Reports of anti-Semitic rhetoric and actual physical attacks on American Jews have become a common occurrence in many American Jewish communities throughout the United States.  Despite the denial of most American Jews that I run into during my visits to the tristate area, including my current visit, anti-Semitic rhetoric and physical violence are blatantly condoned and publicly tolerated not only by a small, select group of political representatives who have become media darlings and celebrities, but more importantly by mainstream Democratic Party and Progressive political organizational leaders, many of whom are Jewish themselves.  This relatively minor and small group of highly visible media personalities is becoming disproportionally tolerant of expressing anti-Semitic rhetoric, empowering Jew-haters to act uninhibitedly against Jews anywhere and everywhere.

Polls show that Americans have a positive view toward Israel, ranking it among the ten countries they most favor, above many longtime allies.  The greater majority of Americans do not hold anti-Semitic beliefs and do not condone acts of anti-Semitism.  This being the case, how can we explain headline after headline and Democratic political tolerance and complicity in light of anti-Semitic rhetoric broadcast and printed daily among America’s leading media outlets?  The recent anti-Semitic cartoon in the New York Times is only the latest example of this alarming trend.

Should our conclusion be that anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence are a result of a hate industry operated by small and highly active individuals and groups who are disproportionately affecting and influencing the public discourse and media dialogue?  How long can we continue to blame Muslim congressional freshmen who express a pervasive revulsion of Jews and Israel condoned only because of a pervasive bigotry of low expectations in regard to their behavior and abilities?  Can a process of inoculation to anti-Semitism become a counter-balance to the ever increasing mainstreaming of anti-Semitism by a disproportional small cadre of Democratic Party politicians, veteran Democratic Jewish politicians, and progressive leaders?

Recent remarks by Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib on the Holocaust and the shameless media blitz and public support she received from Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi encapsulate the problem with today’s Democratic Party and the empowerment its members give to blatant Jew-haters and enemies of the State of Israel.  Tlaib began by explaining to Late Night host Seth Meyers how many of her ancestors “died” or “gave up their livelihood” to provide that safe haven for Jews, which she wanted to “recognize and honor.”  Tlaib unapologetically offered her false anti-Semitic version of history and falsely claimed that the Palestinian Arabs welcomed Jews to the Middle East when Palestinian leader Grand Mufti Haj Amin el Husseini was actually an ally of Adolph Hitler and coordinated attacks that killed tens of thousands of Jews, many of whom were recent Holocaust-survivors.  Tlaib was widely condemned by GOP lawmakers such as Republican Senator Ted Cruz, as well as President Trump, who accused her of “tremendous hatred.”  The Democratic support and the support of Progressive allies for stating the notion that she was “calmed” by the Holocaust is at the heart of the mainstreaming and the legitimizing of the rampant anti-Semitism that is spreading across America.

When social media spread the word of hating Jews and hating the State of Israel, believers from both the extreme left and the extreme right are inundated with messages and narratives within their world of social media that make it OK to hate Jews.  Individuals and groups who constantly seek affirmation for these hated related beliefs and find their redemption through elected political leaders and a major political leader such as Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi.  Then it’s a relatively small step to go to fulfill anti-Semitic ideation as acts, crossing the emotional threshold and walking into a synagogue to shoot Jews praying.

America has joined many parts of the world in which Jews are increasingly unwelcome.  Being a Jew now means risking physical violence.  Both Jews and Jewish institutions are being targeted with extraordinary cruelty and viciousness.  We hear Israel being compared to Nazi Germany and that the Jews control the world, being the source of the world’s maladies.  Jews are seen as carriers of a uniquely trans-generational evil.

Rampant Jew-hatred and violence against Jews have made a huge comeback only because major Democratic politicians and progressive opinion-makers such as the New York Times are creating a pervasive atmosphere for them.

*The writer, a 25-year veteran of the IDF, served as a field mental health officer.  Prior to retiring in 2005, he served as the commander of the Central Psychiatric Military Clinic for Reserve Soldiers at Tel-Hashomer.  Since retiring from active duty, he provides consultancy services to NGOs implementing psycho-trauma and psycho-education programs to communities in the North and South of Israel.  He is former strategic adviser at the Office of the Chief Foreign Envoy of Judea and Samaria.  To contact: medconf@gmail.com.

Section 2: Lest We Forget