A leading rabbi has issued a stark warning that antisemitism is becoming the norm for Jewish teens, with many no longer recognizing it as hate. Despite a dramatic increase in hostility following Oct. 7, Jewish students in Atlanta report encountering antisemitism through everyday jokes, stereotypes, and anti-Israel attacks, yet many do not view it as a serious issue. This normalization threatens to erode self-worth and solidarity, with teens being conditioned to erase their Jewish identity to avoid discomfort.
The rabbi’s account highlights a disturbing trend: Jewish teens are no longer identifying antisemitism when they experience it. In a survey of Atlanta’s Jewish youth, students reported being subjected to Jewish jokes, anti-Israel rhetoric, and stereotypes about Jews controlling media. However, many dismissed these as typical social interactions rather than hate. This desensitization risks creating a generation that internalizes hatred and suppresses their identity to avoid conflict.
The rabbi argues that this normalization of antisemitism is deeply concerning. When Jewish students are treated with hostility and yet fail to see it as an issue, it signals a significant shift in the social fabric. It suggests that the next generation is being conditioned not to feel outrage but resignation. The rabbi emphasizes that the crisis is not just the antisemitism itself but the desensitization to it, which could lead to further escalation and weaken Jewish solidarity.
The rabbi’s efforts through the Jewish Student Union (JSU) aim to reverse this trend. By meeting teens in their schools and communities, the JSU works to help them rediscover pride in their identity and teach them how to respond to antisemitism with dignity and knowledge. The rabbi stresses that Jewish teens must feel proud of their identity and confident in recognizing when it is under attack. Otherwise, the world will define it for them, or worse, convince them it doesn’t exist. The rabbi calls on parents, educators, and community leaders to take action, ensuring Jewish youth have the tools to stand up as Jews, unafraid and unashamed.
The rabbi’s message is urgent: the future of Jewish identity in America depends on whether our children have the courage and confidence to stand up as Jews, unafraid and unashamed. The normalization of antisemitism is the most dangerous threat, as it could lead to a generation that no longer recognizes hatred for what it is.