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Proud, Uncancelable, and Unapologetically Jewish: The Power of Community Culture Over Cancel Culture

Supporters of Israel gather in solidarity with Israel and protest against antisemitism, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas, during a rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Nov. 14, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis

At a time when identity is weaponized and loyalty to truth is punished, Jews and Zionists must stand taller, prouder, and louder than ever before. We are not just surviving history — we are shaping it. The secret to our endurance is not compliance with cultural fads or fear of social punishment. It is our devotion to something far more powerful: community culture.

Cancel culture has no true grip on us when we embrace who we are.

Jews — religious, secular, cultural, or ethnic — have always found safety, purpose, and power in community. Our story is one of resilience: each time we were targeted, silenced, exiled, or attacked, we turned inward to strengthen our people and outward to uplift our allies. That’s the antidote. The Jewish people don’t disappear under pressure — we double down on who we are.

We are people who embrace Zionism not only because of Jewish peoplehood, but because of values. Zionism is an inclusive movement, with not only Jewish Zionists, but Zionists of all faiths, ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities. People who understand that support for Zionism is supporting thoughtful peoplehood, and a desire to better the world for all people, because it is ingrained in Jewish values, which aim to help ourselves just as we help others at the same time.

That must be our strategy now, as anti-Zionist hysteria, masked as progressive virtue, spreads like wildfire. We are being told to be ashamed of our Jewishness. Ashamed of our commitment to Israel. Ashamed of our people. No more.

Zionism is not a dirty word. It is the indigenous liberation movement of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. It is justice, survival, and self-determination wrapped into one. And yes, it is still needed, because antisemitism still rages in every corner of the world — even in places that claim to fight bigotry. The venomous attacks we see today, often endorsed or excused by influencers, campus activists, and even elected officials, are not about human rights — they are about Jew-hatred. The attacks on Jews, Zionists, and Israel are all based on attacks against Jews.

The only time anti-Israel and anti-Zionist attacks are not anti-Jew are when those who believe in globalization are equally against every Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and other nations with a religious or ethnic majority.  But, that does not happen very often, does it?

When the attacks and condemnation are only against the Jewish movement of determination, safety, representation, peoplehood, indigenousness, and nationality — that is when anti-Zionism is antisemitism, when being anti-Israel is antisemitism.

Clear understanding and the ability to confront the hatred and moral hypocrisy of those who claim to be virtuous is necessary when condemning and battling those who hate us, discriminate against us, and try to eradicate us.

Historically, Jews have had problems when we are prominent and weak. We have seen it throughout every historical period across Europe and Arabia, in Christian and Muslim lands. Today, Jews have an option: we can either be less prominent and successful, stop surviving battles against us, and try to stay out of the public eye, or we can choose the option to not be weak, to be prominent, and strong. The second option troubles those who hate Jews and don’t like when we succeed. I chose the second option — be prominent and strong. It is why I focus not on fighting back, but fighting forward.

Jewish pride and Zionist pride are being redefined by those who hate us. And we are allowing them to win the public relations war. We are allowing them to control the narrative — the story of us is being told by those who hate us. How wild is that?!

And, when we fight forward, we are criticized for fighting for our very existence. When we win fights and battles, the haters try to dominate social media, traditional media, and public opinion, thereby criticizing us for daring to defend ourselves and fight for our rights and lives.

Let’s be clear: there is no moral equivalence between Israeli security measures and the terrorist atrocities committed by Islamist extremists. Even the most controversial Israeli policies are not in the same universe as the depravity of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or the governments that sponsor them. Zionist “extremism” is often little more than unapologetic Jewish pride. Islamist extremism, on the other hand, results in kidnapped hostages, public executions, honor killings, and the repression of women, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and dissidents.

We must stop apologizing for being alive, for defending ourselves, for having a homeland, and for celebrating it.

Instead, let’s shift the conversation to action — real action. The anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, at its core, is antisemitic. Its goal is not peace or justice, but the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state. But here’s the silver lining: those boycott lists are also a roadmap.

Use the BDS hate lists as a Jewish pride guide. Support the businesses, brands, artists, and organizations targeted by them. These are the ones brave enough to stand with us. These are the ones who deserve our dollars and our voices. That’s community culture. Not cancellation — connection.

