Twenty-three years ago, visiting Germany for the first time, I was startled to discover that synagogues and other Jewish sites were guarded round-the-clock by the police. To attend Sabbath services at the shul on Berlin's Joachimstaler Strasse, I had to pass an armed guard and a metal detector. I was glad that in America such things were unknown.
In those days, I used to scoff when some American Jews, responding to opinion surveys, would claim that antisemitism in the United States was "a very serious problem." Their paranoia, I thought, was groundless. After all, Jews have been embraced in America with a degree of tolerance and goodwill unparalleled in Jewish history.
I don't think it's groundless any more.
In a brutal attack Saturday night, a machete-wielding man burst into a Hanukkah celebration in the home of a Hasidic rabbi in Monsey, N.Y. Screaming "Hey, you, I'll get you," he stabbed and wounded five people, then tried to enter the synagogue next door. When the attacker wasn't able to get in — people inside the synagogue, hearing the uproar from the rabbi's house, had locked the door — he fled by car. A suspect, Grafton Thomas, was later arrested in Harlem, still covered in the victims' blood.
It was a terrible assault — but the most terrible thing about it is that it was only the latest in a barrage of violence against Jews in America. In October 2018 a gunman murdered 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Last April, another shooter opened fire at a Chabad synagogue in Poway, Calif. For Jewish sites across the country, beefing up security — and finding the money to pay for it — has become an acute concern. At my synagogue, as at many others, an armed guard now stands watch during Sabbath services.
The drumbeat of antisemitic violence is increasing. Earlier this month, two assailants rampaged at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City, killing three bystanders and a police officer. The bloodbath could have been unspeakably worse: According to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, the killers' real target was a yeshiva elementary school upstairs, where 50 children could hear the gunfire below.
"There was an attack on Jewish New Yorkers almost every day last week," noted CNN on Sunday. In reality, there have been physical attacks on Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn for months — "a typhoon of violence," Tablet magazine described it back in July, with "no evident organizing principle behind it aside from pure hostility against targets that are unmistakably Jewish." To the consternation of many in New York's Jewish neighborhoods, this "slow-rolling pogrom" triggered no sense of urgency on the part of New York authorities or the media.
Was that because the attackers weren't white supremacists?
For the last several years, in the wake of proliferating online antisemitism from the "alt-right" and especially after the shootings in Pittsburgh and Poway, the conventional wisdom has been that the most dangerous Jew-hatred is a right-wing phenomenon, intimately bound up with white-supremacist fanaticism. The neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville, chanting "Jews will not replace us," epitomized that paradigm. So did Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh mass shooter, who declared that "all Jews must die" and railed against immigrants.
But antisemitism is equally a phenomenon of the left. In our hyperpolarized environment, many liberals choose to denounce Jew-hatred only when it can be blamed on the right, while diehard conservatives prefer to focus on antisemitic tropes that crop up on the left. Immediately after the Jersey City murders, Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib was quick to pin the bloodshed on "white supremacy" — obviously unaware that the killers were, in fact, followers of a militant black supremacist cult.
Above: Neo-Nazi David Duke (l) and Representative Ilhan Omar.
When it comes to hating Jews, left and right make common ground. For example: The far right spins deranged conspiracy theories about a Zionist Occupation Government that controls US foreign policy, while the far left paints AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, as a uniquely malignant force. "This absence of a dividing line between left and right when it comes to antisemitism," observed Emory University's renowned historian Deborah Lipstadt, "was evident when former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke clicked 'like' on Representative Ilhan Omar's tweet claiming that American support of Israel is 'all about the Benjamins baby.'"
If the long, bitter history of antisemitism teaches anything, it is that "the oldest hatred" can take any shape and adapt to any ideology. Nazis or Communists, Christians or Muslims, Trump backers or Trump foes, white extremists or black extremists — hostility to Jews grows in any soil. And if you condemn antisemitism only when it comes from the team you oppose, you haven't condemned a thing.
