How To Think About the Rise in Antisemitism

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

But if I am only for myself, what am I?

If not now, when?"

This core Jewish teaching usually speaks to our individual choices. We need to advocate for ourselves. 

At the same time, our lives lack deep meaning when we do not serve others and engage in tikkun olam, healing and repair of our world.

But over the last two months, I have realized this teaching also applies to groups. The Jewish community is dedicated to helping others.

It thrives in the pursuit of tikkun olam, healing and repair of our world. It is a part of our spiritual DNA.

But without giving up one iota on our work for tikkun olam, there is an acute need right now "to be for ourselves." 

This need arises out of our shock and horror at the astounding rise in anti-semitism around the world.

What Happened?

As we know, on October 7th over 1200 Israelis were murdered and over 200 people taken hostage. This was the worst act of violence against a Jewish community since the Holocaust.

Over the last two months, as war has raged in the Gaza Strip and threatened the entire country of Israel, antisemitism has emerged in major cities, in universities, in social media around the world.

For the first time in my career, I've had several families contact me asking about the wisdom of traveling to particular places in Europe.

This outbreak of antisemitism does not reflect disagreement with Israel’s military response to October 7th. That is a subject for reasonable and thoughtful debate.

Rather, from what I have seen, many of the protests around the world exemplify classic antisemitism.

The 3 Ds Antisemitism Test

We can see the difference between legitimate criticism and antisemitism when we apply a test known as the 3 Ds. The 3Ds are demonization, double standards, and delegitimization.

Demonization is scapegoating Jews for the world’s problems and promoting conspiracy theories about Jewish power and control.

When applied to the current conflict in Israel, demonization is the idea that Jews are committing genocide against Palestinians.

How does trying to avoid civilian casualties in war amount to genocide?

Double standards emerge when a person or group targets Israel for criticism while ignoring the views and actions of other peoples and groups.

When applied to the current conflict, we see double standards in the popular protest call for a Palestinian state, "from the river to the sea."

That saying calls for one Palestinian state and no Jewish state. That's a double standard.

Delegitimization is attacking the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. Those who say that the state of Israel is a Western colonial power committed to stealing land from a native population are delegitimating the Jewish people's connection to our ancient homeland.

Criticizing Israel is not delegitimization. But questioning its right to exist is.

The rise of antisemitism not only demonstrates a delegitimization of Israel. It also undermines our common humanity.

Israel's president Isaac Herzog summed this up eloquently on November 6th, when he wrote,

"Against our will, we in Israel find ourselves at a tipping point for the Middle East and for the world, and at the center of what is nothing less than an existential struggle. This is not a battle between Jews and Muslims. And it is not just between Israel and Hamas. It is between those who adhere to norms of humanity and those practicing a barbarism that has no place in the modern world."

Speaking of our common humanity, let’s return to our original teaching for one moment.

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

But if I am only for myself, what am I?

And if now, when?"

Members of the Jewish community remain traumatized, grieving, and overwhelmed. So do all people of goodwill. We need to take care of ourselves. And we need to take care of one another. The time is now.