If someone wants to boycott a café because its owners are Israeli Jews or supporters of Israel, great — let’s flood that café with support. If an artist is blacklisted for performing in Tel Aviv, let’s amplify their work and make them heroes. Let’s create our own economy of values, rooted in dignity, not performative outrage.

This is not just about Jews. It is about anyone who believes in truth over propaganda, civilization over terror, and moral clarity over moral relativism. It is about our allies — Zionist Christians, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, LGBTQ+ individuals — and the people who are fighting against Islamic terror, who understand that Israel and Zionism protects them, too, such as Persians who fight against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Indians who battle against Islamism in Pakistan, Druze who fight against Islamic oppression in Arab nations, Christians in African and Middle Eastern nations who are being slaughtered by Islamist extremists, Eritreans who battle for their peoplehood, and Yazidis who struggle to survive amidst Islamist terror.

These are all people who know what is right and are brave enough to say it. These are our allies.

Jews have always been a people who rise. We have endured temples burning, inquisitions, pogroms, genocides, and exiles. And every time, we came back — not just to survive, but to thrive. The Jewish story is one of eternal return, and Zionism is the modern expression of that legacy.

We are uncancelable when we are unapologetic. When we choose pride over fear. When we lift each other up and put our values into action. And that is what the world needs right now — Jews and allies who know exactly who they are, and who refuse to back down.

Am Israel Chai.

Yuval David is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, filmmaker, and actor. An internationally recognized advocate for Jewish and LGBT rights, he is a strategic advisor to diplomatic missions and NGOs, and a contributor to global news outlets in broadcast and print news. He focuses on combating antisemitism, extremism, and promoting democratic values and human dignity. Learn more at YuvalDavid.com, instagram.com/Yuval_David_, x.com/yuvaldavid, youtube.com/yuvaldavid, and across social media.

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Marco Rubio Says US Denying Visas to Foreigners ‘Celebrating’ Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Marco Rubio speaks after he is sworn in as Secretary of State by US Vice President JD Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, Jan. 21, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the US is denying visas to foreigners who publicly celebrate the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a move he cast as part of a broader posture against extremist rhetoric.

While traveling in the Middle East, Rubio told reporters that the State Department has been denying visas to individuals glorifying Kirk’s murder online. He added that officials are also reviewing existing visas and that he expects some to be revoked.

“It isn’t just about Charlie Kirk. If you’re a foreigner and you’re out there celebrating the assassination of someone who was speaking somewhere, I mean, we don’t want you in the country,” Rubio said. “Why would we want to give a visa to someone who think it’s good that someone was murdered in the public square? That’s just common sense to me.”

When asked if the US has actually revoked any visas yet, Rubio responded, “We’ve revoked visas of people. I don’t know if we’ve revoked visas of people that are inside the country. We’ve most certainly been denying visas.”

Rubio also addressed the issue in a social media post on X while sharing a video from a Fox News interview during which he was asked if he planned to restrict visa access or revoke visas for those celebrating Kirk’s killing.

“America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens,” Rubio said in the post accompanying the video. “Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.”

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of the influential Turning Point USA organization, was shot and killed last week while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities have formally charged 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson of Utah with aggravated murder and several related offenses, including discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

Rubio’s announcement comes amid intensifying efforts by the Trump administration to expel foreigners who express support for violence or terrorism. The administration has launched an overhaul of the US visa system, part of what officials describe as an effort to root out individuals deemed a potential threat to the country. The sweeping measures include expanded social media vetting for new applicants, continuous monitoring of the 55 million current visa holders, and the revocation of thousands of student visas.

Several of the online posts praising Kirk’s assassination have emerged from the Middle East, with individuals condemning the slain political activist over his vocal support for Israel. During his life, Kirk repeatedly spoke in defense of the Jewish state and expressed support for its military campaign in Gaza.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau concurred with Rubio’s statement, calling on consular officials to prevent the distribution of visas to anyone “praising, rationalizing, or making light of” the murder of Kirk.

Rubio has not explained the standards the State Department is using to determine what qualifies as “celebrating” the assassination. Some critics have speculated that this ambiguity could set up legal challenges from advocacy groups, who are already warning about the First Amendment and due process implications.

