October 7th, 2023, is a date that will remain a part of Jewish consciousness for the next generations, perhaps forever. The trauma following in the wake of the violent and brutal attacks in Israel at the hands of Hamas terrorists continues to haunt us. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been murdered in one day. In 75 years, Israelis were never stranded by the IDF. But on October 7th, they were defenseless. The army let them down. Their leaders let them down. On October 7th, 2023, the most dangerous place in the world for Jews was Israel.
Many of us felt untethered from reality in those first days, glued to the news, trying to understand the enormity of the Hamas act of terror. The statements of concern from many nations and organizations heartened me. I was surprised by the sincere support and empathy for Israel in the wake of such ruthless inhumanity.
When the war began in earnest, when Israel started to bombard Gaza, I knew the goodwill would evaporate. I knew that thousands of innocent Gazans would die. I knew this because Hamas has stated quite clearly that they see the citizens of Gaza as a sacrificial offering. Hamas doesn’t pretend to protect their people. Storing weapons and ammo in a hospital, building a command center beneath hospitals and mosques, and risking the lives of patients and professionals are all part of a cynical, nihilistic plan to isolate and then destroy Israel. I’m not making this up. I’m not exaggerating. This isn’t an opinion; it’s a fact.
And yes, it’s a fact that Israel has pounded parts of Gaza to rubble. So many innocents have died or been widowed or orphaned. I don’t know how we take this truth in. There has to be a better way to fight this war. There have to be some humane options to alleviate some of the agony. This must be done for the sake of the suffering Gazans. It must also be done for the Israeli soldiers who are pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, and firing the missiles.
But the thing that has most shocked me, that has inspired me to write to you, is the explosion of antisemitism all over the world. The latest statistic is that there’s been a 388 percent increase in antisemitism in America since October 7th. That precipitous a rise is frightening. That so many of the antisemitic incidents are occurring on college campuses is deeply disturbing.
Some of you have directly corresponded with me. Others have spoken to their parents. We’ve had weekly conversations at the temple. Many of you are concerned. You’re wondering what to do and what you should say. Some of you have asked how we can turn back antisemitism.
Your questions break my heart because these are not issues I ever imagined we’d be discussing. I can’t quite believe it’s come to this. You should not be worrying about being insulted, harassed, or worse. You should not be made to feel unsafe by your peers or by a professor. You should be enjoying an independent and glorious life on campus.
But here we are.
- There are no easy answers to any of these questions. No dialog is possible when confronted by irrational people yelling irrational and hateful slogans. If demonstrators in groups large or small are on a public street, the First Amendment protects their right to do so, even if you find it vile and upsetting.
- Don’t engage in colloquy when you’re out on the street. They’re just looking to draw you into an argument, not a discussion.
- If you are harassed on campus, you MUST MUST report it. The university is responsible for your well-being. It is inexcusable for you as a tuition-paying student not to receive protection. Talk to your faculty advisor. Talk to a provost. If you fear reprisals, call the local ADL chapter. Call ME. No one deserves to get away with this behavior – students or professors.
- If you try to alleviate hateful antisemitic rhetoric to no avail, call your local newspaper and tell them your story.
- You don’t have to live with this in silence. You do have allies willing to help you.
- It is possible to stand with Israel AND speak of your desire for a peaceful resolution. You can voice your despair about innocent Gazans dying even as you rage about innocent Israeli lives taken by Hamas terrorists.
When you come home for Thanksgiving, you’ll find time to recharge. The short break may partially defuse the situation on campus.
Please remember: the Jewish people have a long history of persecution. Some folks hate us because we’ve made it despite many obstacles. Because we are the Other, the minority that doesn’t quite fit in. Because people are ignorant of Jewish history and don’t understand our struggles to achieve safety and a home of our own. Because in the words of my Wesleyan history professor, Nathanael Green, “Antisemitism is the glue that held Europe together for 2000 years.”
People are angry and upset with the unequal treatment of Palestinians from 1948 to this day. Those feelings are real. They must be acknowledged. But the feelings of Israelis must also be respected. Their fears, their experiences with terrorism for decades, must be taken seriously.
We need to keep our eyes on the shared future Palestinians and Jewish Israelis deserve. That means working toward a sustainable end to violent conflict as soon as possible. This end to violence will require stopping the bombing of Gazan civilians and civilian infrastructure, stopping the rockets aimed at Israeli civilians, the hostages being released, and Hamas being rendered incapable of repeating the attacks of October 7th.
It’s a long, hard road ahead. We’re with you at home and on campus. Do not suffer in silence.
Before Shabbat 