Oct. 7 changed Israel. A year later, it must change American Jews, too

From THE FORWARD (OCTOBER 4, 2024)

If you’re an American Jew right now, the easiest thing to be is afraid.

What’s happening in Israel — including, just this week, a missile strike by Iran, and one of the deadliest terror attacks in years — is terrifying. Social media is an antisemitic cesspool. The Republican candidate for president has made it known that if he loses, it’s the Jews’ fault. On campuses and in progressive spaces, it’s increasingly easy to see that those looking for a villain are, more and more, blaming the Jews.

The communal impulse is to circle the wagons and go all-in on fighting antisemitism. That’s understandable, but is it enough? What if we responded to the enormous challenges we faced this past year not just by obsessing over our survival, but also by finding new ways to ensure that we thrive?

Read the full article by L. Rob Eshman in The Forward.