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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.

The post How the Jewish Community Must Respond to the New Face of Antisemitism first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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French Foreign Minister Says Recognizing Palestinian State Defies Hamas, Despite Terror Group’s Praise

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to the media on the day he attends the European Union Foreign Ministers council in Brussels, Belgium, July 15, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot insisted on Friday that President Emmanuel Macron’s push to recognize a Palestinian state defies Hamas’s interests — even as the terrorist group welcomed the decision.

“Hamas has consistently rejected the two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France is rejecting the stance of this terrorist organization and affirming its support for peace over war,” the top French diplomat said in a post on X.

However, Hamas praised France’s latest announcement, calling it “a positive step in the right direction.”

France’s initiative is part of “a political development that reflects growing international conviction in the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the Israeli occupation to distort facts or suppress the will of free nations,” said the Palestinian terrorist group, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades.

Hamas also said that such international steps “represent political and moral pressure” on Israel.

On Thursday, Macron announced that France will recognize a Palestinian state and issue a formal statement at the United Nations General Assembly in September as part of its “commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population,” the French leader said in a post on X.

Macron called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages still held by Hamas, and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.

He also stressed the need to demilitarize the Iran-backed terrorist group, rebuild the war-torn enclave, and create a Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and ensures regional security.

“The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility — as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners — to prove that peace is possible,” the French leader wrote.

However, despite Macron’s continued efforts, his controversial diplomatic initiative to recognize a Palestinian state faces widespread public opposition, with nearly 80 percent of French citizens rejecting the move.

A recent survey conducted by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) on behalf of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) — the main representative body of French Jews — found that 78 percent of respondents opposed a “hasty, immediate, and unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state.”

According to IFOP’s survey, nearly half of French people (47 percent) believe that recognition of a Palestinian state should only be considered after the release of the remaining hostages captured by Hamas during the group’s invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The survey also revealed deep concerns about the consequences of such a premature recognition, with 51 percent of respondents fearing a resurgence of antisemitism in France and 50 percent believing it could strengthen Hamas’s position in the Middle East.

France’s policy move comes after Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia officially recognized a Palestinian state last year, claiming that such a move would contribute to fostering a two-state solution and promote lasting peace in the region.

On Friday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised France’s decision, calling it a “victory for the Palestinian cause.”

“This reflects France’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to their land and their homeland,” Abbas said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France’s announcement, describing it as a “reward for terrorism.”

“Such a move … risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” the Israeli leader said in a post on X.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel. They seek a state instead of Israel,” he continued.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denounced the move, calling it “reckless” and saying it “only serves Hamas propaganda.”

The post French Foreign Minister Says Recognizing Palestinian State Defies Hamas, Despite Terror Group’s Praise first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Costa Rica Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Joining Latin America’s Fight Against Rising Jew-Hatred

Part of an exhibit on the Holocaust supported by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Photo: courtesy of IHRA.

Costa Rica has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, becoming the sixth country in Latin America to do so as antisemitic rhetoric and anti-Jewish hatred continue to rise across the region.

Local authorities announced the decision following meetings with a delegation from the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

Among the Latin American countries that have already endorsed the IHRA definition are Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay.

An intergovernmental organization comprising dozens of countries, including the United States and Israel, IHRA adopted the “working definition” of antisemitism in 2016.

Since its adoption, the definition has gained widespread support from Jewish organizations and lawmakers around the world, and is now used by hundreds of governmental bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations.

According to the definition, antisemitism “is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Beyond traditional antisemitic acts associated with the medieval period and Nazi Germany, the definition provides contemporary examples of antisemitism found in public life, media, education, workplaces, and religious settings — including Holocaust denial and modern forms targeting Israel, such as demonizing the Jewish state and denying its right to exist.

Jewish organizations hailed Costa Rica’s recent decision as a significant milestone in the global fight against Jew-hatred, amid a worldwide surge in antisemitism following the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“We are grateful that Costa Rica has joined the growing number of nations that view the IHRA definition as an essential guidepost to recognize antisemitism in its various forms so it can be properly addressed,” Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Institute for Latin American Affairs, said in a statement.

“We urge all nations to take this important step to protect their Jewish communities and uphold their Democratic values,” she continued.

Gilbert Meltzer, president of Costa Rica’s Jewish Community, commended the government’s decision to “support morality and combat discrimination.”

“The increase of hate speech and attacks on Jews all over the world, especially after Oct. 7, demands ethical decisions and firm actions as this one,” Meltzer said in a statement.

The European Jewish Congress also praised Costa Rica’s latest move, describing it as “a timely and courageous step” amid a rising climate of hostility against Jews.

“Defining hate is the first step to combating it. A principled move that must inspire others,” the statement read.

The post Costa Rica Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Joining Latin America’s Fight Against Rising Jew-Hatred first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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‘Reckless Decision’: US Officials Blast France for Recognizing Palestinian State

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron react on the day of a press conference, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

US officials were quick to castigate France for its intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, describing the policy as “reckless” and a move that undermines efforts to end the ongoing war in Gaza.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France’s intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition.

“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron said. “I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”

France, home to the third largest Jewish community in the world, will become the first major Western country to recognize a Palestinian state, after smaller nations more generally more critical of Israel did so last year.

Washington lambasted France’s announcement.

“The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on the X social media platform. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Likewise, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slammed France for moving to recognize a Palestinian state.

“How clever! If Macron can just ‘declare’ the existence of a state perhaps the UK can ‘declare’ France a British colony!” he said on X. “Macron’s unilateral ‘declaration’ of a ‘Palestinian’ state didn’t say WHERE it would be. I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called ‘Franc-en-Stine.’”

Huckabee has long opposed the recognition of a Palestinian state. In June, the ambassador said that he did not think that an independent Palestinian state remains a goal of US foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Macron’s plan, saying it won’t make a difference.

“What he says doesn’t matter,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “He’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight.”

Trump added, “”Look, he’s a different kind of a guy. He’s okay. He’s a team player, pretty much. But here’s the good news: What he says doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything.”

Israeli officials lambasted France’s plan as a “reward for terrorism,” arguing a Palestinian state at this time would become a hub for terrorism and likely a proxy of Iran, which has long backed the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Macron’s “absurd and unserious” decision that Paris will formally recognize a Palestinian state.

“A Palestinian state would be a Hamas state — just as the [Israeli] withdrawal from the Gaza Strip 20 years ago led to Hamas’s takeover there,” he said in a statement posted on X.

“Israel’s attempt to base its security on Palestinian promises to fight terror failed entirely in the Oslo process,” he continued, referring to the 1990s peace initiative between Israel and the Palestinians that sought a two-state solution. “Israel will no longer gamble with its security and its future.”

Israel maintains that Palestinian statehood should only come as the result of a negotiated peace agreement that ensures Israel’s security and recognition as a Jewish state.

The French announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where Israeli military operations continue following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.

Macron defended the decision to recognize a Palestinian state in a statement, saying that the proclamation underscores that France is “true to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

“We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” he added.

The post ‘Reckless Decision’: US Officials Blast France for Recognizing Palestinian State first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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