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‘Down With Fascists’: Columbia Activist Who Said ‘Zionists Don’t Deserve to Live’ Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Murder

Khymani James, Columbia University student who filmed himself saying Zionists should be murdered. Photo: Screenshot

A former leader of the anti-Israel movement at Columbia University expressed full support for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.

Khymani James, who made the posts, was a “campus a leader in the pro-Palestinian student protest encampment” at Columbia, according to The New York Times.

In the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, James posted on X, “More. MORE!!!,” referencing the killing. He followed up that post by saying, “Down with all the fascists 😍.” (He later also called California Gov. Gavin Newsom a fascist.)

In another post, James wrote, “‘Be careful what you post’ and it’s people rightfully celebrating the inevitable and just fate of fascists. anywho… NO ONE MOURNS THE WICKED 😩🤣.”

In addition to the posts he wrote, James also reposted statements such as “Thoughts and prayers for the bullet,” “rest in piss,” and “saw that s–t and started giggling and kicking my feet and shouting YOOOOOO.”

In James’s biography on the social platform X, he notes, “Anything I said, I meant it. DEATH TO EMPIRE.”

This is not the first time James has rhetorically supported violence. Last year, he was on video saying, “Zionists don’t deserve to live,” and proclaiming that people should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”

He also said, “I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser. I fight to kill.”

The comments triggered widespread backlash, and James was suspended by Columbia. The incident also resulted in what was widely seen as an apology for James on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), one of the most notorious anti-Israel campus groups in the US. Months later, however, the group retracted its previous apology.

“All CUAD organizers were complicit in not maintaining our political line, keeping the statement public on our Instagram, and in neglecting the mental and physical safety of Khymani,” the post read. CUAD apologized for causing “irrevocable harm” to him.

Despite James’s comments about the possibility of murdering Zionists, CUAD’s post claimed that he was criticized and socially ostracized for “fight[ing] back against state violence.”

James also responded to this post, writing on X, “Thank you to my comrades for posting this beautiful, powerful letter. I never wrote the neo-liberal apology posted in late April, and I’m glad we’ve set the record straight once and for all. I will not allow anyone to shame me for my politics.”

“Anything I said, I meant it,” he concluded.

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, where he was engaging in dialogue with students. He is survived by his wife and two young children. A young Utah man — Tyler Robinson, 22 — was taken into custody last week as the suspected shooter, about 33 hours after the assassination, according to state and federal law enforcement.

Kirk was an outspoken supporter of Israel and advocate against antisemitism. He regularly debated students on the subject of Israel and brought his ideas to young people at a time when, according to recent polling, that age group was turning decidedly against the Jewish state.

“There’s a dark Jew hate out there, and I see it,” Kirk told a student during a podcast episode which aired earlier this year. “Don’t get yourself involved in that. I’m telling you it will rot your brain. It’s bad for your soul. It’s bad. It’s evil. I think it’s demonic.”

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Spain’s PM Sánchez Faces Backlash for Fueling Anti-Israel Hostility Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents

Cycling – Vuelta a Espana – Stage 21 – Alalpardo to Madrid – Madrid, Spain – Sept. 14, 2025: Barriers are smashed by anti-Israel protesters during Stage 21. Photo: REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is facing backlash from his country’s political leaders and Jewish community, who accuse him of fueling antisemitic hostility after incidents at the Vuelta a España disrupted the prestigious cycling race.

Amid a sharp rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes and anti-Israel sentiment, Lorenzo Rodríguez, mayor of Castrillo Mota de Judíos in northern Spain, accused the country’s leader of “fueling a discourse of hatred” against Israel and the Jewish people.

“The government is fostering antisemitism that will prove deeply damaging for Spain,” Rodríguez said in an interview with the local outlet El Español.

“Sánchez’s moves are less about serious foreign policy and more about deflecting attention from his trials and failures in governance,” he continued. “Spain isn’t leading anything — it’s merely whitewashing Hamas and other terrorist groups.”

On Sunday, anti-Israel protests forced the finale of the Vuelta a España cycle race to be abandoned as police tried to quell demonstrations against the participation of an Israeli team.

