What does antisemitism look like in America? A grandmother killed in the street. | Opinion
As leaders of Jewish communities in the nation's capital region and in Colorado, we have experienced firsthand in recent weeks the devastating consequences of antisemitism.
In Boulder, Colorado, 82-year old grandmother Karen Diamond volunteered at her local synagogue, made deliveries to homebound neighbors and participated in regular walks to raise awareness of hostages being held by Hamas.
In Washington, DC, 30-year old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year old Sarah Milgrim worked at the Israeli Embassy to promote peace among Israelis and Palestinians, address humanitarian crises in the Middle East and support the Jewish LGBTQ+ community.
Six weeks ago, Karen, Yaron and Sarah were leading lives with meaning, purpose and joy. Today, they’re all dead − killed by bullets and bombs.
Their “crime”? Caring about the future of the Jewish people and supporting Israel.
As leaders of Jewish communities in the nation’s capital region and in Colorado, we have experienced firsthand in recent weeks the devastating consequences of antisemitism. Amid our grief, however, is a steadfast determination: to do everything we can to protect all communities from hate − Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
War in Gaza is excuse for antisemitism in America
Bad actors, on the political left and the political right, are using the Israel-Hamas war to justify rhetoric and actions that isolate, vilify and harm Jews. When that behavior goes unchecked, social norms collapse. Previously unacceptable and radical language becomes normalized. And violence is often the result.
American Jews make up a mere 2.4% of the U.S. adult population, yet we are increasingly and disproportionately being attacked. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic instances in the United States rose from 942 in 2015 to a record 9,354 in 2024: an 893% increase over a decade.
Three states that we cover − Maryland, Virginia and Colorado − are in the top 10 for antisemitic instances. In 2023, the FBI reported, Jews were the targets of 15% of hate crimes and an astonishing 68% of religion-based hate crimes nationwide.
These attacks happen every day: vandalism in classrooms, harassment and assaults on college campuses, bomb threats at synagogues and community centers, and violence in our neighborhoods.
More than half of antisemitic instances documented in 2024 were related to Israel − a crucial element of American Jewish identity and a common thread connecting all three recent murders.
Hatred directed at Jews will spread to other groups
The unprecedented threats faced by American Jews today affect all of us. As antisemitism spreads, the tactics that reinforce it − dehumanization, intimidation and violence − erode the guardrails that keep all forms of hate in check. That allows extremism and violence targeting other groups to spread as well.
That is why our organizations are so committed to building and maintaining coalitions with groups representing other races, ethnicities and faiths. By sharing the Jewish experience and learning from others, we build trust and understanding, and help ensure all people can participate safely and freely in public life.
But these coalitions cannot defeat hatred and antisemitism alone. Policymakers must take immediate action to address the unprecedented threats we are facing. These steps include:
- More security funding. For two decades, the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program has distributed security funding to nonprofits at high risk of terrorist attacks. But current funding is not enough to meet demand: Only about 45% of funding requests in 2024 were granted, leaving too many institutions without the resources they need for additional security personnel or technology upgrades. The security grant program should be funded at $1 billion annually to ensure that never happens again.
- Safer online communities. A 2024 American Jewish Committee report found that more than 70% of Jewish adults overall, including 83% of Jewish adults under age 30, have experienced antisemitism online. Social media companies must better monitor and prevent the proliferation of anti-Jewish hate speech on their platforms. Similarly, policymakers must stop falsely and irresponsibly accusing Israel of committing “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing,” language that also incites violence against Jews.
- Stronger deterrence. Antisemitism has become so rampant that more than half of American Jews reported changing their behavior in the past year to keep themselves safe, per the American Jewish Committee report. That includes no longer wearing Jewish symbols and not publicly expressing support for Israel. Additional counterterrorism resources, stronger hate crimes laws and safer school environments would help to prevent tragedies.
Defeating antisemitism is essential to protect our shared American values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect. It is a critical component of our collective efforts to address hate in all its forms and promote a healthy civic culture that protects not just Jews, but all Americans.
May the memories of Sarah, Yaron and Karen be a blessing. And may their example live on in all of us. If it does, our entire country will be better for it, and hate won’t stand a chance.
Ron Halber is the chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. Brandon Rattiner is the senior director of the Jewish Community Relations Council for JEWISHcolorado.