The willingness to succumb to antisemitism is always a sign of a sick society, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. The mainstreaming of Jew-hatred in the media, popular culture and political discourse since Oct. 7, 2023, has created a perilous moment for Jews, but it is also a sign of just how lost so many Americans have become. He believes what’s needed now is a willingness to understand that it is Western civilization, which has its roots in Judaism, that is under attack as much as Israel.
He’s joined in this week’s episode of “Think Twice” by Newsweek senior editor-at-large and podcaster Josh Hammer, the author of the new book Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.
Hammer says he was inspired to write his book by the reaction to Oct. 7, in which so many Americans chose to side with the medieval Islamist death cult of Hamas. The surge in antisemitism, he argues, is a direct result of a far-reaching attack on Western civilization, which has its roots in Judaism. Hammer believes the answer to this should be a “biblical restoration” in which Jews and Christians work together to fight for Western values against the assault on them from the toxic ideas of the Marxist woke left. Those who want to get rid of the West and the idea of the nation-state inevitably start with Israel and the Jewish tradition.
The author says the place to start is to embrace faith and to encourage Christians to do so, as well as Jews, since that is the best antidote to what ails society, including antisemitism.
Hammer also advocates for a realistic rather than a moralistic U.S. foreign policy, such as that prescribed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, since that is the best guarantee of the alliance between America and Israel.
Both Tobin and Hammer agreed that the left is the primary engine of antisemitism today and that Trump’s efforts to defund schools that tolerate and encourage Jew-hatred and enforce toxic DEI policies are a good start towards defeating it. But they also noted the disturbing trend among a small group of right-wing podcasters like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson toward embracing anti-Israel and antisemitic positions. Hammer speculated that support for that position among some Christians is ignorance of the Jewish roots of their own faith.
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JNS will host its inaugural International Policy Summit on Monday, April 28, 2025. This daylong event will convene government officials, policymakers, diplomats, security experts, leaders of pro-Israel organizations, and influencers for vital discussions aimed at addressing Israel’s critical challenges and opportunities in a post-Oct. 7 world.
Registration at this point is for invitees only. However, you can submit a request for registration using the following link.
