Let's Be 10% Jewier

Reflections on this year's State of World Jewry address, given by Bret Stephens

This week, I listened to 92NY’s annual State of World Jewry address, given this year by New York Times columnist Bret Stephens.

I almost didn’t listen. Every year, I think, “I already know the state of world Jewry. Antisemitism. Israel. Polarity.”

But I regularly read Bret Stephens’ journal, SAPIR, to stay up to date with Jewish ideas, and to see if their managing editor misses any typos (so far, none). So I figured, why not? Now that the war is over, maybe there’s perspectives out there I’m not aware of.

And I’m so glad I did! For the first time in a while, I felt energized about the Jewish future. Yes, it helps that all the hostages are home and “it’s finally October 8th.” But some of the points Bret (switching to a first-name basis here) made validated my sense of Jewish peoplehood, inspired me to continue my learning, and made me excited and curious for what’s to come in Jewish communal life.

Here are some takeaways and my reactions:

1. Antisemitism = resentment marinated in envy

You know the joke where anti-Israel protestors chant a short, catchy rhyme, and the pro-Israel protestors say, “Well actually, in 1948…”? If only it were a joke! And if only we reframed our approach to antisemitism.

Bret, in Monday night’s address, framed antisemitism not as a result of inaccurate information or lack of knowledge, but as a response to Jewish distinctiveness. He reminded the audience that Judaism is a countercultural nation, believing in one G-d (in a world of many gods); valuing life and freedom (when some cultures value martyrdom and control); believing the Messiah has not yet come (when the majority of the world believes it has); and insisting questions are just as important as answers (in a world that loves certainty).

Therefore, it enrages people when we reject others’ beliefs and remain steadfast to our own, even when people want to kill or convert us for having them.

And when we’re successful (often because of these values), it makes them envious. So maybe it’s not a good idea to remind people who say we shouldn’t have a homeland that we have 20% of Nobel Peace Prizes, or we invented the polio vaccine, that the Jewish country is the only democracy in the Middle East where people can live openly as gay, or Israel has offered the Palestinians peace, only to be rejected many, many times.

How we think antisemites will react: “Wow, you’re right. Thank you so much for everything! Let me know when you’re hosting your next Shabbos meal, I’d love to come over and experience Jewish culture with you! I’ll bring a bottle of Israeli wine!””

How they actually react: “ASDHFKJIL!!! Genocide!”

Bret said, “They do not hate us because of our faults and failures. They hate us because of our virtues and successes.” He continued: Antisemitism doesn’t come from ignorance; antisemitism is a neurosis (for which he was heckled and handled it spectacularly).

Because of this, he thinks that…

2. Fighting antisemitism is a wasted effort.

Since October 7th, Jewish organizations have spent tens of millions of dollars a year fighting antisemitism. These efforts include monitoring online hate, ensuring Holocaust education is part of every private school curriculum, and creating Superbowl ads.

This is well intentioned, but no matter how much people learn about Jews, they still think we killed Christ or caused a genocide or the recent snow storm. Bret cited that 1 in 5 millennials and Gen Zs believe Jews caused the Holocaust. He even went so far as to say that if he were head of the ADL, he would dismantle it.

In addition to money, Bret said we’re wasting our energy as well. We only have so much of it; should we spend it on fighting our enemies, or on uplifting ourselves, particularly in a Jewish way?

“But I fear that this money that we’re spending, it’s like those scenes of people in the ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ just tossing a hundred-dollar bills into garbage cans. That’s not how Jewish money should be spent. That’s not helping raise a generation of young Jews who are conscious of their Jewishness as something other than the fact that they saw Schindler’s List and they visited the Holocaust Museum.” -Bret Stephens

My two cents: I half agree with Bret on this point. While some forms of fighting antisemitism are fruitless endeavors (did I mention Superbowl ads?), I think some, like monitoring antisemitic incidents and providing non-Jews with the tools to better understand the Jewish people, are important.

