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How the Jewish Community Must Respond to the New Face of Antisemitism
A pro-Hamas demonstrator uses a megaphone at Columbia University, on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, in New York City, US, Oct. 7, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar
The notoriously hostile anti-Israel encampments on college campuses during the last year may be mostly gone, but the storm of antisemitism has not disappeared. Instead, it has transformed — becoming more ingrained and widespread. The hatred is no longer confined to a handful of extremists attracting public attention, but has been woven into the fabric of academic culture, social movements, political discourse, and even sports.
At major universities like NYU and Tulane, calls for “resistance by any means,” including violence, have become a routine part of campus life.
At Columbia University, a student group recently published a chilling manifesto titled “The Columbia Intifada,” glorifying violence against Jews. Meanwhile, the media and human rights organizations — which should be sounding the alarm — continue to downplay or ignore the growing problem.
What we are witnessing as a society is the normalization of prejudice against Jews, where hate has become routine, crazy is the new normal, and acts of antisemitism are simply dismissed or downplayed.
As Jews and as human beings, we cannot accept this.
The Jewish community must respond decisively, not with fear or retreat, but with pride, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to our values. If we have learned anything from the past few years, it is that when we unite, we achieve extraordinary things. It was unity that brought Jewish students together to successfully challenge negligent university administrations. It was unity that amplified our voices in courtrooms, on social media, and in classrooms. And it is unity that will allow us to rise to this new challenge.
Embracing Jewish Pride
Antisemites thrive on fear and silence. They want us to hide who we are — to shrink away from confrontation. But we must not give them that victory. The first step in combating the new face of antisemitism is to unapologetically display our Judaism with pride. Every Shabbat dinner, every holiday celebration, every mezuzah hanging proudly on a dorm room door is a statement: we are here, and we will not be erased.
This is not about defiance for defiance’s sake. It’s about reclaiming the narrative by living and embodying the values that define us.
For example, Judaism teaches us the importance of tikkun olam — repairing the world — by spreading justice, kindness, and compassion. It urges us to love the stranger, to pursue peace, and to see the divine spark in every person. These values are not just theoretical; they are meant to guide our daily lives. Every act of kindness, every moment of empathy, and every effort to build bridges reflects the principles that have sustained our people for generations.
When we lean into these values, we send a powerful message to the world: Fighting hate with hate has never worked and will never work. Our answer to the abhorrent antisemitism on and off campus is not to mirror the venom of our enemies but to live out the principles that define us. Our message to the world is one of peace, love, and justice. It is a message that grows louder when the Jewish people come together, united by our shared history and values.
The Power of Community
Consider what happens when we celebrate as a community — when we gather for a Passover Seder, dance on Simchat Torah, or light Shabbat candles together. These are more than just rituals; they are moments to pause to honor family, community, and the belief that there is always a brighter tomorrow. Living our Judaism out loud strengthens the bonds between us and proclaims to the world that we are a people who choose life, who choose joy, who choose hope.
Over the course of the past year, I’ve seen countless times how this sense of community empowers individual students. When surrounded by the support of their peers, students are so much more likely to openly celebrate and embrace their Jewish identity with courage and confidence. They feel emboldened to wear symbols of our faith, like a kippah or a Star of David, even in challenging environments. They speak up in class when faced with misinformation or bias, and they take pride in their heritage rather than feeling the need to hide it.
This courage doesn’t just benefit individuals—it strengthens the entire community. It is this spirit of unity around our values that makes the difference. When we stand together, others take notice. Antisemites may spread lies, but when the Jewish community is united, their hate falls on deaf ears. The people around us—our neighbors, our colleagues, our classmates—see us for who we are: a community rooted in justice, peace, and an unwavering commitment to the dignity of all human beings.
When we embrace our Judaism fully, the hate around us begins to lose its power. This is why Jewish pride is not just an act of self-preservation — it is a form of resistance that can change hearts and minds. It tells the world that we are not victims of history; we are participants in its betterment.
