Opinion: Jewish Community Urges Coordinated Outreach to Counter Antisemitism Amid Global Rise

The new year is a time for reflection and planning — both personally and as a Jewish community. That is especially urgent now, amid surging antisemitism worldwide, a disturbing trend that should concern every Jew. The rise in antisemitic incidents has created a climate of fear, with Jewish communities across the globe facing increasing hostility and threats.

Antisemitism again threatens the peace and security of Jewish communities globally. Politicians and celebrities fearlessly single out Israel and hold all Jews accountable for Israeli policies. Israeli-associated restaurants are picketed. Jewish students increasingly fear wearing Jewish identifiers. The internet is filled with antisemitic tropes. European governments support boycotting products from the West Bank. Loaded words such as “genocide” and “colonialism” are applied generically to Israelis defending their homes and ancestral homeland.

Critics say they are not antisemites; they’re just against Israeli policies. But the facts betray them. They do not limit their comments to Israeli policies, and in many cases, oppose the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish state. This pattern suggests a broader hostility toward Jews as a people, not just their government. The question arises: Are any other Americans asked to defend the government policies of their ancestral homelands? What other religious buildings require police protection in every country where synagogues exist? It clearly is not just Israeli government policies driving these divisions. It’s classic antisemitism, and it affects Jews worldwide.

The present growth of antisemitism is being orchestrated, in large part, by pro-Palestinian advocates who are organized and externally funded. They have been increasingly effective at communicating to the general public worldwide. They organized campus encampments. They aggressively place inflammatory false or misleading content on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. They have turned the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion against the Israelis, making victims appear to be perpetrators.

Diaspora Jews and Jewish organizations have been less effective communicating the impact of antisemitism. The Jewish community needs a coordinated national/international outreach/education program to counter antisemitism and balance public opinion against the pro-Palestinian campaign. To be sure, a lot is being done. In the U.S., Jewish organizations remain active on both the legislative and legal fronts. Synagogues and religious educators have access to numerous communication tools they need to combat antisemitism.

But to effectively counter the pro-Palestinian outreach, significant attention and improvement is required in how the organized Jewish community communicates with the public. The Jewish community has not done well at educating the broad public about Jewish history in the Middle East, especially about events since World War II and the founding of Israel. Continued Holocaust education is essential, but a broader scope is needed to provide context and understanding. This effort aligns with the biblical call to seek peace and justice, as seen in Micah 6:8, which urges people to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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