Standing Against Racism

Freedom: The Foundation of America

One of the pillars of our country is Freedom. Being an American affords you freedom of speech, freedom of action, freedom to be the best version of yourself. Freedom to believe in any religion, love who you love, work in the job that makes you grow, and be a productive member of the community.

We are a country of immigrants of numerous ethnicities and beliefs. This diversity is our strength, built on the foundation that all people deserve respect, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive.

However, sometimes the lines with free speech get blurred, and in the age of the internet, everyone has a voice and nothing is verified—which frequently has a negative connotation, especially when it comes to religion, sexuality, and even ethnicity. Misinformation spreads faster than truth. Hate can be amplified with a single click. And the consequences are real.

Lately, racism took on a new-to-America trend: a surge in antisemitism unlike anything we've seen in generations. What was once unthinkable has become commonplace. What was once universally condemned is now debated in classrooms and celebrated on social media.

The Rise of Antisemitism

Since October 7, 2023—when Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds hostage—antisemitic incidents have surged to historic levels in the United States and around the world.

Jewish Americans—who make up less than 2.5% of the U.S. population—are the targets of nearly 60% of religious hate crimes. Jewish students are being harassed on college campuses. Jewish businesses are being vandalized. Jewish families are afraid to display mezuzahs on their doors.

This isn't about politics or foreign policy. This is about hatred of a people simply for who they are.

Understanding Jewish Identity

It's crucial to understand that being Jewish is not only a matter of faith—it's also an ethnicity. Jews are a people with a shared ancestry, history, culture, and language that extends back thousands of years.

This dual nature of Jewish identity means:

• You can be Jewish without being religious — Many Jews are secular or atheist, yet remain deeply connected to Jewish culture, history, and peoplehood
• You can be ethnically Jewish — Jewish ancestry can be traced through DNA, connecting Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, and other Jewish communities to their common Middle Eastern origins
• Antisemitism targets Jews as a people — Not just as practitioners of a religion. The Nazis didn't ask if Jews believed in God—they murdered them for their ancestry
• Jewish peoplehood transcends borders — Jews share a common heritage, whether they live in Israel, America, Europe, or anywhere else in the world
• Israel is the ancestral homeland — The Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel predates Islam and Christianity by over a thousand years

This is why dismissing antisemitism as merely "religious intolerance" fundamentally misunderstands what it is. When someone says "From the river to the sea" or denies the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, they're targeting Jews as a people—not as followers of a religion.

Why is Antisemitism Racism?

Antisemitism is a form of racism because it targets Jews as an ethnic and racial group, not merely as followers of a religion. Understanding this is essential to recognizing and combating antisemitism effectively.

• Jewish ethnicity — Being Jewish is both a faith AND an ethnicity with traceable ancestral DNA (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi origins in the Middle East)
• Targets people, not beliefs — Antisemitism attacks Jews as a people/race, not just as followers of a religion
• Historical basis — The Nazis didn't ask about religious practice—they targeted Jewish ancestry and bloodlines
• Racial hatred — Antisemites treat "Jewish" as a racial category and discriminate accordingly

This is why antisemitism must be understood as both a unique form of hatred with its own long history AND as part of the broader fight against racism in all its forms.

Recognizing Antisemitism

Antisemitism often hides behind seemingly innocent language. Learn to recognize these common tropes:

• "Globalists" or "elites" who secretly control everything — This is the "Jewish cabal" conspiracy theory repackaged
• Dual loyalty accusations — Claiming Jews are more loyal to Israel than their home country
• Blood libel references — False accusations about harming children
• Holocaust denial or minimization — "It wasn't that bad" or "the numbers are exaggerated"
• Comparing Jews to Nazis — A deliberate inversion designed to cause maximum pain
• "From the river to the sea" — A call for the elimination of Israel and its Jewish population

All Hate is Connected

Antisemitism rarely exists in isolation. The same ideologies that target Jews also target other minorities. Hate against any group threatens all of us.

Standing against antisemitism means standing against all forms of bigotry—racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and hatred of any kind. When we allow hatred of one group to flourish, we open the door to hatred of all.

What You Can Do

Leaders Speaking Out

Combating antisemitism requires leaders at every level to speak clearly and act decisively. Here's what some have said:

Resources

• FAQ: Standing Against Antisemitism — Common questions and answers
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — Education, monitoring, and reporting
• American Jewish Committee (AJC) — Advocacy and education
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — History and education
• International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance — Working definition of antisemitism

Hate has no home in America. Stand up. Speak out. Never again means now.