When the rabbi first approached a group of Jewish teens in Atlanta, he was expecting to uncover stories of fear and isolation, particularly in the wake of October 7th when Jewish students in America faced harassment and hate. However, the response was shocking. Not a single hand went up when asked if they were encountering antisemitism.
This revelation sparked a deeper inquiry into the nature of antisemitism in the youth community. The rabbi posed a series of questions, each met with overwhelming affirmation. He asked about Jewish jokes at their expense, stereotypes about Jews and money, or negative remarks about Israel. Every hand went up, indicating that while they might not perceive their experiences as antisemitic, they were definitely encountering it in various forms.
The rabbi’s findings were alarming. It suggested that antisemitism had become so deeply ingrained that it no longer shocked or surprised the teens. They were not just experiencing prejudice but had normalized it as part of their social environment. The normalization of hatred meant that young people now felt the need to erase their Jewish identity to avoid discomfort or rejection.
The rabbi emphasized that the crisis was not just about the existence of antisemitism but the desensitization to it. The community had a responsibility to educate and instill pride in Jewish teens so they would recognize and combat prejudice. The rabbi stressed that Jewish identity should be embraced, not concealed, and that the future of the community depended on the courage and confidence of its youth to stand up against hatred.
With the rising antisemitism, the rabbi argued, the Jewish community must act swiftly. There was a need to create spaces where young people feel supported, not silenced, and to equip them with the knowledge and strength to face hostility. This required not only education but also a shift from fear to pride, ensuring that the next generation understood the value of their identity and the importance of standing firm against prejudice.