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At the rededication of Hostage Wall at 255 Homer St. in Newton

Foreign policy is not within the state legislature’s authority, but calling out antisemitism is. I will continue to work against the rising tide of anti-Jewish hate and call on our leaders to stand up to those who apply a double standard to Israel -- whether poorly informed or badly intentioned -- because, as we are seeing in the ongoing surge in antisemitism, words have effects.

Recently college campuses have echoed with chants calling for divestment from “the Zionist entity” and a free Palestine “from the river to the sea.” But there is nothing but silence about the atrocities committed by Hamas and the Jewish hostages in captivity for more than half a year.

We must fight to correct the narrative, insist on moral clarity, and proudly participate in the society around us, to be seen and heard.

That’s why my grandparents helped build and lead two congregations in New York, and worked with UJA and Hadassah to support the fledgling State of Israel. It’s also why I worked for two Jewish US congressmen and a British member of Parliament working to improve Congress’ support of Israel and, in Britain, change the law to allow prosecution of Nazi war criminals uncovered after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Earlier this year, the ADL published its findings on the surge in antisemitism, both in the country and in our region. Unsurprisingly, 2023 was a banner year for antisemitism, with more and more brazenly confident hatemongers taking advantage of the current situation in Gaza to voice and amplify their hate-filled speech.

Grandparents Bertie and Charles Schwartz, who helped build reconstructionist shul SAJ and served as president of B'nai Jeshurun synagogue in Manhattan.

ADL's audit of antisemitic incidents for 2023 counted 8,873 acts of hate -- more than the preceding 3 years combined. And from October 7 to December 31, there were more antisemitic incidents than in any year on record.

The war in Gaza has served as an accelerant to the tinderbox that had already been laid by our recent politics of anger, distrust, and white supremacist ascendancy. A big part of the antisemitism unleashed by the war appears to be arising from the lack of moral clarity in the statements by many observers speaking about it.

After a brazen, barbaric, provocative, genocidal attack on peaceful kibbutzim on October 7th, there was a brief period of regret, compassion, and support from the world for Israel’s plight. However, that quickly changed, even as reports of the barbarity of the attacks, with sexual violence and beheadings, came to light. The world, as it often does, focused on criticizing Israel and holding it to a double standard.

Like many, I enjoy listening to NPR, BBC News, and other sources of thoughtful reporting. However, over the last six months, I can’t tell you how disappointed I’ve been at the complete imbalance between the number of times an Israeli military spokesman is grilled by the reporter about humanitarian concerns, and the few, if any, interviews with Hamas leadership about their continuing to hold hostages in captivity and their hiding among civilians and hospital staff.

At this time of Passover, we celebrate our deliverance from societies where, throughout history, we faced discrimination and hardship. My great grandparents fled Russian pogroms, others fled Nazism, arriving in the US and Israel committed to the principle “Never Again.” Never will we allow such intolerance to rise and threaten us again.

With gratitude,

Paid for by Committee to Elect Greg Schwartz

25 Haynes Rd, Newton, MA 02459

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