Jew-hatred thrives where Jew-haters are tolerated: Therefore they must not be tolerated. For most of the postwar decades, a powerful taboo made antisemitism largely intolerable. But that taboo is breaking down, and Jews are again endangered. Even in America, where that was once unthinkable.
This article originally appeared in The Boston Globe.
(16) PermReader, April 30, 2020 8:54 PM
Learn more,talk less.
Learn at Israelis how to fight,live and survive. The diaspora athmosphere is not healthy one.
(15) Anonymous, January 3, 2020 12:27 PM
This nightmare seems to be global and growing. I am unable to discern any action by Israel or Jewish people anywhere that could trigger this, even by the most illogical mind. My feeling is that the source is supernatural in nature and utterly evil and hateful towards Hashem's chosen people. I think that Moschiac is coming very soon and that things here on earth are going to change drastically for the better.
My preference is to share my name, however, I have a young cousin who I share a unique and rare last name with. May Hashem bless and protect HIS people.
(14) Anonymous, January 2, 2020 11:29 PM
Finally
Finally an article that points out the antisemitism exists on the left as well as the right. It is overdue. Thank you
(13) Walter Reichman, January 2, 2020 4:26 PM
What do we do about it?
We all now understand the problem. The question now is what do we do about it? We are attacked from the left and the right. I think more articles pointing this out is important so that the problem for Jews is perceived above and beyond partisan politics. But, we also need some concrete action plans and that is the creativity needed.
Anonymous, January 5, 2020 4:06 AM
Here is an answer- must read!!!!!!!
For practical solutions read the following article in The American Spectator: "Left Democrats and Their In-House Jew-Haters Are Leveraging Anti-Semitic Attacks for Cynical Political Gain
As an Orthodox Rabbi, I am deeply offended by them. "
by Dov Fischer.
Clifton, January 9, 2020 12:58 PM
Agree
It is tough when 7 out of 10 people who identify as being Jewish support the democrats. It is like giving them the rope and lumber to build gallows. Bernie Sanders would be the worse thing.
Yet he has support from the Jewish block.
Raymond, January 9, 2020 7:34 PM
Jewish Democrats
Clifton, while I would be the first one to agree with you as far as the political leanings that most American Jews are, I would hardly blame that for the rise in antisemitism. If anything, when anybody attacks even Radical Leftist Jews in that manner, I suddenly shed my Republican garb, and come to defend my Jewish people, right or wrong. I am a little sick and tired of Jews getting blamed for everything, even for the antisemitic attacks done against them. Isn't six million dead Jews enough to satisfy the bloodthirsty proclivities of the antisemites of this world?
(12) Anonymous, January 2, 2020 12:56 PM
A VERY slight silver lining
Unlike in 1930s Berlin, we have social media. All of this horrible news travels incredibly fast, which gives us the ammunition to stand up and say we will NOT tolerate anti Semitism no matter where it comes from. The violence has been growing like a cancer, but I for one refuse to hide out in my house. I will continue to daven at my Shul as I have done before.
(11) Anne, January 1, 2020 10:18 PM
more lawsuits needed!
Why not more Jewish organizations suing FaceBook for allowing the hate sites to exist???? Zuckerberg's excuse for allowing hate speech should not be protected by the 1st amendment. We need better attorneys to fight this evil tool of the anti-Semites!
Natan, January 2, 2020 9:29 AM
Useless
The real Jew hatred is at a grass-roots level. The media outlets are simply a reflection of the people, in this case.
Yes, it's a hard truth to face.
They don't need your/our permission to hate us. Some of the most virulent enemies of our past have been very educated about us and experts in whatever other field they were in.
It has nothing to do with ignorance - accept that you/we will NOT educate them into accepting us.
The inverse is also true. Namely, we do NOT owe them an explanation. We need to do what we are charged with and make it clear we don't need their approval. When we explain, it only weakens us in their eyes (and in our own).
Visions of a long-lasting golden era for Jews in America are proving to be wrong before our very eyes.
Europe is obviously worse.
The best way to fight Jew hatred is to put our money where our mouths are (we say it every day in our Amidah prayer) - move to Israel. This is not Zionism - this is Judaism.
