Why Every Jew Must Be an Activist

One year has passed since the horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, and yet, for many of us, the wounds remain open. Over 1,200 dead, 250 were kidnapped, and 101 are still held captive in Gaza. As the Jewish people, we are no strangers to tragedy, nor are we strangers to the unsettling reality of having to rebuild even before we’ve had the chance to mourn. But this time, as we face rising antisemitism both at home and abroad, the need for action feels more urgent than ever.

We cannot afford to sit idly by and hope things improve. To be Jewish today and not engage in advocacy is to stick your head in the proverbial sand. Our history has shown us what happens when we remain passive in the face of hate. We must stand up, speak out, and fight back against the rising tide of antisemitism—because no one else will do it for us.

In the last year, I’ve spoken at countless high schools about antisemitism, bullying, and the danger of silence. It’s in these rooms, facing young students, that I often feel the gravity of our responsibility. Our generation is tasked with ensuring that the hatred of the past does not repeat itself. And it’s not enough to teach our children to be proud Jews—we must also teach them to be active Jews.

The example that comes to mind is from a recent talk I gave at El Segundo High School, just outside Los Angeles. The request to speak didn’t come from a teacher or an administrator. It came from a high school student—an ordinary teenager—who decided that she could no longer stand idly by as swastikas were carved into desks and threats against Jewish students were dismissed as ‘not that serious.’ She dared to stand up, to ask for help, and to demand that something be done.

At that moment, she wasn’t just standing up for herself. She was standing up for all of us. And if a high school student can have that kind of bravery, then we as a community must ask ourselves: What are we doing?

Too often, we hear Jews say, “I’m not political,” or “That’s not my fight.” But to exist as a Jew in today’s world is to be part of the fight, whether you like it or not. Antisemitism is not going away, and it’s not something we can escape by staying quiet or blending in. It has always been true that hatred doesn’t need a reason to attack Jews, but in this day and age, to not respond makes us complicit in our own marginalization.

We are witnessing, right now, the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric and actions in public spaces. On college campuses, Jewish students are increasingly targeted with hostile protests and anti-Israel boycotts. In social media, we see casual comments about “Jewish power” and conspiracy theories thriving in the mainstream. Hate crimes against Jews are rising at alarming rates, and too often, the response from the broader community is either silence or half-hearted platitudes.

We can no longer afford to wait for someone else to act. We must all become advocates, whether in our personal lives, our workplaces, our schools, or our synagogues. It’s not enough to post about antisemitism on social media once in a while or to shake our heads when another hate crime is reported on the news. Real activism requires us to stand up—just like that brave high school student in El Segundo—and demand our voices be heard.

This is not just about defending Israel, although that is undoubtedly part of it. This is about protecting our right to exist as Jews, wherever we are. It’s about ensuring that the next generation can grow up in a world where being Jewish is not something to hide or downplay but something to be proud of.

Being Jewish means being part of a 4,000-year legacy of survival, resilience, and strength. But it also means being part of a legacy of responsibility. Our sages teach us that all of Israel is responsible for one another. That is not just a spiritual or moral concept but a call to action. If we do not stand up for ourselves, who will?

Look around you: we live in a time when the world is once again turning its back on the Jewish people. Our enemies are not in the shadows; they are in plain sight. And yet, as antisemitism rises, too many Jews remain on the sidelines, hoping that someone else will take up the fight.

We can no longer afford to be passive. Each of us has a role to play. Whether it’s speaking out against antisemitic comments in your workplace, joining advocacy organizations, educating your children, or simply showing up at a rally, we must all take action. The time for relying on others is over. The time for hoping that antisemitism will disappear on its own has passed. Now is the time for us to raise our voices, to be unafraid, and to declare that we will not be silenced.

I often think back to that young girl from El Segundo. She took a stand not because she had all the answers but because she dared to say, “Enough is enough.” If a high school student can find the strength to take on this fight, then we must all find it within ourselves to do the same.

So, let this be our call to action. If we want to ensure a future where Jewish children can grow up without fear, if we’re going to leave a legacy of pride and resilience, then we must all become activists. Every one of us.

Because, in the end, the greatest threat to the Jewish people is not just the hatred we face. It is the indifference of those who choose to do nothing.