How to Fight Anti-Semitism
Jewish Students putting on Tefillin in front of an anti-Israel encampment on a college campus
In 2020, Bari Weiss resigned from The New York Times, citing a hostile work environment and experiences of anti-semitic harassment. Since then, she has emerged as a powerful voice for Jewish resilience and moral courage.
In her award-winning book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism, Weiss writes that like many American Jews, she once believed the United States would remain immune to the historic waves of antisemitism. With its founding principles of religious freedom, equality, and pluralism, America has served as a modern-day “New Jerusalem.” Yet today, even the most fortunate Jewish communities are beginning to encounter the “three-headed dragon” of anti-Semitism: physical violence, ideological vilification, and a pressure to self-silence or assimilate.
Historically, Jews have responded to anti-Semitism in different ways. Some confronted it defensively through advocacy and intercultural dialogue, others sought safety by assimilating or minimizing their Jewish identity in hopes of gaining broader acceptance, while others placed their hopes in the dream of a sovereign secular Jewish state—believing that, as a nation among nations, Jews might finally be accepted as equals. Unfortunately, these strategies have not been effective in eliminating anti-Semitism.
During a powerful speech at the Jewish Federation’s General Assembly in Washington, D.C., Bari Weiss delivered a sobering message: many of the institutions that have turned against the Jewish people were, in fact, funded by members of the Jewish community itself.
She said, "Walk through a museum whose staff would never hire an Israeli curator—and look at the names above the galleries. Visit a university, see the names on the buildings—and then ask, what is being taught inside?"
Weiss challenged the audience to reflect: How did we get here? And how can we ensure that the institutions we build truly reflect our values and identity?
Bari Weiss, who describes herself as having grown up politically liberal and not particularly observant, argues that hiding one’s Jewish identity or downplaying our distinctiveness has never succeeded in appeasing anti-Semites. Jews will always be viewed as different—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Pretending otherwise is not only ineffective but also dishonest.
Instead, Weiss offers a radically different approach: fight anti-Semitism by living proud, knowledgeable, and connected Jewish lives. Her call to action includes:
Know who you are: Deepen Jewish learning and connection to tradition.
Build community: Create Jewish spaces of resilience and belonging.
Stand up proudly: Embrace your Jewish identity, your Jewish values, and your traditions without apology.
Remarkably, especially in the aftermath of October 7, we are witnessing a powerful shift: a widespread and unprecedented embrace of Jewish identity across the global Jewish community.
During these challenging times for Israel and Jews worldwide, we find ourselves thrust into the public eye. Whether in the workplace, on college campuses, or during casual conversations, our Jewish identity is often questioned—or even attacked. These moments may tempt us to retreat, to soften our views, or to stay silent in order to preserve relationships or avoid controversy.
But true peace and mutual respect are not born from silence or compromise. They come from confidence and clarity. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, famously taught—drawing inspiration from the Rebbe—“Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism. And non-Jews are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism.” The Rebbe empowered us to fulfill the verse: “And all the nations of the world shall see that G-d’s name is called upon you, and they shall be in awe of you.” We must never be ashamed to stand tall as Jews.
In Hebrew, the word for peace, shalom, comes from the root shalem, meaning "wholeness." True peace does not come from fragmentation or denial of who we are, but from embracing our full identity with strength and honesty. Lasting peace—within ourselves, our communities, and the world—comes only when it is rooted in truth.
To confront anti-Semitism effectively, we must understand its deeper origins. It did not begin with the Jewish people’s return to Israel, the tension with its Arab neighbors, or any specific political policy. Long before the modern state of Israel, Jewish communities in Israel and elsewhere were subjected to violence and hatred simply for existing. The Talmud teaches that after the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, introducing an absolute Divine morality into the world, anti-Semitism arose as a resistance to that moral voice. Those who oppose goodness often see the Jewish people and the Torah as their greatest threat.
This is why anti-Semitism, while targeting Jews, ultimately threatens all of humanity. It's not just an attack on one people—but an attack on conscience and moral clarity itself.
The Torah offers a clear response. In this week’s portion, Naso, we read the timeless priestly blessing:
"May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His face toward you and grant you peace." (Numbers 6:24–26)
Peace is central to Jewish life—but true peace must come from a place of strength, not weakness.
The Land of Israel is not merely a national homeland—like Spain is to the Spanish or China to the Chinese—but a spiritual anchor for the Jewish people. The Torah teaches that every Jew, no matter where they live, is forever connected to this land. It is G-d’s eternal gift to the Jewish people—a place that empowers us to fulfill our divine mission and be a light unto the nations.
The Talmud also teaches: “If someone rises to kill you, rise and kill him first.” (Sanhedrin 72a) Peace must be accompanied by security. A nation—and an individual—must take proactive steps to protect what is sacred. Judaism places the greatest value on the sanctity of human life and the need to protect it in case of danger. By taking the offensive and neutralizing the enemy before they carry out their evil intentions, the loss of innocent lives is greatly minimized on both sides of the conflict, thereby establishing lasting peace.
When we understand this “wholeness,” we can engage the world not from fear or defensiveness, but with dignity and clarity. Whether on the global stage or in everyday life, we create peace when we stand for who we are and live by the values that define us.
As we recently celebrated Shavuot—the anniversary of receiving the Torah—we are reminded that our strength lies in our values, our traditions, and our unity. May we each be blessed to represent our people with pride and to bring light into the world through our actions.
We believe that by collectively embracing our mission—bringing more light into the world through Torah study, the observance of mitzvot, and sharing a moral, ethical, and compassionate worldview rooted in the Divine—we can help eradicate anti-Semitism and pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity for all humanity with the coming of Moshiach.
May we soon witness the fulfillment of the prophecy:
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