The current reality is daunting, but it is not without hope. The same unity and determination that have sustained the Jewish people for centuries can guide us forward — but we must act now. We cannot allow the normalization of antisemitism to take root any deeper. We must confront antisemitism wherever it appears, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient.
At the same time, we should be reaching beyond our own community to engage with allies and build coalitions, because antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem — it is a societal problem. When hate is normalized, it endangers everyone. It creates a society where intolerance is allowed to fester, threatening the safety and dignity of all marginalized groups. This is why, when our communities are at their strongest, we must seize the moment to forge partnerships that unite us and amplify our efforts in the fight against hate.
The stakes are high, but so is our capacity for resilience. Our community has faced hate before, emerging stronger each time. We will do so again — not by retreating into silence or mirroring the hatred directed at us, but by standing firm in our values and letting our pride outshine their prejudice. And above all, we must show the world the beauty, strength, and vibrancy of Jewish life.
Rabbi David Markowitz, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Vision and Partnerships at Olami, has been fighting campus antisemitism since October 7, where he led a delegation of Jewish students to speak with policymakers and politicians at The White House, as well as the Knesset.
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US Immigration Judge Rules Palestinian Columbia Student Khalil Can Be Deported
Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of media about the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia University during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, in New York City, US, June 1, 2024. Photo: Jeenah Moon via Reuters Connect
A US immigration judge ruled on Friday that Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, allowing President Donald Trump’s administration to proceed with its effort to remove the Columbia University student from the United States a month after his arrest in New York City.
The ruling by Judge Jamee Comans of the LaSalle Immigration Court in Louisiana was not a final determination of Khalil’s fate. But it represented a significant victory for the Republican president in his efforts to deport foreign pro-Palestinian students who are in the United States legally and, like Khalil, have not been charged with any crime.
Citing the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, Trump-appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined last month that Khalil could harm American foreign policy interests and should be deported for his “otherwise lawful” speech and activism.
Comans said that she did not have the authority to overrule a secretary of state. The judge denied a motion by Khalil’s lawyers to subpoena Rubio and question him about the “reasonable grounds” he had for his determination under the 1952 law.
The judge’s decision came after a combative 90-minute hearing held in a court located inside a jail complex for immigrants surrounded by double-fenced razor wire run by private government contractors in rural Louisiana.
Khalil, a prominent figure in the anti-Israel student protest movement that has roiled Columbia’s New York City campus, was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, holds Algerian citizenship and became a US lawful permanent resident last year. Khalil’s wife is a US citizen.
For now, Khalil remains in the Louisiana jail where federal authorities transferred him after his March 8 arrest at his Columbia University apartment building some 1,200 miles (1,930 km) away. Comans gave Khalil’s lawyers until April 23 to apply for relief before she considers whether to issue a deportation order. An immigration judge can rule that a migrant cannot be deported because of possible persecution in a home country, among other limited grounds.
In a separate case in New Jersey, US District Judge Michael Farbiarz has blocked deportation while he considers Khalil’s claim that his arrest was made in violation of the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for freedom of speech.
KHALIL ADDRESSES THE JUDGE
As Comans adjourned, Khalil leaned forward, asking to address the court. Comans hesitated, then agreed.
Khalil quoted her remarks at his hearing on Tuesday that nothing was more important to the court than “due process rights and fundamental fairness.”
“Clearly what we witnessed today, neither of these principles were present today or in this whole process,” Khalil said. “This is exactly why the Trump administration has sent me to this court, a thousand miles away from my family.”
The judge said her ruling turned on an undated, two-page letter signed by Rubio and submitted to the court and to Khalil’s counsel.
Khalil’s lawyers, appearing via a video link, complained they were given less than 48 hours to review Rubio’s letter and evidence submitted by the Trump administration to Comans this week. Marc Van Der Hout, Khalil’s lead immigration attorney, repeatedly asked for the hearing to be delayed. Comans reprimanded him for what the judge said was straying from the hearing’s purpose, twice saying he had “an agenda.”
Comans said that the 1952 immigration law gave the secretary of state “unilateral judgment” to make his determination about Khalil.
Khalil should be removed, Rubio wrote, for his role in “antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States.”
