Jewish communities across the World find themselves grappling with a unique and disturbing blend of antisemitism, propelled by a global pro-Hamas movement. This challenge has left many Jewish leaders bewildered in their struggle to respond effectively. The current situation calls for a comprehensive, ambitious framework to understand and combat this contemporary form of hatred.
The Roots of the Current Challenge
Today's gloomy reality is the result of a long-term failure by Jewish communities in the West to engage the neutral 'middle ground' of mainstream in their societies. Meanwhile, anti-Israel groups successfully exploited the rise of identity politics to make support for Hamas trendy and relevant to many Americans. By framing their 'solidarity' with Hamas as an extension of the anti-racist struggle in the U.S., these groups have managed to co-opt progressive narratives and spaces.
The Jewish community's response has been largely chaotic and uncoordinated, reflecting a lack of shared understanding regarding both the challenge and the solution. Different and often contradictory approaches are being employed, targeting various audiences and sometimes generating a war of narratives within the community itself over the "right approach."
A New Framework: an American Issue
However, there is a way forward. The violence and extremism displayed in anti-Israel protests have made many Americans view these activists as agents of chaos and threats to America's democratic legacy. This situation presents an opportunity for Jewish communities to reframe antisemitism a symptom of a larger phenomenon that threaten American values and interests, which will allow forming coalitions against those who challenge the social order - be they left-wing campus protesters or right-wing extremists like those seen in Charlottesville.
This reframing is crucial. Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem; it's an American problem
that undermines core American values and interests. By presenting it as such, we can build broader coalitions and generate more effective responses.
The Challenge of Political Polarization
The elephant in the room, however, is the partisan divide over American values. In conversations with Jewish professionals and leaders, some express concern that in the current political climate, even a non-partisan campaign for American values risks being stigmatized as "right-wing." Moderate Democrats who might agree with us in theory may hesitate to align themselves with an effort that could be perceived as politically biased.
This polarization creates a dilemma for Jewish organizations seeking to build broad coalitions for American values. The potential approaches are reclaiming American values across the political spectrum, or reframing American values to uphold the highest ideals of American democracy, pluralism, and freedom.
The Need for a United (but not Unified) Response
The bitter truth, however, is that despite facing the highest wave of antisemitism since World War II, the Jewish community has struggled to present a unified front. This lack of cohesion has allowed antisemitism to continue unabated. Attempts to recreate the community cohesion seen during the struggle to free Soviet Jewry in the 1970s seem like a distant dream.
However, we argue that it's possible to achieve a "united but not unified" response based on some shared understanding. The specific terminology we use may be less critical than achieving a common understanding of how the erosion of American values fuels social problems, including antisemitism.
A Call for a Decentralized Approach
Our current challenge may benefit from a decentralized approach that allows for diverse strategies united by a shared understanding of the threat. To advance this vital conversation and encourage more effective responses, each Jewish community and organization should conduct its own strategic discussion and develop tailored strategies that align with the shared goal of combating antisemitism.
As long as there is a common understanding of how contemporary antisemitism undermines American and Western values, even highly diverse strategies will serve the purpose of mitigating the current rise in antisemitism.
The Jewish Community's Dilemma
The Jewish community finds itself in a bind, as it is identified with the existing social order that is being challenged from both right and left. Support for the State of Israel is also identified by some left-wing elements as aligned with an old order that needs to be overthrown. These factors, coupled with the realities of partisan politics and a desire for fundamental changes to political and economic systems among nearly 70% of Americans, make it difficult for the Jewish community to establish a consensual and effective strategy against antisemitism based on American values and interests.
A Path Forward: Universalizing the Challenge
We propose that the Jewish community's strategy should be based on one fundamental principle: the need to universalize the challenge. Framing antisemitism and anti-Zionism as theatres of a greater problem for America, not just for Jews or Israel, is crucial. This shared understanding can lead to diverse, effective campaigns with allies, such as: promoting American values; joint anti-hate initiatives; defending democracy; protecting Western values; advancing pluralism education; advocating for freedom of speech and religion.
The likely cumulative result of these diverse initiatives will be a collective action that is politically diverse yet cohesive in practice. This approach allows for varied responses united by a common understanding of the threat, resulting in a collective response that is both flexible and effective. Such an outcome is dependent of the willingness of as many Jewish organizations as possible to engage in a process of deliberation to determine what's most effective and aligns with their unique value proposition, priorities and values.
Conclusion: Strengthening America by Combating Antisemitism
By emphasizing shared values, the Jewish community can frame the combat against antisemitism as part of active citizenship and the protection of democratic institutions. This approach not only addresses the immediate threat of rising antisemitism but could have the collateral effect of strengthening Jewish cohesion and identity while also rebuilding the center in America in an updated, appealing way. In the face of rising extremism and hatred, the fight against antisemitism is not just a fight for Jewish Americans or a clear Israeli interest - it's a fight for the soul of America itself.
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