It seems like every day another antisemitic incident shakes our community. Reports in the last month alone on assaults in London, Toronto, Paris and New York could fill several pages. In a world where antisemitism is becoming normalised, the importance of being confident in our Jewish identity has never been more critical.
As Jews, we are no strangers to adversity. For millennia, we have faced persecution, discrimination and hatred. Yet throughout history our resilience and unwavering spirit have been our guiding lights.
Today, once again, we must stand tall and embrace our Jewish identity not only with pride but with confidence, as a beacon of strength for future generations. In (1951), Hannah Arendt highlighted a disturbing societal trend in Europe: Jewish acceptance into non-Jewish society was conditional back then, granted only if they were seen as “Exceptional Jews,” distinct from the Jewish masses. This paradox required them to straddle the line between being part of their community and distinctly separate from it.
The psychological toll was immense, as these newly Westernised, educated Jews faced the demoralising pressure to distinguish themselves and become outstanding examples of humanity. This trend hasn’t ended. Antisemitism shows itself in various forms but it has one objective: to undermine and erase Jewish identity.
It manifests in overt acts of violence, subtle micro-aggressions and institutional biases. In the face of this growing tidal wave of assaults,.