Since October 7, the Jewish world has been facing an unprecedented wave of Antisemitism. Across university campuses, major global cities, and social media networks, Jews are being targeted. They are not being targeted because of their actions, or because of specific policies, but simply because of their identity.
There is a harsh reality we must acknowledge: when the world’s only Jewish state comes under attack, Jewish communities around the globe inevitably feel the impact. Their sense of safety is shaken, and their belonging is questioned. This reality proves that the connection between Israel and the Jewish people remains direct, deep, and undeniable. Today, what is frequently presented to the public as legitimate criticism of Israel repeatedly and intentionally crosses the line into blatant hostility toward Jews everywhere. Whenever Israel acts to defend its citizens, Antisemitism rises globally.
This is not a new phenomenon. Throughout history, whenever Jews faced crises or whenever Israel was forced to defend itself, Diaspora communities paid the price. Today, much of this ancient hatred has rebranded itself, appearing under the convenient banner of “anti-Zionism.” But let us be entirely clear: there is a vast distinction between criticizing Israeli government policy and denying the right of the world’s only Jewish state to exist. Calls for the destruction of Israel, blanket boycotts of Jewish businesses, or the systematic exclusion of Jews from public spaces are not political arguments. They are raw Antisemitism.
But the challenge we face goes far beyond physical threats or boycotts. Modern Antisemitism has a psychological goal: it seeks to undermine the confidence and legitimacy of Jewish identity. It pressures young Jews to apologize for their connection to Israel, encourages them to hide visible signs of their Judaism, and attempts to make them feel like outsiders in places where they were once perfectly secure. It is an attempt to make Jews shrink.
Therefore, our response cannot be fear, and it cannot be a quiet retreat into the shadows. The ultimate response must be unapologetic Jewish pride.
We are already seeing the beginning of this shift. More young Jews are openly and proudly wearing the Star of David. They are beginning to understand that Zionism is not something to be ashamed of or defended in whispers; it is the noble, historic expression of the Jewish people’s right to self determination. Antisemitism has always been an effort to weaken the Jewish people’s belief in themselves. Therefore, the critical question today is not only how we fight the hatred from the outside, but how we build Jewish resilience from within.
This moment is a stark reminder that Israel and Diaspora Jewry are chapters of the exact same book. The enemies of the Jewish people do not distinguish between a Jew in Tel Aviv and a Jew in New York or London. To them, we are one people.
Despite their best efforts to isolate us and break our spirit, the world continues to witness the unbreakable nature of the Israeli soul. Israel’s true power is never measured only on the battlefield. It is measured by a collective ability to continue building, innovating, creating, and dreaming even in the darkest times. We saw this clearly on the Eurovision stage, where Israel’s presence became a powerful symbol of defiance and cultural pride before hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It was a refusal to be silenced.
This has always been the essence of the Jewish story: transforming deep crisis into hope, and bitter adversity into growth. We do not just fight the darkness; we actively strengthen the light. By standing tall, embracing our Zionist identity, and tightening the bond between Israel and the Diaspora, we write the next chapter. Because while Antisemitism is a story of hatred, the Jewish story will always be a story of vibrant, defiant life.
Ifat Ovadia Luski is the Head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization and former Chairman of KKL-JNF