Let me share something that happened during my most recent visit to the Knesset, where I testified at the Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee. As I sat next to Rachel Broyde, the director of development for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), we hugged. It wasn’t just a polite, professional embrace; it was that full-bodied, soul-connecting kind that happens when two people keep meeting to fight the same battle.
That moment crystallized everything I’ve been feeling during these committee hearings. In that room, surrounded by Jewish leaders from around the world, I felt something powerful taking shape: a genuine kinship, a family reunion of sorts.
This is the third time in six months that I’ve represented Aish at these critical hearings in Jerusalem. Each time, the statistics presented have been “jaw-dropping” as ADL’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt puts it. A 344% increase in antisemitic incidents in the US. A 600% spike in Argentina. A staggering 1,000% rise in France. Numbers that make your stomach turn.
Even more striking than these alarming figures – after we ensure the physical safety of our fellow Jews – was the general consensus that Jewish education must be our response.
As I testified two weeks ago, “We have a responsibility to educate every Jew and improve their sense of Jewish self-worth.” This isn’t just Aish’s position; it’s become our collective rallying cry. Before we can effectively fight antisemitism, we need proud, knowledgeable Jews who understand who they are and why their heritage matters.
Over the past two years, the life of Jewish students on college campuses has become unbearable. They are still hiding their identity. They’re tucking Star of David necklaces under their shirts, pretending they don’t speak or understand Hebrew, and walking with their heads down past protest encampments – friendless, alone, isolated.
In my testimony, I emphasized that “Jewish students need to be safe, and we need to support them in every way we can – first by education, then by unified support, and finally by sharing their stories.”
When I relayed the work of our recently released documentary film, Frontline Warriors, which follows three Jewish students who faced brutal antisemitism on US campuses, heads nodded around the table.
These three young people – Shabbos Kestenbaum, Eden Yadegar, and Eli Tsives – don’t hide their identity but have been the targets of brutal attacks. Many other students like them have been victims of attacks – physical, legal, or social. They are part of the 41% of American Jewish students who, according to the ADL, now conceal their identity on campus.
The beautiful revelation in these hearings has been watching this message resonate across organizational boundaries. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli echoed it perfectly: “Without Jewish identity, we cannot fight antisemitism.” The Foreign Ministry representatives, the Federations of North America, and the World Union of Jewish Students, all of us, came to the same essential understanding.
The camaraderie developing among the various organizations involved in fighting antisemitism and supporting our students is vital. But this unity of purpose comes second to the education mission that unites us.
Jewish education is critical
In my testimonies, I have emphasized that Jewish education creates the foundation upon which everything else is built. It’s not enough to punish those who spray-paint swastikas on synagogue walls or harass our students, though that justice is certainly necessary.
We must simultaneously create strong, educated, proud Jews, from the youngest age possible, who will not fall prey to these bullies and who will know how and when to respond.
After ensuring the physical safety of our people, their spiritual safety must be our priority. This means Jewish literacy, connection to our roots, and a sense of belonging that transcends geographical and sectarian boundaries. Once our students know who they are and know what they stand for, then they can effectively build allies with others.
Think of it as building an army from within before seeking external allies. We need to ensure that when a Jewish student looks to his or her right or left, he/she sees other empowered and proud Jews standing shoulder to shoulder with him/her, ready to face challenges together, each one knowing why he/she is there, strong in his/her own Jewish pride, and seeing the worth and importance of his/her fellow students.
The hearings have opened my eyes to just how dangerous the situation has become. We heard from a French lawmaker who has faced multiple death threats and requires around-the-clock security.
We listened to students from around the world share heartbreaking accounts of isolation and fear, such as Liron Bruner from Northeastern University; Teddie Wexler from St. Paul University; and Naomi Tamir, a board member of the German Union of Jewish Students.
But amid these painful stories, I’ve witnessed something remarkable: a linking of arms across Jewish organizations, transcending political, religious, and denominational differences.
This is true for legacy organizations, as well as new organizations that have sprung up since Oct. 7. Whether from North America, South America, Europe, or Israel, we’re uniting behind the fundamental belief that education must come first.
A majority of North American Jews are not affiliated with any specific Jewish community, leaving them isolated and vulnerable to antisemitism. Our digital presence must reach across all platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram – wherever people encounter antisemitism – with educational content that empowers.
As I said at the Knesset, “Education has to be the first line of defense because without it, most Jews will be unable to stand up and be proud. But if we educate and empower them, they can become soldiers in the fight.”
This isn’t just Aish’s mission anymore; it’s becoming our collective vision for a stronger Jewish future. And that, more than anything, gives me hope that we’ll weather this storm together. ■
The writer is the chief communications officer and global spokesperson for Aish, following a career as an award-winning producer and marketing executive with HBO, CNN, and the Food Network. She is also an eight-time bestselling author.