American Jews no longer believe “it can’t happen here”. It can and it has.
The recent surge in anti-Semitism in the U.S. has shocked many American Jews, but the real surprise is their shock itself. The war initiated by Hamas did not cause the wave of anti-Semitism; it merely exposed a deep-rooted problem that had been simmering beneath the surface of American society. This was a threat that had always existed, unnoticed by previous generations who came of age after the horrors of the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism, a poison once seen in the most civilised nations, had always been present, even in America.
In Austria, a day could come when Jews, once respected citizens, were suddenly forced into humiliation and violence as the population overwhelmingly supported Nazi Germany’s annexation. In Germany, prosperous Jewish shopkeepers who had once been part of the community suddenly found themselves victims of violence and destruction after Kristallnacht. Similarly, American Jews who had once campaigned for gun control found themselves in the streets, lining up to purchase firearms to protect themselves from growing threats.
The shock of this resurgence was compounded by the response of many educational institutions. These universities, more concerned with creating “safe spaces” for students to avoid discomfort, were slow to react to the physical dangers facing Jewish students. Administrators, more focused on catering to minor grievances, showed little concern when Jewish students found themselves barricaded in libraries for safety. This blind spot reflects a failure of leadership and an ignorance of the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Now, as the Jewish community begins to face the reality that anti-Semitism can happen in America, a fightback is underway. It is no longer a matter of assuming that such things can’t happen here; they already have. This moment demands a reckoning, and American Jews are beginning to stand up in defense of their rights and safety.
