As often happens after reading an important article in The Jewish Link, my husband and I found ourselves in a spirited conversation with friends at the Shabbat table about whether or not Orthodox Jews recognize their responsibility to combat antisemitism. In “The Best Way to Fight Antisemitism? ‘Serve the Larger Community!’” (March 23, 2023), Elizabeth Kratz captured the sentiments shared by White Plains City Council President Justin Brasch during his interview on the Pitch Meeting podcast. In short, he shared that the benefits of Jewish engagement in the broader community are great, and it is an imperative for all of us, particularly Orthodox Jews, to show up for others. By doing so, we let them know we care about issues outside the Jewish community, that the success and well-being of others matter to us.

Although it’s uncomfortable to talk about it, there does exist a stereotype that Jews — and especially those who are visibly observant Jews — are insular and self-serving and only take care of their own. Before jumping to our own defense, I propose we each take a good look at our individual approach to communal issues outside of bikur cholim and Tomchei Shabbos and Yad Eliezer and all the other wonderful organizations that we support. Are we concerned about food insecurity in the general population? Do we contribute toward earthquake relief or aid to refugees from other countries? When elderly Asian men and women are attacked on the streets of New York, are we showing up at rallies to combat anti-Asian racism and sending a message to our Asian neighbors that people who wear kippot stand in unity with them?

City Council President Brasch points out that especially Black and Latino people by and large have no interaction with Jews; as such their opinions will take the shape of whatever they hear or see on social media. The only way to combat those feelings is to create opportunities for positive exposure. We need to look no further than Israel, who sends medical teams and other expert emergency personnel to Haiti or Turkey or wherever they’re needed when tragedy strikes. It doesn’t matter who they are or what their political agendas may be. Israel shows up.

Do we show up? Do our religious institutions encourage us to show up? Is this a priority?

More than a year ago, I was privileged to hear Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz deliver a lecture to the Orthodox Forum of Edison/Highland Park called “Race, Class and American Modern Orthodox Life.” She spoke about the Jewish immigrant experience, the inherent racism in the original Social Security Act and the GI Bill, and the Tulsa race massacre. She explained why it’s so hard for Jews to understand or accept that the American experience was so different for other demographic groups than it was for our Jewish ancestors. When I was in yeshiva day school, I never learned the history she shared, and neither did my children. If you feel you need to learn more about “the other” in order to inspire you to show up, and even if you don’t, this lecture should be required listening for everyone — www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yWyHQnFYKg.

Rabbi Ethan Katz is the National Director of Teen Relief Missions for the OU. On the NCSY web site, it says “teens gain a new perspective, connect to the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world), and experience a newfound desire to help those in need by being taken out of their comfort zone and placed on the front lines in the aftermath of natural disasters.” What a beautiful platform this is for exposing people in need to hands-on Jewish care and support. The young Jewish teens taking part in these missions will surely lead adult lives of communal engagement and responsibility, shedding light not only unto the nations but also on themselves. That’s combating antisemitism.

It is my fervent hope that more rabbinic leaders and Jewish day school curricula start including messages about the importance of broader communal responsibility, speaking up and showing up.