Facing unprecedented antisemitism, we must strengthen the core of Jewish life, pride

Last summer, I had double bypass surgery. In the ensuing months, I have undergone intensive cardiac and physical therapy. One of the principles I learned was that strengthening the core of the body is foundational for transferring the load between the upper and lower body. The core is the key for insuring the health of the rest.

So it is for organizations and communities. A strong core or foundation is something we can build upon. Without it, we precariously dwell in a house of cards.

We now face unprecedented, at least in my lifetime, antisemitism from the ultra-left and right. From the left, it’s a toxic brew of radical Islam and Marxism, which denies the right of Israel to exist as either an obstacle to an unimpeded Islamic hegemon in the Middle East or an illegitimate colonial state imposed on its indigenous population.

From the right, it’s a revival of Charles Lindbergh’s America First of the 1930s, with its isolationism and accusation of alleged Jewish global power and conspiracies. This thesis is lifted from the fraudulent “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” concocted by the Tsar Nicholas II’s secret service.

And the lightning rod of this hatred is Israel and the Jewish people.

We in the Diaspora can learn from Israel’s experience over the last two years. After the disastrous attack of October 7, with its colossal failure of intelligence, the IDF and Mossad led a remarkable series of military and intelligence achievements that crippled Iran and its surrogates, leaving Israel more secure than before 10/7. It has also bolstered its deterrence.

Even as these traumatic events unfolded with 250 hostages held in hellish conditions, the core of the Israeli populace was united and resilient to provide the public support for the IDF, which faced a torrent of international condemnations.

Drawing from this experience, we should of course use our political and financial strength to combat antisemitism. The role of our defense and lobbying agencies is critical, although I wish they could eliminate some duplication of effort. But important as these activities are, they are largely defensive and reactive.

Like the Israeli experience, the core of our body politic must be strong and resilient as we absorb the slings and arrows of the antisemites, hostile media, changing political landscape, and inhospitable college campuses. We need a full court press to invest our efforts in strengthening the core. Our institutions must focus on teaching Jewish literacy and pride in our people and their accomplishments. Too much of our efforts have focused on the Holocaust, important as they are, which reinforces the image of the Jews as victims. Salo Baron, the great historian, coined the phrase the “lachrymose conception of Jewish history” to criticize the view that Jewish history was solely a story of suffering and persecution. Revealingly, the Pew Study on Jews found that its respondents believed that studying about the Holocaust was the most important endeavor — more important than teaching the Bible, Zionism, or history of Israel.

We must instill a sense of pride and accomplishment among our young people so that they can proudly advance our future.

Teach about how Israel has remained a vibrant democracy even as it has not had a day of peace over its 77 years of existence. It’s unlike our sorrowful chapter of interning Japanese Americans during World War II, when we hysterically feared an imminent Japanese attack on the continental United States.

Teach about how Golda Meier established Mashav, Israel’s Agency for international development cooperation, which has taught hundreds of thousands of African farmers to make the desert bloom, saving millions from malnutrition, even starvation.

Israel’s prowess in the leading fields of biotechnology, medicine, and other innovations have advanced humankind.

And despite the virtue-signaling for a Palestinian state in European countries, they are in the queue to purchase Israel’s latest military marvels.

These are just small samples of the pride we should instill about Israel, irrespective of which party is in power.

On our shores, Jews have been in the vanguard of science, medicine and the arts. Jews developed department stores and the dream factory known as Hollywood and are leaders in finance and government.

We are the most philanthropic ethnic group in America. It’s estimated that Jews contribute 20 percent of the major political contributions to political parties. But shamefully, only 18 percent contribute to Jewish causes. Our leaders must persuade the richest community in the United States to donate substantially more to Jewish causes and direct their financial leverage toward those candidates who unequivocably support Israel as a Jewish state and leverage universities to accommodate the needs of Jewish students.

Collectively, we must invest more for Jewish camps, Hillels, Israel experiences, and day schools, among others, because they are effective means of transmitting pride and continuity for the next generation.

We must strengthen the core so that we can face the future with pride and resilience, just as the Israelis did during one of the most traumatic two years of Israel’s existence.

If not now, when?

Max Kleinman of Fairfield was the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest from 1995 to 2014. He is the president of the Fifth Commandment Foundation and consultant for the Jewish Community Legacy Project.

Opinion