How the Jewish Community Must Respond to the New Face of Antisemitism

The notoriously hostile anti-Israel encampments on college campuses during the last year may be mostly gone, but the storm of antisemitism has not disappeared. Instead, it has transformed — becoming more ingrained and widespread. The hatred is no longer confined to a handful of extremists attracting public attention, but has been woven into the fabric of academic culture, social movements, political discourse, and even sports.

At major universities like NYU and Tulane, calls for “resistance by any means,” including violence, have become a routine part of campus life.

At Columbia University, a student group recently published a chilling manifesto titled “The Columbia Intifada,” glorifying violence against Jews. Meanwhile, the media and human rights organizations — which should be sounding the alarm — continue to downplay or ignore the growing problem.

What we are witnessing as a society is the normalization of prejudice against Jews, where hate has become routine, crazy is the new normal, and acts of antisemitism are simply dismissed or downplayed.

As Jews and as human beings, we cannot accept this.

The Jewish community must respond decisively, not with fear or retreat, but with pride, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to our values. If we have learned anything from the past few years, it is that when we unite, we achieve extraordinary things. It was unity that brought Jewish students together to successfully challenge negligent university administrations. It was unity that amplified our voices in courtrooms, on social media, and in classrooms. And it is unity that will allow us to rise to this new challenge.

Embracing Jewish Pride

Antisemites thrive on fear and silence. They want us to hide who we are — to shrink away from confrontation. But we must not give them that victory. The first step in combating the new face of antisemitism is to unapologetically display our Judaism with pride. Every Shabbat dinner, every holiday celebration, every mezuzah hanging proudly on a dorm room door is a statement: we are here, and we will not be erased.

This is not about defiance for defiance’s sake. It’s about reclaiming the narrative by living and embodying the values that define us.

For example, Judaism teaches us the importance of tikkun olam — repairing the world — by spreading justice, kindness, and compassion. It urges us to love the stranger, to pursue peace, and to see the divine spark in every person. These values are not just theoretical; they are meant to guide our daily lives. Every act of kindness, every moment of empathy, and every effort to build bridges reflects the principles that have sustained our people for generations.

When we lean into these values, we send a powerful message to the world: Fighting hate with hate has never worked and will never work. Our answer to the abhorrent antisemitism on and off campus is not to mirror the venom of our enemies but to live out the principles that define us. Our message to the world is one of peace, love, and justice. It is a message that grows louder when the Jewish people come together, united by our shared history and values.

The Power of Community 

Consider what happens when we celebrate as a community — when we gather for a Passover Seder, dance on Simchat Torah, or light Shabbat candles together. These are more than just rituals; they are moments to pause to honor family, community, and the belief that there is always a brighter tomorrow. Living our Judaism out loud strengthens the bonds between us and proclaims to the world that we are a people who choose life, who choose joy, who choose hope.

Over the course of the past year, I’ve seen countless times how this sense of community empowers individual students. When surrounded by the support of their peers, students are so much more likely to openly celebrate and embrace their Jewish identity with courage and confidence. They feel emboldened to wear symbols of our faith, like a kippah or a Star of David, even in challenging environments. They speak up in class when faced with misinformation or bias, and they take pride in their heritage rather than feeling the need to hide it.

This courage doesn’t just benefit individuals—it strengthens the entire community. It is this spirit of unity around our values that makes the difference. When we stand together, others take notice. Antisemites may spread lies, but when the Jewish community is united, their hate falls on deaf ears. The people around us—our neighbors, our colleagues, our classmates—see us for who we are: a community rooted in justice, peace, and an unwavering commitment to the dignity of all human beings.

When we embrace our Judaism fully, the hate around us begins to lose its power. This is why Jewish pride is not just an act of self-preservation — it is a form of resistance that can change hearts and minds. It tells the world that we are not victims of history; we are participants in its betterment.

The current reality is daunting, but it is not without hope. The same unity and determination that have sustained the Jewish people for centuries can guide us forward — but we must act now. We cannot allow the normalization of antisemitism to take root any deeper. We must confront antisemitism wherever it appears, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient.

At the same time, we should be reaching beyond our own community to engage with allies and build coalitions, because antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem — it is a societal problem. When hate is normalized, it endangers everyone. It creates a society where intolerance is allowed to fester, threatening the safety and dignity of all marginalized groups. This is why, when our communities are at their strongest, we must seize the moment to forge partnerships that unite us and amplify our efforts in the fight against hate.

The stakes are high, but so is our capacity for resilience. Our community has faced hate before, emerging stronger each time. We will do so again — not by retreating into silence or mirroring the hatred directed at us, but by standing firm in our values and letting our pride outshine their prejudice. And above all, we must show the world the beauty, strength, and vibrancy of Jewish life.

Rabbi David Markowitz, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Vision and Partnerships at Olami, has been fighting campus antisemitism since October 7, where he led a delegation of Jewish students to speak with policymakers and politicians at The White House, as well as the Knesset.

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