The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks once wrote: “To defend a country, you need an army. But to defend a civilization, you need schools.”
In an era of skyrocketing antisemitism, these words resonate more powerfully than ever. The Jewish world is facing an alarming surge of hostility not seen since the Holocaust. Across the globe, Jews are encountering bigotry, threats and physical attacks. From university campuses to city streets and online, antisemitic rhetoric and violence have become disturbingly commonplace.
Unprecedented resources have been mobilized to fight antisemitism—through legal advocacy, public relations campaigns, security measures and watchdog initiatives. These efforts are critical. However, they miss one essential element: Education. Instead of merely responding to external threats, we must bolster the internal resilience of the Jewish people with large-scale education initiatives that instill a deep understanding of what it truly means to be Jewish.
The battle to end Jew-hatred, while necessary, is not the same as the battle to secure Jewish continuity and strengthen a robust and flourishing Jewish future.
The deeper crisis is that Jewish youth today lack a basic understanding of the intrinsic value of Jewish identity. Too many Jews today are disconnected from their history, culture and traditions. Without this grounding, they remain vulnerable, unable to understand why they are being attacked, and, frequently, they cannot effectively respond to the antisemitism they encounter.
For decades, Jewish education has been treated as secondary on the global Jewish agenda, deemed a luxury rather than a necessity. However, now, the consequences of this neglect are clear.
Jewish strength has never relied solely on military power or political influence—after all, for millennia, we were stateless and had no military might to speak of. Our resilience has always been rooted in knowing who we are, and, as a people, we value an enduring commitment to learning, tradition and collective memory. Jewish history is not just a chronicle of persecution and survival; it is a legacy of intellectual and spiritual distinction, of immense contributions to humanity, and of perseverance and faith.
Yet too many young Jews today know little to nothing about this past. When approached with ancient antisemitic tropes, they cannot even identify them for what they truly are: basic Jew-hatred. They remain unfamiliar with the depths of Jewish scholarship, the breadth of Jewish civilization, and the values that have sustained our people for millennia. This lack of knowledge leaves them ill-equipped to face the challenges of the present.
While securing Jewish institutions and combating antisemitism through public advocacy are important and frequently tactical defensive solutions to secure the future of the Jewish people, they are not enough on their own. It is education that provides a long-term, strategic investment in a strong Jewish future.
If we fail to foster a deep and abiding connection to Jewish identity, we risk losing the very essence of what we seek to preserve. We need a global, strategic investment in Jewish education—not specifically religious education, but a rich historical and cultural education that instills a profound sense of belonging and purpose, alongside a high-level general education.
Jewish communities must be strengthened, and access to quality Jewish education must be expanded worldwide. No Jewish child should be deprived of a high-level education because of geography or finances.
Both formal and informal education programs, such as Jewish day schools, Hebrew schools, summer camps, youth movements and immersive Jewish experiences, must be supported and revitalized. Jewish curricula must be engaging, innovative, relevant and of the highest quality, making history and heritage accessible to the next generation. Most importantly, Jewish education must not be limited to childhood; it must be a lifelong pursuit.
Jewish continuity cannot rest on combatting antisemitism alone. It must be secured through pride, knowledge and an unshakable identity that will be prized and preserved. If we do not prioritize this now, we risk raising a generation that, even if it stands against antisemitism, may not fully understand what it is fighting for.
For every dollar spent combating those who seek to hurt and destroy us, we must invest even more in strengthening the next generation of Jews. The future of our people does not depend solely on responding to hate—it depends on building a confident, knowledgeable Jewish community that is deeply connected to its unique and extraordinary heritage.
The stakes are high, as are the challenges. The opportunity before us, however, is even greater. Through investing in education, we will not only withstand today’s challenges but ensure a flourishing Jewish future for generations to come.