At the time, I was teaching at a small, private Jewish school in New York, approximately 400 miles away. Although we were physically distant from the tragedy, the impact was felt deeply. A hate crime reverberates beyond its immediate victims; it sends a chilling message to everyone within the targeted community. An assault on Jewish individuals felt like an assault on us all.
In the aftermath, security measures intensified. Our familiar security guard, Mr. Cohen, was replaced by a team of highly trained agents, resembling those of the Secret Service, monitoring every entry point. We were instructed on codewords and received new identification badges. On school outings, the boys were advised to wear baseball caps instead of their yarmulkes to avoid drawing attention to their Jewish identity. Although we had previously conducted lockdown and shooter drills, the gravity of these exercises shifted dramatically; they no longer felt like mere simulations.
I don’t often dwell on my Jewish identity. I don’t actively participate in religious practices, and my connection to Judaism has often been more cultural than spiritual. However, this distinction is irrelevant to those who harbor deep-seated antisemitism. To individuals like the Pittsburgh shooter, a Jew is simply a Jew, and his mantra was stark: “All Jews must die.”
While reflecting on the Pittsburgh shooting, I was struck by its grim designation as the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history. It made me ponder the countless acts of violence against Jews throughout history, especially in countries like Russia, Latvia, and Germany. However, this particular incident represented a terrifying milestone on American soil.
Many people mistakenly believe that hate is a relic of the past, but the reality is that bigotry is very much alive. The years 2018 and 2019 saw unprecedented levels of antisemitic incidents, and the American Jewish Committee reported that in 2020, the situation remained “persistent and worsening.”
As our nation confronts its long-standing issues with race, we must acknowledge the interconnectedness of various forms of hatred. The 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, featured chants of “Jews will not replace us!”—a sentiment rooted in the dangerous “replacement theory.” This theory, which suggests that the dominance of white heritage is threatened by the inclusion of other races, has fueled not only antisemitism but various other forms of prejudice as well.
While Jewish individuals may not face the same systemic issues as Black and Brown communities in America, such as racial profiling or police violence, this does not diminish the threat posed by rising antisemitism. Many Jews may appear to fit into the broader category of “white,” which has historically upset neo-Nazi groups.
The perpetrator of the Tree of Life shooting, Robert Bowers, was driven by both antisemitism and xenophobia. His anger was ignited by the arrival of Central American migrants at the U.S. border in late 2018, during a politically charged atmosphere that labeled them as an “invasion.” Bowers specifically targeted the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), an organization that has evolved from aiding Jewish refugees to assisting individuals from diverse backgrounds. He infamously posted on Gab, expressing his intent to confront what he perceived as a threat to his community.
The essence of terror attacks lies in their ability to instill fear across an entire community. My students and I felt that fear; the events in Pittsburgh served as a harsh reminder that such violence could erupt anywhere. Unfortunately, we were proven right. Recently, the North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, New York, suffered a cyberattack where hackers defaced the school’s website with Nazi imagery and threats, including chilling messages like, “YOU’RE NEXT I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE HEIL HITLER.”
This incident was shocking and horrifying, yet not entirely unexpected. Antisemitic sentiments and threats have been escalating in recent years. An attack on Jewish individuals represents an attack on everyone who stands for a diverse and inclusive society, rejecting all forms of hate. I continue to hold out hope that, ultimately, justice will prevail. However, with a new generation of racists emboldened by extreme rhetoric, it’s clear we still have a long journey ahead.
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- What is antisemitism?
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In summary, the rise of antisemitism is a growing concern, particularly evident through recent violent incidents. As a teacher and a Jewish individual, the fear that accompanies these events affects not just the immediate victims but the entire community. It’s crucial to recognize the interconnectedness of various forms of hatred and work together toward a more inclusive society.
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