of our charitable giving will support Jewish and Israel-related causes, we ensure Jewish life, learning, and leadership will thrive for generations. We tell the world, and our grandchildren, that we will not be erased.
The Question That Remains
Yes, Jews will always give and show up when the world calls. But in this moment, we must ask: Will we show up for ourselves? Because history is knocking again, and if we do not answer the door, no one else will.
A Word to Our Allies
If you are not Jewish and you are reading this, please know: your voice matters. Antisemitism may begin with the Jews, but it never ends with the Jews. Societies that tolerate hatred of Jews soon turn on others as well. To stand against antisemitism, speak up, support Jewish friends and neighbors, and refuse to ignore these acts. Your solidarity, your courage, and your refusal to look away make a difference.