In his interview, Rodríguez blamed Sánchez for fostering a hostile climate in Spain, saying the country is witnessing “hatred toward an entire people.”

He also criticized the Spanish leader for failing to take a strong stand on other international crises, including those in Russia and Venezuela.

“We all recognize that the Palestinian people are suffering, but the solution cannot be to blame the Jewish people,” Rodríguez said.

“People are afraid. There’s growing concern because our town was recently targeted,” he continued. “We are being singled out and threatened even though we have nothing to do with this war.”

Before the incidents on Sunday that led to the race’s cancellation, Sánchez expressed “admiration for the Spanish people mobilizing for just causes like Palestine” through their protests.

Madrid’s Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida strongly condemned Sánchez’s statement, accusing him of encouraging hostility and fueling tensions.

“The prime minister is directly responsible for this violence, as his statements this morning helped instigate the protests,” Martinez-Almeida said after the race was canceled.

“Today is the saddest day since I took office as mayor of this great city,” he continued.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, also criticized Sánchez’s remarks, accusing him of stoking division to maintain his hold on power.

“The psychopath has taken his militias to the streets,” Abascal wrote in a post on X. “He doesn’t care about Gaza. He doesn’t care about Spain. He doesn’t care about anything. But he wants violence in the streets to maintain power.”

Shortly after the incidents, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) publicly denounced the violence, urging authorities to respond quickly and decisively.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society and cannot be excused under the guise of freedom of expression,” FCJE said in a statement.

“These violent demonstrations fuel hatred and contribute to a concerning rise in antisemitism in Spain, which we have been warning about over the past two years,” the statement read. “It is unacceptable that violence is justified on ideological grounds and hostility is directed toward the Jewish community”

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Spain has become one of Israel’s fiercest critics, a stance that has only intensified in recent months, coinciding with a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents targeting the local Jewish community — from violent assaults and vandalism to protests and legal actions.

On Monday, Sánchez called for Israel to be barred from international sports events after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the finale of the Vuelta cycling race in chaotic scenes in Madrid.

“The sports organizations should ask whether it’s ethical for Israel to continue participating in international competitions. Why was Russia expelled after invading Ukraine, yet Israel is not expelled after the invasion of Gaza?” Sánchez said while speaking to members of his Socialist Party.

“Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be allowed to participate in any international competition,” the Spanish leader continued.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Sánchez’s remarks, labeling him “an antisemite and a liar.”

“Did Israel invade Gaza on Oct. 7th or did the Hamas terror state invade Israel and commit the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust?” the top Israeli diplomat wrote in a post on X.

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas started the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, when it led an invasion of southern Israel, murdered 1,200 people, and kidnapped 251 hostages while perpetrating widespread sexual violence against the Israeli people.

Israel responded with an ongoing military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and political rule in Gaza.

As part of its anti-Israel campaign, Spain announced on Tuesday that it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, citing the country’s military offensive against Hamas in the war-torn enclave.

Last week, Sánchez also unveiled new policies targeting Israel over the war in Gaza, including an arms embargo and a ban on certain Israeli goods.

The Spanish government announced it would bar entry to individuals involved in what it called a “genocide against Palestinians,” block Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from Spanish ports and airspace, and enforce an embargo on products from Israeli communities in the West Bank.

In one of its latest attempts to curb Israel’s defensive campaign in Gaza, Spain has canceled a €700 million ($825 million) deal for Israeli-designed rocket launchers, as the government conducts a broader review to systematically phase out Israeli weapons and technology from its armed forces.

Saar has denounced Sánchez’s latest actions, accusing the government in Madrid of antisemitism and of pursuing an escalating anti-Israel campaign aimed at undermining the Jewish state on the international stage.

“The government of Spain is leading a hostile, anti-Israel line, marked by wild, hate-filled rhetoric,” Saar wrote in a post on X, accusing Sánchez’s “corrupt” administration of trying to “divert attention from grave corruption scandals.”

“The obsessive activism of the current Spanish government against Israel stands out in light of its ties with dark, tyrannical regimes — from Iran’s ayatollahs to [Nicolás] Maduro’s government in Venezuela,” the Israeli diplomat continued.

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