As usual, G-d is reminding us through our enemies what the basic facts are: The enemy doesn't separate Jew and Israel - neither should we...
Yoni, January 3, 2020 4:42 AM
Your statement that the golden age in America may be coming to an end resonates with me. This is golus, the way it’s been through the ages. Hashem has granted us a merciful reprieve for 75 years, however that looks like it may be coming to an end....
I’m really unsure that the answer would be to move to Eretz Yisroel. Is it safer there? On the contrary, our enemies there are more motivated and more vicious. The only true solution is Moshiach. Until he arrives, we need to daven, strategize and do whatever legal self defense measures that are possible.
Nancy, January 5, 2020 10:18 PM
Re: Making Aliyah
Many aish commenters have said this is the solution to the problem of anti Semitism in America. However, for many people this is not a realistic option. It is not for me or anyone else to judge or criticize them. Re: A solution. First, I refuse to hide out in my home. Second, I will remain as security conscious and vigilant as I have always been. Third, I will never forget that we Jews are a family. Period.
(10) Anonymous, January 1, 2020 6:21 AM
Check this out.
I recommend the following article just posted on The American Spectator which gets down to the nitty gritty:
Left Democrats and Their In-House Jew-Haters Are Leveraging Anti-Semitic Attacks for Cynical Political Gain
As an Orthodox Rabbi, I am deeply offended by them.
by Dov Fischer.
(9) David Kralstein, January 1, 2020 4:39 AM
beautifully simple and on point
Jacoby's precise and insightful commentary put into words the salient message that opposition to anti-semitism should come because the anti-semitism itself is deplorable and completely unacceptable , and NOT because it came from someone with an opposing political agenda.
(8) Yoni, January 1, 2020 3:20 AM
The Left is scarier
While it’s 100% true that there is anti semitisim both on the right and the left and both are equally despicable, there’s on major distinction between them. The alt right is disdained by the mainstream Republican Party whereas the anti semites in the democrat party are considered valued and respected members. If prewar Germany is any indication, the time when we need to reassess our place here is the time when our government turns against us. Thank G-d we have not reached that point yet but I fear that we are only a couple of election cycles away from that...
Anonymous, January 1, 2020 3:19 PM
It's on both sides.
It's not just the neo-nazi alt. right. But, Israel needs U.S. support. We give 3.8 billion a year for their security. Our protection comes from HaShem, but the U.S. is an instrument in their support.
We need to demand right here, right now, the killing stops. The lid needs to be put back on, and it bothers me that I truly believe Trump contributes to the climate. He is not anti-semitic, but his words will linger, and they are outrageous. Implying Jews have a dual loyalty, what he says about them and money. And in Charlottesville he needed to make a clear distinction, his message was blurred and it unleashed permission in the minds of haters. I support his executive order, he had a beautiful Chanukah message, probably written by someone else, on the White House website. But, he needs to do more, and zip it. All I have read here for 2 years is about the looney left; you all on the right need to tell him to stop with the mixed messages. You want our vote for him, tell him to stop. Now.
Raymond, January 4, 2020 6:29 PM
As Sure as Death and Taxes
I knew that somebody in this discussion who is suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome would use antisemitism is just another excuse to bash our strongly pro-Israel President Donald J Trump. It is as guaranteed as is both death and taxes. Those who engage in such activity, needs to stop. Now.
Anonymous, January 5, 2020 10:33 AM
Seems to me
for those engaging in the hero worship of Trump, that they are in the best position to explain to him how he could possibly obtain the Jewish vote from the Left, representing the majority of the Jewish vote in the U.S. He has voiced his disappointment over this. As long as this majority, in my opinion, continues to see the devastation and the ways he contributes, I don't see them budging.
In the end, it is Torah study and HaShem that will keep us, sustain us, not Trump. The hero worship is misguided.
Raymond, January 5, 2020 3:06 PM
Worshiping Trump
Unlike the Radical Left, which is ultimately based on atheism, we political conservatives have no need to worship any human being, as we are too busy worshiping the One True G-d of the Torah. We simply have the good sense to appreciate just how good that President Trump is for both us Jews, and for America. He really is Making America Great Again.
