In a troubling turn of events, there has been a shocking rise in anti-Semitic incidents since the election. Just this week, a Jewish cemetery was vandalized, adding to a wave of bomb threats targeting Jewish community centers. Since January, a staggering 69 bomb threats have been reported across 54 centers in 27 states and even one Canadian province—all of which often serve preschools and daycare facilities. Let that sink in: bomb threats aimed at places where children gather, and our president has barely acknowledged it.
The Washington Post has reported that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has confirmed a series of bomb threats across 11 different U.S. cities. While they have no evidence of actual bombs, the threats are deeply concerning and must be taken seriously.
In the past week alone, a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, suffered extensive damage with over 170 headstones either toppled or vandalized. There’s no word yet on who’s behind these heinous acts or why they did it.
Before we heard any condemnation from President Trump, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took to Twitter, urging him to speak out about the rising bomb threats and the cemetery vandalism. Her tweet coincided with remarks from Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, who asserted that “anti-Semitism is alive and kicking.” Lauder expressed concern about the alarming trend of Jewish sites being targeted by criminals.
So far, Trump’s response has been limited to describing the attacks as “horrible and painful,” calling them a “very sad reminder” of the ongoing fight against hate. These comments came during a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. While it’s nice to see some acknowledgment, many are left wondering why there wasn’t a stronger denunciation when asked about the rise in anti-Semitic incidents during his joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister David Cohen. Instead of addressing the issue directly, he chose to brag about his electoral college victory and dismiss the question as unfair.
Though we can’t control our leaders’ responses to these alarming acts, we can still have important conversations with our children who may be feeling confused or scared. PJ Library, dedicated to providing free books to Jewish kids, offers some great tips for discussing these issues. They recommend keeping the dialogue open and age-appropriate, encouraging kids to ask questions and equipping them with healthy responses if they face discrimination. Most importantly, we should model the behaviors we wish to see in them.
While we might not have much influence over public figures and their reactions, we can certainly teach our kids how to respond with kindness and strength. For more insights on navigating these challenging conversations, check out this excellent resource on home insemination and parenting.
In summary, the surge in anti-Semitic crimes since the election is alarming and warrants serious attention. Public figures must acknowledge and address these issues directly, while we, as parents, should take proactive steps to educate our children about tolerance and resilience.