OCTOBER 7 • 2021 | 13

as abortion) that vary from 
the consensus views of North 
American Jewry.” 
As one Dialogue partic-
ipant asked in a breakout 
session, “does anyone really 
believe that there is greater 
hatred for Jews in America 
than African Americans, 
Latinos, immigrants or Native 
Americans?” The room fell 
eerily silent.
The young Dialogue par-
ticipants understood these 
attacks as part of the larger 
context of what is under-
way in America while most 
Jewish organizations often 
frame what is taking place 
more narrowly, i.e., about 
antisemitism. Which prompts 
the question: Is the Jewish 
community well served pri-
marily framing such attacks 
as part of the long-continuing 
history of antisemitic hate 
and attacks, or would it be 
better served by viewing the 
increase of antisemitism as a 
component of the increased 
racism and hate impacting 
the whole country? 
The latter would position 
Jewish leadership to join with 
other racial and ethnic groups 
to combat racism, hatred 
and antisemitism. This issue 
also flared recently in Israel 
following Foreign Minister 
Lapid’s July 14 speech on 
antisemitism. Lapid argued 
that antisemitism should be 
understood as part of wider 
spread racism and hatred; 
Netanyahu argued for its 
uniqueness (see Haviv Rettig 
Gur’s Times of Israel anal-
ysis “
A Hatred that Dwells 
Alone?”).

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
In recent years, there has been 
an increased awareness of 
the long history and complex 
multiple sources of hatred, 
racism and antisemitism in 

the United States. A range of 
contemporary factors behind 
the explosion of racism are 
cited, including changing 
demographics, the economic 
stagnation of the middle and 
lower classes, and perceptions 
of advantages provided to 
“others.
” David Brooks, in an 
article published in The Atlantic 
in August, “How the Bobos 
Broke America,
” discusses 
resentment against the “cre-
ative class,
” and it should be 
noted that Jews are overrepre-
sented in the creative class.
The explosion of social 
media in the past decade has 
enabled racial hatred and 
antisemitism to be widely 
disseminated. Add exploiting 
racial fears for political gain 
and the alarming increase 
of mental illness, isolation 
and depression, particularly 
among the young, and this is 
a volatile mix that has pro-
duced elevated enmity against 
various demographic groups. 
And while unique factors 
contribute to the antipathy 
toward each group — African 
Americans, Hispanics, Asians, 
immigrants and Jews — crit-
ical views about nationalism, 
ethnonationalism, Zionism 
and/or Israeli government 
policies can, and no doubt do, 
contribute to the growth of 
antisemitism in America.
Beyond “naming and 
shaming,” what might be 
effective? Truth be told, we 
do not know. In recent con-
versations with seasoned 
professionals who have 
devoted decades to leading 
efforts against antisemitism, 
racism and hatred, a plethora 
of ideas surfaced. In addition 
to strengthening security in 
our communities and reas-
sessing what can be done to 
resurrect the “firewall” in this 
new environment, new ideas 
proposed included exponen-

tially expanding the numbers 
of young and old who partici-
pate in inter-group dialogues; 
developing mandatory inter-
group community service 
projects for teens; requiring 
inter-group curriculum in 
high schools; stepping up reg-
ulation of social media; and 
undertaking a global review 
of empirical studies of initia-
tives with demonstrated suc-
cess in mitigating hate, racism 
and antisemitism, and more. 
These are big ideas that 
will need to be tested, and if 
proven effective, will require 
substantial public/govern-
ment funding to bring to 
scale. That said, these ideas 
are far more likely to gener-
ate the needed support from 
political, corporate and civil 
leaders if the broadest coali-
tion of ethnic, religious and 
political leadership is aligned 
behind one or more, Jewish 
leadership and organizations 
included. 
In strategically contextual-
izing the growth of antisem-
itism in the larger context 
of intensified racism and 
hate, we communicate both 
within the Jewish community 
and beyond the readiness of 
Jewish leadership to join with 
other ethnic and religious 
groups to heal the social 
fabric of America. Equally 
important, this strategy 
heightens the potential of suc-
cessfully mobilizing the public 
opinion, political support and 
resources required for such 
initiatives to be tested and 
potentially brought to scale. 
Let the generation of new 
ideas, experimentation, and 
testing begin! 

John Ruskay is a senior fellow at 

the Jewish People Policy Institute. 

This essay was posted by 

eJewishPhilanthropy on Sept. 27, 

2021. 

JFS Fall Fix Up

Jewish Family Service will be 
holding its 25th Annual Fall Fixup 
Sunday, Nov. 7. Invite your family, 
friends or community groups to 
this outdoor, family-friendly vol-
unteer event. Help rake leaves and 
winterize homes (outdoor only) 
of older adults served by Jewish 
Family Service.
All ages are welcome. Supplies 
are provided, but you may bring 
your own leaf blowers.
Drive-thru contactless supply 
pickup by prior appointment 
starting at 9 a.m. at Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
To register, visit jfsdetroit.org/
fallfixup. Worksites are pre- 
assigned. Register by Oct. 29.
For more information, call 
(248) 592-2267 or fallfixup@ 
jfsdetroit.org.
State COVID protocols will be 
followed for this event. 

On Oct. 10, the ADL is on the move 
to fight hate across the country. 
It’s “Walk Against Hate” is not just 
a walk — it’s an opportunity to move 
as an individual, family or community 
toward a future without antisemitism, 
racism and all forms of bigotry.
However you move, register for the 
2021 ADL Walk Against Hate today. 
Join an in-person walk in your com-
munity or sign up to participate virtu-
ally. Engage friends, family, neighbors 
and coworkers, and set a fundraising 
goal to make a difference in your 
community.
The walk starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, 
Oct. 10, at the Southfield City Center, 
2600 Evergreen Road. Register or sup-
port a walker at walkagainsthate.org/
michigan. 

ADL Walk Versus Hate