Anonymous, January 5, 2020 3:42 PM
The Alt Right
There is a beautiful article on Aish today about the Orthodox woman, politician; a Democrat. And, that is where most Jews are, in the U.S. - identifying as Democrats. Including many Orthodox, Torah observant.
The alt. Right of neo Nazi murderers, that have come out from under their rocks with the increase of antisemitic barbarism, is as or worse, than the radical left you rage against. Both are extremes that need to be curbed.
And, it is my solemn Prayer that in the next election, we will have great leadership that will bring us to a middle path, unfolding. We have lost our way; rather than a great again America, we are losing our Soul.
Raymond, January 7, 2020 6:25 AM
Antisemitism in America
Antisemitism in America today is coming overwhelmingly from the Radical Left. We can see this not only in the likes of such Democrats as the Squad (Ilhan Omar, Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib), and not only from proud, anti-Israel Marxists such as the Jewish-born Bernie Sanders, but also in all of the other Democrats running for President, all of whom support the Iran Deal, which basically would have handed nuclear weapons to Iran for the sole purpose of destroying the Jewish State of Israel. Meanwhile, Republican after Republican, led by President Trump himself, are consistently strong supporters of the Jewish State of Israel. Yet this does not seem to phase Radical Leftist Jews at all, who insist on supporting Democrats who are hostile to Israel, while lambasting Republicans who are the best friends that our Jewish State of Israel ever had. It boggles the mind.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, January 2, 2020 4:07 PM
ALL anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONISM is equally Dangerous
I am a Biblical Christian from 'Amerika' - and decades long time Zionist - a dogmatic supporter of "Israel" - the "Jewish" people - and your God given eternal homeland
- There are an increasing number of pseudo-Christians who seem to be 'conservative' in their beliefs - But they are very-very Dangerous because of the "subtilty" of their 'Yea, hath God said, ......' (Genesis 3:1 ~ KJV) strongly held anti-God \ anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONIST Religious Beliefs \ Doctrines \ Philosophies
- For they are ALSO following 'a lying spirit' - which is written about ONLY in 1 Kings 22:15 -> -and- 2 Chronicles 18:4 ->
- And they intentionally mask their dogmatic false Religious Beliefs by 'proving' them by the use of Biblically out-of-context private interpretation of verses from the Bible
- And - Just as Joseph Goebbels, the 'Minister of Propaganda' in Nazi Germany said ONLY 70-80 years ago
- 'A lie once told remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes 'truth' . . .
If you repeat a lie often enough, people will come to believe it.'
.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, February 12, 2020 5:33 PM
Increasing anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONISM in 'Amerika'
ADL: White supremacist propaganda circulation leaps 120% - WIN - 12 Feb 2020
--- 'Incidents of white supremacist propaganda distributed across the nation jumped by more than 120% between 2018 and last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League, making 2019 the second straight year that the circulation of propaganda material has more than doubled.' ---
.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, February 12, 2020 6:31 PM
Increasing anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONISM in 'Amerika'
White supremacist propaganda hits record high in US - Jerusalem Post - 12 Feb 2020
Chants of ‘6 million more,’ and ‘The Holocaust didn’t happen, but it should have’ heard at one white supremacist protest disrupting a Holocaust memorial event.
- WARNING - Blatant Illustrations of very real anti-Jewish hatred included.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, February 13, 2020 10:34 AM
US Military and the 'Tolerance' of anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONISM
- For even the US Military is being 'lulled' about their very real DANGER
Neo-Nazi Group Membership May Not Get You Booted from Military, Officials Say - 12 Feb 2020 - Military com
--- Membership in a white supremacist or neo-Nazi group won't necessarily get a U.S. service member tossed out of the military, defense officials told a House subcommittee Tuesday.
.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, February 14, 2020 5:36 PM
Increasing 'Religious' anti-"JEW" \ anti-"ISRAEL" \ anti-ZIONISM in 'Amerika'
Denying their parent and embracing their assassin - JNS - 13 Feb 2020
--- Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians are safe.
