Writing today in the Wall Street Journal Alan H. Rosenfeld warns that antisemitism "has gone mainstream." And Rosenfeld should know as he is the director of the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism at Indiana University.
Rosenfeld points to "the vilification of Israel and the blacklisting of Jews and Israelis in various professions by the unlikely pairing of militant Islamism and a revived Maoism. Together, their political credo of 'resistance' and 'liberation' declares that Jews are the oppressors and must be driven out of polite society."
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| Source: Anti-Defemamtion League |
He also cites the murder of two young Jews as they left the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington in June and the Boulder, Colorado arson attack with Molotov cocktails and an improvised flamethrower against a group of Jews peacefully demonstrating for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
As Rosenfeld explains it, what is particularly alarming about the latest surge in antisemitism is that much of it is emerging not from the traditional bastions of intolerance but from previously unexpected quarters—namely, the political left, progressives, and elite institutions often associated with tolerance and inclusion.
Among the most jarring recent examples is the National Education Association’s (NEA) abrupt severing of ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a historic civil rights organization founded to combat antisemitism. This decision, taken under pressure from progressive factions, is symptomatic of a broader ideological shift on the left that is increasingly hostile to Israel and, by extension, to American Jews.
The NEA and the ADL: A Breaking Point
Earlier this month the NEA, America’s largest teachers' union, announced it would no longer collaborate with the ADL on anti-bias training in schools. The stated rationale? Pressure from progressive activists who accused the ADL of being too aligned with Israel and allegedly dismissive of Palestinian suffering. Critics within the NEA charged the ADL with "Zionist bias" and argued that it could not be a credible source on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This move marked a significant turning point. The ADL, long regarded as a stalwart of civil rights advocacy, suddenly found itself discredited among the very progressive institutions it once worked alongside. That the NEA—a group responsible for shaping the minds of millions of American students—would turn its back on the ADL reveals how deeply antisemitic rhetoric and anti-Israel sentiment have permeated mainstream liberal thought to the point where criticism of Israeli policy has devolved into delegitimization of the Jewish state and demonization of Jewish organizations that support Israel’s right to exist.
The Progressive Movement and the New Antisemitism
Today’s progressive movement, perhaps best characterized by New York City Democrat mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, has increasingly embraced an ideology of intersectionality that casts Jews as privileged oppressors rather than a historically persecuted minority. On elite college campuses, pro-Israel students are vilified, Jewish speakers are de-platformed, and antisemitic chants are common at “Free Palestine” rallies.
“From the river to the sea,” a slogan calling for the elimination of Israel, has become disturbingly normalized in activist circles. And Mamdani himself has embraced calls to "globalize the intifada" and says that, as mayor, he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he stepped foot in New York. In response, from Democrat leaders we've mostly heard silence.
Along with Mamdani, far-left politicians like members of the “Squad” in Congress have consistently attacked Israel, voting against Iron Dome funding and echoing rhetoric that undermines the Jewish state’s legitimacy. These same voices are curiously silent or evasive when it comes to unequivocally condemning antisemitism. Instead, they often cloak their bias in the language of “anti-Zionism,” a convenient cover for what too often amounts to open hostility toward Jews.
Source: Anti-Defemamtion League
Republican Support for Israel and the Jewish Community
In stark contrast, the Republican Party has emerged as a steadfast ally of Israel and a consistent opponent of antisemitism. Under President Trump, the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the American embassy there, brokered the Abraham Accords that brought peace deals between Israel and multiple Arab nations, and took a strong stand against Iranian aggression. Republicans have repeatedly supported legislation defending Jewish students on campus and cracking down on antisemitic hate crimes to the point where these same colleges and universities are now finally beginning to buckle somewhat under pressure being brought by the Trump administration.
Unlike many progressives, Republicans do not equivocate when it comes to Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. They do not frame support for Israel as a matter of political calculation but as a moral imperative rooted in shared values: democracy, religious freedom, and the fight against tyranny. At a time when antisemitism increasingly masquerades as social justice on the left, Republicans offer clarity, principle, and action.
Amidst all this you would think that American Jews would realize that their best interests lie with the policies, goals and values of today's Republican Party. Still, in the last presidential election it's been estimated that American Jews voted Democrat by anywhere between 63 and 71 percent -- less than usual, but still a lopsided majority.
A Wake-Up Call for American Jews
The Democratic Party of today is not the party of FDR, JFK, or even Barack Obama. It is increasingly beholden to activist wings that are hostile to Jewish values, Jewish safety, and the Jewish homeland.
The time has come for American Jews to reassess their political loyalties. Blind allegiance to a party that tolerates or even nurtures antisemitism is not only misguided—it is dangerous. The threats facing Jews in America today are real, and they are coming from the mainstream -- from faculty lounges, school board meetings, activist nonprofits, media elites, members of Congress and other misguided pols.
American Jews must come to their senses. The political left no longer guarantees safety or solidarity. The right, imperfect as it may be, has proven itself willing to stand with the Jewish people in meaningful, tangible ways. Jewish Americans should stop voting for a party that takes their support for granted while accommodating those who question their place in society.
Conclusion
The growing antisemitism in America—especially from within the progressive movement—cannot be ignored. The NEA’s rejection of the ADL is not an isolated incident; it is a warning sign. Look at the the horrific antisemitic violence we've seen, the rise of Mamdani and the saber-rattling of "The Squad" and its allies. American Jews must confront the uncomfortable truth that their traditional allies have not only abandoned them but have turned actively against them. It’s time to rethink loyalties, recognize allies where they truly exist, and vote accordingly.
We conclude with the words of Alan Rosenfeld: "For Jews to support Mr. Mamdani or anyone like him is self-destructive. The pillorying of Israel and purging of Jews are the twin faces of a common hatred. If it continues to escalate, the results will be even more Jewish blood spilled, and not only in Israel."
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