November 1, 2023

With the recent dramatic rise in Anti-Semitic incidents, according to the ADL, Jews around the world are uncertain as to whom they should identify their political affiliation or see as their allies. Is their political home now with the conservatives, the traditional home of religious Jews, or with Liberals, the traditional home of more secular Jews? With whom do they have the greatest affinity? Is it with the adherents of the “Judeo-Christian” traditions or evangelical Christians associating the state of Israel with Biblical prophecy, or is it with religious pluralists or secularists? And who do Jews see as their greatest detractors? Is it the far left, mobilizing on College campuses against Israel, or the far right, the traditional domain of fascists and nationalists?

Against this background, we witness a shift in the lens of anti-racism, prevalent in liberal America and particularly in schools and Colleges. It is one influenced by three frames that put Jews at a seeming disadvantage in combatting hate and discrimination. The first frame is that racism is tightly correlated with skin color, with the traditional ethnic groups being front and center: Blacks, Indigenous Peoples, Latinos, and Asian Americans. In its current context,…