This Isn’t Just Jewish history. It’s Jewish Reality
On October 7th I landed in Lisbon for vacation with my mom and opened up the NYT app to see that Hamas had sent rockets into Israel. “Here we go again,” I thought. After breakfast and a jet lag nap, I awoke to Israel at war and realized this was not like the last (many, many) times Hamas has fired a rocket. This was much more.
During our time in Portugal, we did Jewish tours of both Lisbon and Porto. The sad reality is there’s not much left to see — Lisbon massacred 4,000 Jews in one day in 1506. The Jewish community there, for good reason, never really returned. We visited a small Ashkenazi Reform synagogue, Ohel Jacob, with 60 members, who have a Torah scroll that was badly damaged yet rescued from Kristallnacht. We visited the monument condemning and apologizing for the Lisbon massacre. In Porto, we visited the neighborhood of the Jewish Ghetto, where Jews were forced to live, but mercifully allowed to keep their jobs and their wealth and property otherwise. That same day in Porto, the synagogue was vandalized with “Free Palestine.”
This is not just Jewish history. This is Jewish reality. As Jews, we are raised to value social justice, forgiveness, tzedakah (charity), and giving back to others. But we’re also raised knowing that in every moment in history, someone thinks we shouldn’t exist at all. “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat” is the flippant yet scarily accurate way to describe many Jewish holidays. I can’t be so flippant anymore, not when my friends in Israel are literally hiding from rockets and people trying to kill them as they celebrate Shabbat dinner. Not when I am at risk of attack, or worse, just by having a mezuzah on my door, or by showing up to have a Shabbat dinner with friends this evening at synagogue in New York — home to the largest population of Jews outside Israel.
We’re taught that Israel is a safe space, a place where no matter what happens, we are welcomed and safe. That if Gd forbid another Holocaust happen, this time, we have a place that will accept us, protect us, and save us from another Lisbon Massacre or a Holocaust. The safety and security of that place, of Israel, has been violated. And our safety here in New York, on college campuses across the country, and in our own homes and communities is at risk simply because we are Jewish.
People I consider friends are posting that Israel should not exist, that it’s an apartheid state, committing genocide. Israel is not perfect. Its government and actions deserve to be criticized. But terrorism is on a different level entirely — yet because it’s happening to Jews, Jews become villains, not victims.
Since posting this originally on LinkedIn, many people have supported me and reached out to ask how they can help. Here are a few resources:
- People Love Dead Jews, by Dara Horn. If this title feels offputting and uncomfortable to you, it’s because it should be. Horn beautifully and poignantly recounts some truly horrific Jewish history in a way that makes even those deeply aware of this history question everything.
- Myth: Anti-Zionism or Criticism of Israel is Never Antisemitic. An article from the ADL about why anti-Zionism is often antisemitism. Especially important to understand for those who want to criticize the Israeli government in a way that does not denounce the existence of Israel.
- The Decolonization Narrative Is Dangerous and False, The Atlantic. I know — the Atlantic is notorious for epically long articles. This one is worth it.
- ADL’s Stand With Israel Page has blogs, resources, and an interactive map of Antisemitic Incidents and Anti-Israel Rallies in the U.S. Since Hamas’s Attack on Israel. In case you know someone who thinks the media coverage on antisemitism is overblown.
- The War Comes to Stanford. This NYT OpEd tore me apart. And this was before a lot of the recent anti-Israel rallies on campuses. No person should feel ostracized in their own home, school, or community.
- Resources About Antisemitism & Anti-Zionism. These are all from the Antidefamation League’s Education director, who I’m honored to work with.
ADL K-12 Toolkit
10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Antisemitism Uncovered / Anti-Zionism
Antisemitism Today (English & Spanish)
Think.Plan.Act. Tools for Dealing with Antisemitic and anti-Israeli Incidents on college campuses
Antisemitic Incidents: Being an Ally, Advocate and Activist (Lesson Plan for Middle and High School)