- Yet some churches dump on the Jewish state, not only assisting the mortal threat it faces from Palestinian Muslims, but ignoring the threat those people pose to the church itself.
.
(7) David Levine, January 1, 2020 1:49 AM
THE Problem Here
Mr. Jacoby is absolutely correct that not calling out the anti-Semitism of "your team" is the same as not calling it out at all. the problem is that the anti-Semitism of the right is routinely called out BUT THE ANTISEMITISM OF THE LEFT IS IGNORED. The antiSemitism of the "white nationalists" is routinely called out BUT THE ANTISEMITISM OF THE BLACKS IS IGNORED AND DENIED BY THEIR DEFENDERS AN EXAMPLE BEING THE FAMILY OF THE MONSEY KILLER AND THE MEDIA'S INITIAL EAGERNESS TO GO ALONG WITH THEM.
So yes, the antiSemitism of the right and white nationalists is just as evil as the anti-Semitism of those who enjoy the protection of the mainstream media and mainstream Jewish organizations.
(6) David Rice, January 1, 2020 12:04 AM
It is time to identify the real enemy
There is no question that the extremists on both ends of the spectrum promote anti-semitism. However, if one looks at history, anti-semitism started growing at the end of the 90s and when Obama came to power it really took its roots. With Soros and others like him funding it, and with the Muslim immigration in the US without any vetting whatsoever, anti-semitism took off like the new Russian hypersonic missile. Even now the MSM paints anti-semitism as a racial issue with Afro-Americans attacking Jews. The fact is that most of these attacks by Afro-Americans are attacks by Radicalized Muslims which our Government along with all Western Governments want to hide. It is time to tell the press and our Government that we are entitled to the truth as to whose these brutal murderers are. If we don't' know our enemy we cannot protect ourselves or our community.
Raymond, January 4, 2020 7:56 PM
And the Truth Shall Set You Free
Thank you for telling the real truth about things. It in itself can be so refreshing. Unfortunately, some people can't handle the truth, and thus was borne the phenomenon of political correctness.
(5) Richard, December 31, 2019 9:27 PM
Biblical illiteracy
As biblical illiteracy arises in any culture, as it did in pre-Nazi Germany and now in Post War America, antisemitism will also rise in direct proportion.
Bro. Nick Nicholas, January 2, 2020 8:42 PM
AMEN ! ! !
To the comment by Richard I add a hearty ~ AMEN ! !
- For "it is written" ~ "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(4) CHARLES ARMAN, December 31, 2019 8:00 PM
Hitler
Hitler united the left and right by blaming all the problems on the News. It rained or it did not rain its all the fault of the Jess. We may be headed for a repeat performance.
(3) Annie Donnelly, December 31, 2019 7:51 PM
Informative
Very interesting, informative but so sad. Hard to believe that this much hatred exists in this world.
(2) RamBam, December 31, 2019 7:13 PM
Ignore the obvious
Even here the author fails to mention that the vast majority of attackers are Black or Hispanic. They have been egged on by liberal leadership to hate Jews and they can easily see that the media and other leftists turn a blind eye to their racist behavior. It’s only racism or a hate crime if it can somehow be blamed on Trump.
Anonymous, January 4, 2020 7:59 PM
Maimonides
I can see why you call yourself the Rambam, because like him, you are committed to the uncompromising truth. You said the truth like it needs to be said.
(1) Anonymous, December 31, 2019 5:40 PM
"It Thrives Where Tolerated"
Excellent article ! Why is it tolerated once again, why has the taboo broken down? As a People we must be United against antisemitism, from every single place it arises. We must be accepting and tolerant of the differences between us as Jews. No more division and rhetoric toward other Jews of differing affiliations, political or denominational.
There is no right, left, orthodox or reform when it comes to antisemitism and we must stand together, united as One People.
Our purpose is to bring the Light of Torah to the Nations. One word, and action at a time. Stand Against Hatred of Jews, where ever its source, and it is both on the left and the right. Both parties are to blame.
The taboo must once again be unbroken.