Antisemitism is growing worse on the left. And on the right.
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But for how long? The book ends with disaster averted and Mordecai and Esther enjoying royal favor. Yet Ahasuerus — as vainglorious, amoral, and mercurial as ever — remains firmly on the throne. What assurance do Persia's Jews have that the capricious king who first endorsed genocide and then countermanded it isn't going to reverse course again? One of the timeless lessons of Purim and the Book of Esther is that when society is ruled by depraved or unstable people, no one is safe — especially not vulnerable or vilified minorities like the Jews.
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Again and again across the centuries, Jewish communities that believed themselves secure and welcome woke up to find themselves targeted by haters. Ten or 15 years ago it was still possible to believe that 21st-century America could never succumb to such antisemitic frenzy. But anyone with eyes to see knows better now.
In the wake of Oct. 7, 2023, Jew-hatred that was once confined to the fringes has spread toward the mainstream.
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It is rare now to see a synagogue that doesn't employ armed guards to keep worshipers safe. Jewish schools have had to
Antisemitic attitudes
both
sides.
For many years it was an article of faith among liberals, including liberal Jews, that antisemitism in America was
Republican leaders, to both their credit and their political advantage, have focused a spotlight on the eruption of antisemitic speech and demonstrations at
Unfortunately, too many conservatives and Republicans are making the mistake that partisans on the left used to make and refusing to acknowledge that antisemitism on their side of the aisle remains a serious problem. During the 2024 campaign,
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Yet the same administration that is targeting Columbia for tolerating antisemitism has just elevated a Pentagon spokesperson, Kingsley Wilson, who has
The Book of Esther opens with the description of an opulent party hosted by Ahasuerus — a party, the Talmudic sages taught, to which the cream of Persian Jewry was invited. The Jews of that era imagined that their position was secure, only to learn how quickly their stability could collapse once the air was poisoned with antisemitism. For Jews, vigilance is always imperative. From Haman to Hitler to Hamas and its supporters,
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