Has anyone noticed how Jews look in that much-discussed White House “strategy” to counter antisemitism? Forgive a little bluntness, but I found that Jews came across as lame victims, unable to take care of themselves.
The report is infused with this idea that the nation at large must come to the rescue of Jews.
“Combating antisemitism is a truly whole-of-society challenge that demands a whole-of-society response,” the report asserts with a tone of august authority. “We hope all will join our call to action.”
The report means well, of course. It represents an official effort to combat the ancient curse of antisemitism that seems to follow Jews everywhere they live, even in a country as welcoming as the United States. This administration wants us to know they have our backs, and yes, we ought to be grateful for that.
The problem, however, is that the report is focused more on fighting haters than on strengthening Jews. In doing so, it underplays the indispensable role that we ourselves must play in determining our fate.
In a sense, the White House is simply following the playbook of our activist community, which has always assumed that the best way to combat Jew hatred is to go after the haters. If only we would ring the alarm bells louder and earlier, we tell ourselves, and expose the haters everywhere they lurch, maybe we’d make progress. And if only we could get the rest of the nation to join us in the fight, then we’d really make progress.
The elephant in the room no one wants to bring up is the notion that any “strategy” can ever eradicate a sentiment as immutable as hate. Would Jew haters hate Jews any less if they learned more about the history of antisemitism, or if they learned more about the Holocaust? If antisemites resent Jews because they see us as hard-working and successful, how do we make them stop resenting us? By arguing that we’re not that successful?
Instead of trying to change Jew haters, we’re better off trying to strengthen Jews.
First, let’s stop contorting ourselves trying to look like victims. No one’s buying it. It’s time we start owning our success and stop apologizing for it. Just because victims are the new heroes of a woke-influenced America, and the grievance industry is booming, doesn’t mean we should follow the herd.
Second, the smartest way to combat Jew hatred is to inoculate Jews through the timeless power of our tradition. What brings out our best is not when we’re against something but when we’re for something, like our rich and meaningful Jewish identity.
The smartest way to combat Jew hatred is to inoculate Jews through the timeless power of our tradition.
It’s worth noting that arguably the most successful organization in Jewish history has never once called for fighting Jew hatred or demonstrating against antisemitism. That is Chabad. Every day in over 100 countries around the globe, they make Jews proud to be Jews by reminding them of what they stand for, not what they’re against. Instead of fighting antisemitism, they promulgate prosemitism.
The White House report is a welcome show of support for Jews, but it’s not a substitute for the hard work that must be done in our communities to strengthen Jewish pride. Complaining projects weakness; pride projects confidence. If the Jewish brand in America comes to be defined by obsessive complaining against anyone who hates us, we’ll end up looking weak, insecure and humorless. Who’d want to join that tribe?
By all means, let’s not stop the fight. Let’s use the official IHRA definition of antisemitism to expose and punish haters; let’s correct the lies against Israel; let’s take full advantage of the law to target incitement; and let’s add security to protect Jewish spaces. To the extent that this fighting gives us a sense of purpose, it is worthy in its own right. But let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it will end Jew hatred.
Jew hatred, whether it comes from the left or the right, is a resilient disease without any known cure. Thankfully, we know that there’s a powerful, long-term vaccine against the hate: a strong Jewish identity.
It’s ironic that the one empowering line in the White House report has received little attention: “We must tell the positive story of Jewish contributions to the United States and the world.” When I read that, I thought: Bingo. That kind of positive education is precisely the kind that would reinforce Jewish and Zionist pride, reminding Jews and others that this tiny tribe, against all odds, has indeed done great things for America and the world.
Instead of trying to get haters to hate Jews less, we must get Jews to love themselves more.
Instead of trying to get haters to hate Jews less, we must get Jews to love themselves more. Instead of showing fear and looking like whiners, we must instill pride and fight like winners. And instead of having only coalitions against antisemitism, let’s also have a few coalitions in favor of prosemitism.
For that mission, we’ll need the Jewish House, not the White House.
