Antisemitism is a huge problem, but not a new one. Given the obnoxious protests at numerous institutions of “higher education,” I’m getting an uptick of questions about it. Here’s my advice in dealing with one aspect of the antisemitism issue.
The recent trouble seemed to climax during Pesach as millions of Jews gathered around the Seder table to commemorate our liberation 3,336 years ago. An event meant to be a true expression of our current freedom, as the Mishna states, “In every generation, one is obligated to behave at the Seder as if they themselves were redeemed from Egypt.”
In the middle of the story, after describing G-d’s promise to Abraham that after a designated time of suffering his descendants would be redeemed and inherit the Promised Land of Israel, the Haggadah instructs us to raise a glass of wine and say this:
Vehee She’amda! This is what has stood by our fathers and us! For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hand!
How does this statement enhance our feelings of freedom at the Seder? The fact that our enemies rise against us to destroy us in every generation is not a cryptic sentence. Almost every page of our history tells the story of how nations and individuals sought to do just that, and tragically, millions throughout the ages suffered terribly as a result. Are we really free?
Reading the text carefully we’ll notice the text says our enemies wish to destroy us - not only to kill, hurt, rob, or shame us. They seek to destroy us as a unique people with a divine mission. G-d promised Abraham that no matter how anyone succeeds in hurting Jews, they would never manage to destroy them. Some try to do it violently and others politely, but these are different tactics with the same goal.
Recently this idiotic cancerous hatred was somehow dignified with the official term “antisemitism,” but don’t be fooled by how sophisticated it sounds. And it’s the polite, non-violent, sophisticated-sounding antisemitism that is most common and can in ways be the most devastating.
An incident involving two young people attending my Seder this year can give perspective on what we can do about it.
While having lunch in a school cafeteria a Jewish student overheard a group of students discussing the war in Israel, parroting typical talking points (no need to elaborate) with no intention of hurting anyone in the room. At some point she felt very alone and vulnerable as a Jew hearing what they were saying; the devastating feeling of experiencing subtle and even unintended antisemitism.
But then, as she looked out the window she saw a volunteer walking down the adjacent walkway wearing a large noticeable Kippa on his head. This Kippa-wearing fellow was at my Seder and heard the story from this student for the first time. “You have no idea how proudly Jewish you made me feel,” she said to him. “The way that silly conversation made me feel didn’t matter anymore. I was reminded how I’m part of something very special.”
The joyful Vehee She’amda reminds us that in all circumstances, we as Jews are truly free. The good news is that we - as a people with a divine mandate - will never be destroyed, and as individuals, we can protect ourselves from the polite-sounding vitriol and hatred we may encounter. By remembering who we are, and having confidence in G-d’s promise to us, we inoculate ourselves, our families, and our communities from the spiritual, mental, and psychological devastation antisemitism seeks to accomplish. By being proud Jews and openly observant of our Judaism we neutralize the poison of polite antisemitism.
The better news is that antisemitism is only temporary. Our prophets foretold about the era of Moshiach, when “the wolf will lie with the lamb,” wars, jealousy, and competition will cease and hatred will be no more. Let’s do our part to make it happen now by increasing in Torah study, doing more mitzvot and inspiring everyone around us to increase in acts of goodness and kindness.