Wow, what a week. Overnight, it felt like our country had become something else. That will mean a lot for our fight against antisemitism and for democracy.
Of course, the road there was not a smooth or easy one. Antisemitism was a massive theme in the election cycle, with Jews and Muslims often pitted against each other as political footballs. The scars from some of these races will require work, energy, and collaboration to heal.
That is part of what we aim to accomplish with this newsletter and with our work at large. Antisemitism is not beaten through advocacy or power alone, but also through creating a safer democracy for all.
In the Forward, journalist and Nexus Task Force fellow Emily Tamkin lays out all the ways the Michigan Senate race demonstrated the exact wrong ways to fight antisemitism.
El-Sayed was rightly asked about campaigning with Hasan Piker. He distanced himself, apologized at length for his “hurt people hurt people” remark, and was still treated as suspect and insincere. Mike Rogers, meanwhile, was never pressed on Senator Bernie Moreno’s suggestion that senators should believe in Jesus, and the president called Jews “crazy” for voting for El-Sayed. Anti-Muslim hate ran through the whole campaign.
Jews are two percent of this country. We will not fight antisemitism on our own, and silence about Islamophobia will not build the solidarity we need.
We have a responsibility to confront anti-Muslim racism within our own Jewish communities. Rabbi Ron Stern of Stephen Wise Temple made that case from the bimah this week. Kol hakavod.
His argument: anti-Muslim hate speech flows easily from many tongues in this country, and his concern is that a lot of those tongues belong to Jews. Though it is noxious from any corner, he holds us to a higher standard given our own history with antisemitism. What are we to make of our willingness to apply the same conspiracy theories and generalizations to Muslims? When our own people cross the line into hate speech, we have got to call them out and stop it.
The closing months of this campaign cycle saw statement after statement using Jewish and Muslim Americans as pawns to score cheap political points. That reached a fever pitch in the final week, as a Jewish leader was called a shanda over supporting his party, a Muslim candidate was deemed unacceptable for not accepting Christ, and Black and Jewish voters were labeled “crazy” for their votes.
None of this helps stop antisemitism or Islamophobia. In fact it feeds both, and aims only to pit our communities against each other and use us as cudgels to attack opponents. Enough.
Peaceful protest is a right. Criticism of Israel, its government, or Zionism is not inherently antisemitic. But Sunday’s “Boycott Ride” in Philadelphia risks crossing into harmful antisemitic traps.
By saying “No business for Zionists… Not in our city!,” the organizers are implying their goal is less about changing policy and more about pushing businesses out. Their targets are six Jewish-owned restaurants near Rittenhouse Square. For some, the tie to Israel is an owner’s personal statements or a charity fundraiser after October 7. When “Zionist” can cover almost any Jew who has ever expressed a modicum of sympathy for Israel, Jewish business owners face a test no one else does: disavow Israel or lose your livelihood. That is holding Jews as Jews responsible for Israel’s actions.
The organizer’s rhetoric has crossed the line too, urging followers to “show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are.” If you want to avoid being called antisemitic, don’t use a slur popularized by David Duke.
The antisemitic claim that progressive Jewish voters aren’t really Jewish or lack a Jewish identity is becoming more and more common in political discourse, from Trump to Ben Shapiro to now a member of the New York City Council. After an NBC exit poll showed roughly two-thirds of Jewish voters backing Democrats, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov responded that those voters are “Jews like I am a baseball player,” and that “Jews who have a strong Jewish identity vote conservative.”
Jews are Jews. Trying to litigate who is and isn’t Jewish based on their votes or advocacy is deeply harmful and offensive.
Before Daniel Biss was even sworn in, ADL Midwest issued a statement raising “serious concerns” about his approach to antisemitism. This is wrong. Period. Biss is the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, his mother is Israeli, and he has spoken out loudly and clearly against antisemitism. His colleagues will look to him for leadership on Jewish issues and for help building alliances to combat anti-Jewish hatred.
It’s not one chapter or one candidate. ADL New York/New Jersey issued a similar warning about incoming DSA-aligned or otherwise progressive officials, including Representatives-elect Brad Lander and Claire Valdez. This strategy of creating adversarial relationships with progressive members, often by distorting reality and politicians’ records, appears to be the ADL’s organizational political approach. It is self-defeating and damaging.
JTA’s New York Jewish Week covered Councilwoman Inna Vernikov’s response to the exit poll showing 67 percent of Jews voted for Democrats, and included our reply. Vernikov, a Republican representing South Brooklyn, wrote that those voters are “Jews like I am a baseball player” and that “Jews who have a strong Jewish identity vote conservative.”
Jews are Jews. And to try to litigate who is and isn’t Jewish based on their votes or advocacy is deeply harmful and offensive.
Williamsburg, NY: We are disgusted by the antisemitic graffiti found on four Jewish school buses early Monday, the day before Election Day. Scrawling swastikas on a school bus because it has Hebrew writing on it is a threat against Jews and a hate crime, full stop. The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is investigating. (Williamsburg 365)
Washington, DC: Police released security footage of a suspect who wrote antisemitic remarks on Adas Israel Congregation in Cleveland Park last month and are offering a reward for information. (WUSA9)
Sharon, MA: Antisemitic graffiti and political messages were found in a restroom at Sharon High School on Election Day, while the school was serving as a polling place. The superintendent condemned the vandalism in a letter to families. (Boston 25)
This is what we do: track real antisemitism, call out when it’s weaponized, and make clear the difference. If you’d like to support this work, you can donate here. We’d love to connect.
We’ll continue offering clear responses, frameworks, and resources as these stories develop.
Eight years ago this week, a gunman murdered eleven Jews at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. He believed Jews were bringing "invaders" into the country.
