There has been a major shift among Jewish and Jewish allied peoples. There has been a “great recalibration.” People have rethought many assumptions that they believed were facts. There has been a recognition among individuals, but also among organizations that doing things in the same way does not suffice. This extends to include the secular and the religious as well as the conservative and the liberal.
Before October 7, the Jewish community was deeply fragmented along political lines. Conservatives struggled to understand why some Jewish people would support policies that appeared to weaken their security, while liberals found it incomprehensible that any Jewish person could support figures like former President Donald Trump. This ideological chasm seemed insurmountable, giving rise to what felt like two distinct groups within the Jewish population.
The events following October 7 and the critical aftermath has shattered the divisions that existed. The veil has been lifted, revealing clearly who the true enemies and friends of the Jewish people are. This has caused conservatives to recognize the necessity of unity among all Jews for collective success. Likewise, liberals have gained a newfound appreciation for the concerns that conservatives have long voiced. Many of the benefits of this recognition will be revealed in time. This transformation promises to have a lasting impact, reshaping the community’s approach to both internal and external challenges.
To our enemies—You have acted in such a transparent way. You have shown so many millions of people your outrageous behavior. Your actions have been a catalyst for a profound transformation, not just within the Jewish community, but across broader societal lines. By exposing your despicable behavior, you have inadvertently facilitated a recalibration of perspectives among millions, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
There is now a general recognition that there is much more that unites us then there is that divides us. There’s also a recognition that we cannot afford to focus on those differences. Days of passively observing events as they unfold are gone. A sleeping giant has been awoken.
We have seen people speak out in ways that they’ve never done before. A few examples of that would be Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Rapaport, Amy Schumer, Mark Hamill, J.K. Rowling, Quentin Tarantino, Kim Kardashian and Michael Douglas, to name a few. More important is what is happening among the average Jewish person. The number of organizations, initiatives and WhatsApp groups that have been created post-October 7 is staggering. Change is coming and has already begun in big and small ways. Many thousands of people have decided to become engaged.
Similarly the divisions that existed in Israel before the October 7 attacks seemed unbridgeable. The fight over judicial reform had Israeli’s at each other’s throats. The fighting that took place in Rabin Square on Yom Kippur was a stark example of this. Post-October 7 a recalibration among Israelis has occurred, and a recognition that the country must be united in order to defeat its multitude of enemies. Another byproduct of the attack is that the Supreme Court has finally ruled on the enlistment of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community into the army. Clearly, there will still be some resistance but it seems like there has been a recognition that the burden of national service must be shared more evenly.
It is sad that it took events like the ones we are experiencing to create this type of awakening that has resulted in “the great recalibration.” Our enemies have forced so many to say that they cannot afford to sit on the sidelines any longer!
The events we are witnessing today will be remembered as a pivotal moment in history. They will be seen as the impetus for remarkable achievements, strength, and the survival of the Jewish people worldwide. These varied achievements will take time to fully blossom. Through this new era of unity, we will confront challenges with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come.
In light of the assassination attempt on Trump, there is an opportunity for a major recalibration for the American people as well. There presents an opportunity to understand that there’s much more that unites than that divides us. In this moment we can learn that extreme rhetoric is not only dangerous but represents a true existential threat to our society. Let us hope that we as a people take this moment to learn these lessons and begin to heal our nation.
Daniel Rosen is the former leader of the TorchPAC pro-Israel group at New York University whose activism against campus antisemitism was reported on in the New York Post, the New York Sun, and multiple Jewish newspapers, as well as the Village Voice. Daniel has also been published on JNS.org, Israel National News, Times of Israel blog and the Long Island Jewish World. He worked for the Jewish Agency and now serves as co-CEO of a local family business. Daniel is the co-creator and chairman of Minds and hearts.
