At the time, I was teaching at a small private Jewish school in New York, about 400 miles away. Although we were not physically close to the tragedy, the reverberations were felt deeply. A hate crime affects not just its immediate victims; it sends a chilling message to the entire community that anyone could be targeted next. For us, this was a direct assault.
In response to the attack, security protocols at our school intensified. Our friendly security guard, Mr. Johnson, was replaced by a team of highly trained agents who monitored the premises. We received new school IDs, codewords, and passwords for added safety. During field trips, boys were instructed to wear baseball caps instead of yarmulkes, a precaution to avoid drawing attention to their Jewish identity. While we had always practiced drills for emergencies, the tone shifted; our fears felt all too real.
I don’t often reflect on my Jewish identity. I don’t wear a kippah or attend synagogue regularly, and my observance of Jewish traditions is minimal. I accepted the teaching position at the Jewish school primarily for professional reasons. However, this detachment doesn’t shield me from the escalating antisemitism that permeates our society. To individuals like the Pittsburgh shooter, my identity is clear: “All Jews must die.“
Reflecting on the Pittsburgh tragedy, I was surprised to learn that it was the worst antisemitic attack in American history. While there have been deadlier acts of antisemitism in other countries, such as Russia and Germany, none have matched the horror of Pittsburgh in the U.S. We often view discrimination as a relic of history, yet the reality is that we are witnessing a resurgence of hatred. The American Jewish Committee reported record-high antisemitic incidents in 2018 and 2019, a trend that continued into 2020.
As America grapples with long-standing issues of race, it is crucial to understand how antisemitism ties into broader patterns of bigotry. The same right-wing extremists who rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, chanting, “Jews will not replace us!” are part of a larger narrative that connects various forms of racism and xenophobia. This “replacement” theory has roots that trace back before World War II and continues to influence contemporary hate.
Although many Jewish individuals do not face the same systemic issues as people of color in America, the reality is that antisemitism is alive and well. The Pittsburgh shooter, Robert Miller, was not only an avowed antisemitic but also a proponent of anti-immigrant rhetoric. His attack was spurred by fears surrounding immigration, particularly during the political climate leading up to the 2018 midterm elections.
The recent cyberattack on the North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, New York, further illustrates this rising tide of hatred. Hackers infiltrated the school’s website, posting Nazi imagery and sending threatening messages to students, making it clear that the threats are not just abstract but tangible.
An attack on Jewish individuals is an attack on everyone who believes in a diverse and inclusive society. While I hold out hope that justice will prevail in the long run, the rise of hate groups emboldened by extreme rhetoric indicates a long road ahead.
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Search Queries:
- What are the rising trends in antisemitism?
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In summary, the rise of antisemitism is a pressing concern that impacts not only Jewish individuals but society as a whole. With a resurgence of hate, we must remain vigilant and committed to fostering understanding and inclusivity.