Rubio’s letter did not accuse Khalil of breaking any laws, but said the State Department can revoke the legal status of immigrants who could harm US foreign policy interests even when their beliefs, associations or statements are “otherwise lawful.”
After Comans ended the hearing, several of Khalil’s supporters wept as they left the courtroom. Khalil stood and smiled at them, making a heart shape with his hands.
Khalil has said criticism of the US government’s support of Israel is being wrongly conflated with antisemitism. His lawyers told the court they were submitting into evidence Khalil’s interviews last year with CNN and other news outlets in which he denounces antisemitism and other prejudice.
His lawyers have said the Trump administration was targeting him for protected speech including the right to criticize American foreign policy.
“Mahmoud was subject to a charade of due process, a flagrant violation of his right to a fair hearing and a weaponization of immigration law to suppress dissent,” Van Der Hout said in a statement after the hearing.
The American immigration court system is run and its judges are appointed by the US Justice Department, separate from the government’s judicial branch.
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Hamas Releases Video of Israeli-American Hostage Held in Gaza
FILE PHOTO: Yael, Adi and Mika Alexander, the family of Edan Alexander, the American-Israeli and Israel Defense Forces soldier taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, pose for a photograph during an interview with Reuters at the Alexander’s home in Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S., December 14, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Stephani Spindel/File Photo
Hamas on Saturday released a video purportedly of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who has been held in Gaza since he was captured by Palestinian terrorists on October 7, 2023.
In the undated video, the man who introduces himself as Edan Alexander states he has been held in Gaza for 551 days. The man questions why he is still being held and pleads for his release.
Alexander is a soldier serving in the Israeli military.
The edited video was released as Jews began to mark Passover, a weeklong holiday that celebrates freedom. Alexander’s family released a statement acknowledging the video that said the holiday would not be one of freedom as long as Edan and the 58 other hostages in Gaza remained in captivity.
Hamas has released several videos over the course of the war of hostages begging to be released. Israeli officials have dismissed past videos as propaganda that is designed to put pressure on the government. The war is in its eighteenth month.
Hamas released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel’s military resumed its ground and aerial campaign on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.
Israeli officials say that campaign will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.
The US, Qatar and Egypt are mediating between Hamas and Israel.
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Some Progress in Hostage Talks But Major Issues Remain, Source tells i24NEWS
Demonstrators hold signs and pictures of hostages, as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas protest demanding the release of all hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 13, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Itai Ron
i24 News – A source familiar with the ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal confirmed to i24NEWS on Friday that some progress has been made in talks, currently taking place with Egypt, including the exchange of draft proposals. However, it remains unclear whether Hamas will ultimately accept the emerging framework. According to the source, discussions are presently focused on reaching a cohesive outline with Cairo.
A delegation of senior Hamas officials is expected to arrive in Cairo tomorrow. While there is still no finalized draft, even Arab sources acknowledge revisions to Egypt’s original proposal, reportedly including a degree of flexibility in the number of hostages Hamas is willing to release.
The source noted that Hamas’ latest proposal to release five living hostages is unacceptable to Israel, which continues to adhere to the “Witkoff framework.” At the core of this framework is the release of a significant number of hostages, alongside a prolonged ceasefire period—Israel insists on 40 days, while Hamas is demanding more. The plan avoids intermittent pauses or distractions, aiming instead for uninterrupted discussions on post-war arrangements.
As previously reported, Israel is also demanding comprehensive medical and nutritional reports on all living hostages as an early condition of the deal.
“For now,” the source told i24NEWS, “Hamas is still putting up obstacles. We are not at the point of a done deal.” Israeli officials emphasize that sustained military and logistical pressure on Hamas is yielding results, pointing to Hamas’ shift from offering one hostage to five in its most recent agreement.
Negotiators also assert that Israel’s demands are fully backed by the United States. Ultimately, Israeli officials are adamant: no negotiations on the “day after” will take place until the hostage issue is resolved—a message directed not only at Hamas, but also at mediators.
The post Some Progress in Hostage Talks But Major Issues Remain, Source tells i24NEWS first appeared on Algemeiner.com.