I think education is a powerful combatant against antisemitism. Unlike Bret, I do believe some people are antisemitic or antizionist because they are completely ignorant, either of our history, Israeli history, basic definitions, or all of the above.

And I believe there’s a non-extremist majority that just doesn’t know enough, whose mindset can shift through education. I’ve seen it! Whether it’s explaining Mayor Mamdani’s (and his wife’s) public support for individuals aligned with Hamas, or clarifying why Birthright isn’t a white supremacist program, I’ve received responses like, “Wow, I had no idea. Thank you for letting me know.”

Another example: Just last week, someone I know explained the concept of Jewish peoplehood to his self-proclaimed antizionist friends, and pointed out demographic shifts in the Middle East since 1948. And guess what? The conversation was productive! It’s amazing what people don’t know, or don’t stop to consider.

Now, these people didn’t start wearing “Hummus not Hamas” t-shirts right away, or request to go to shul with me like these lovely friends. But sometimes, all it takes is planting one seed to grow into a tree of knowledge. (This was my one Tu BiShvat reference).

In my work at The Jewish Education Project, I’ve seen a powerful example of an educator spending most of the school year teaching Judaism to their non-Jewish students. The results were striking: the majority of students claimed to gain a more nuanced understanding of Jewish culture and clearer awareness of antisemitism as a real and pressing societal issue.

So, I don’t think indifference and disengagement is the path forward, especially if someone approaches you with a genuine curiosity to learn. And in terms of money, I don’t want to abandon the fight altogether. I’m more concerned with how the money used in the fight is allocated. For a good read on this topic, check out this article.

I do agree with Bret on his final point: where our focus should be. Instead of throwing our bills into trash cans fighting antisemitism, he recommended we…

3. Lean into our Jewishness.

Redirect funding toward opening more affordable Jewish day schools and other Jewish institutions that strengthen our Jewish identity! Direct our dollars toward positive Jewish life!

In a Whatsapp chat in response to this speech, my friend Zachary Thacher of The Thacher Report said, “Many secular or Reform Jews go regularly to Chabad houses because they’re free and welcoming. Now imagine if they could send their kids to good quality cheap Jewish schools. It would change American Jewry in 20 years. Hebrew literacy alone would be a game changer.”

Yes, I’ve never understood why so many Jewish philanthropists worry about the Jewish future when day school tuition remains a burden for many families. You have the resources. Now put them to work. Here’s another great piece on this - you can tell I loved the latest issue of SAPIR!

Bret went on to say that when he coined the term “Oct. 8th Jew” in a NY Times op-ed a month after 10/7, he was wrong in that an Oct. 8th Jew is not just realizing who your enemies really are; it’s wondering who YOU are.

And it’s so true! I always say antizionist Jews base their identity around what they are not. Why should it be the same for Jews in general, who would rather respond to an antisemitic comment than learn from our sacred text?

“The proper defense against Jew hatred is not to prove the haters wrong by outdoing ourselves in feats of altruism, benevolence, and achievement. It is to lean into our Jewishness as far as each of us can, irrespective of what anyone else thinks of it.”
-Bret Stephens

Bret then referenced a book I like, Dan Harris’s memoir, 10% Happier, about a news anchor who has a panic attack on national television and then develops a meditation practice. Dan Harris posits than meditating regularly can make you 10% happier.

Every year, Bret suggested, we should become 10% Jewier. Investing our time in gaining more knowledge, therefore gaining a deeper sense of identity: that’s how we fight antisemitism.

He said that we didn’t come to America to become victims. In fact, most of us aren’t victims, and we shouldn’t want to compete for the oppression Olympics. Israel also wasn’t created to be seen as a victim.

So let’s stop reading the comments section (though I can’t wait to read this one and see what you all think!), crack open a Jewish book, get coffee with a Jew and discuss Jewish ideas, and go to a Shabbat meal.

Yalla! Shabbat Shalom,

💦 If you’re interested in fighting antisemitism, check out this Drop: