As antisemitism surges across the globe, from the streets of Europe to college campuses in America, one cannot help but ask: Why do people hate the Jews?
This question, as old as the days of the pharaohs—demands more than just historical or sociological analysis. It requires a deeper understanding of what truly drives this persistent animosity and, most importantly, how Jews—particularly young Jews—should respond. My forthcoming book, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?” seeks not only to answer these questions but to provide actionable steps one can take to combat this hatred effectively. By providing a framework for understanding the unspoken reasons behind Jew-hatred, we can, with greater clarity, face these challenges with strength, dignity and resilience.
In the words of the late professor Robert Wistrich, perhaps the world’s foremost historian of antisemitism, Jews must develop an “inner armor” to protect themselves both spiritually and psychologically from the barrage of hatred they may encounter.
The problem beneath the surface
Antisemitism has often been described as a “virus”; Wistrich and scholars and thinkers throughout history have done so. It mutates, appearing in different forms across different eras. In medieval times, it was religiously driven. During the 20th century, racial and nationalist ideologies fueled its flames. Today, it frequently disguises itself as political critique, particularly of Israel. As Wistrich articulated to my film team in what was likely his final interview, this hatred often emerges unconsciously, as a projection of the hater’s fears, insecurities and biases. It manifests subtly, often under the guise of social justice or political critique, but is unmistakably aimed at the Jewish people—who they are and what they represent. Therefore, these double standards and veiled resentments reveal something much more profound than mere political disagreement—they are in fact unambiguous manifestations of Jew-hatred.
In the face of this growing challenge, young Jews must recognize and understand the root cause of the external threats and fortify themselves from within. The key to doing this, as Wistrich emphasized, is taking pride in one’s Jewishness—not a hollow or chauvinistic pride, but one grounded in deep study, knowledge and commitment to Jewish identity. Only through such a profound connection to their heritage can young Jews develop the inner armor they need to stand strong against the hatred directed their way.
The call for inner armor and moral self-confidence
Wistrich’s words are echoed by another prominent thinker, Ruth Wisse, who calls this fortification “moral self-confidence.” Wisse, a renowned scholar of Yiddish literature and Jewish political thought, has long argued that Jews must reclaim the narrative of Jewish strength rather than Jewish victimhood. This means understanding not only why antisemitism persists but also why Jews have endured and thrived despite it. Wisse’s idea of moral self-confidence is not about ignoring the threats but confronting them from a place of deep-rooted strength. To be morally self-confident as a Jew is to understand that Jewish values, traditions and identity offer the tools to stand firm against adversaries. It is not merely a defensive posture; it is an assertive embrace of what it means to be Jewish in a world that often challenges that identity.

Why this matters now
This call for inner armor and moral self-confidence is more important today than ever. In recent years, we have seen waves of antisemitism that transcend national borders, political ideologies and social classes. From the blatant hatred seen in attacks on Jewish communities to the more insidious forms of Jew-hatred that manifest in intellectual circles and on college campuses, young Jews are under siege from all sides. Yet many Jewish students are unprepared for these challenges. As Wistrich noted, too few have the “inner armor” necessary to protect themselves from the psychological and spiritual damage that antisemitism inflicts. Too many are left vulnerable, feeling isolated, unsure of how to respond, or worse, internalizing the hatred aimed at them. This is why the central message of my book is a call to action for Jews—especially young Jews. It’s a call to rediscover and take pride in Jewish identity, to study it deeply and to understand what it truly means to be part of a people who have faced down hatred for millennia.
Once we realize that the reason we are hated is in fact the raison d’etre of our very existence, we may finally stop apologizing and averting our gaze from our true purpose and inner strength. Doing so can, in turn, bring about the more just and tolerant world we have sought since time immemorial.
Reclaiming the Jewish narrative
The narrative surrounding the Jewish people for too long has been one of victimhood. Of course, the Jewish experience is deeply marked by suffering—from slavery in Egypt to the pogroms of Eastern Europe, from expulsion across Arab lands to the Holocaust, from fighting wars for our very existence to intifadas, and now even enduring assaults and persecution across every major Western university campus. But this is not the whole story. Jewish history is also one of triumph, creativity and resilience. The Jewish people have survived and thrived, contributing disproportionately to fields ranging from science and medicine to literature and politics—each contribution another indelible thread in the moral and ethical fabric of the civilizations we have touched.
This narrative of strength must be reclaimed. Jews, particularly young Jews, need to understand that they are part of a proud heritage, one that is not defined by the hatred of others but by the internal richness of their own identity. The antidote to antisemitism is not simply fighting hatred externally but fortifying oneself internally—building that inner armor and cultivating the moral self-confidence Wisse so passionately advocates. Likewise, allies of the Jewish people, too, can harness their moral confidence to stand on the right side of history and fight alongside us.
A path forward
In the end, the solutions to antisemitism will not come from external forces alone. They will emerge from within the Jewish community itself. When Jews are proud of their heritage, when they understand their history and when they have the confidence to stand tall in the face of adversity, they will be able to withstand even the fiercest waves of hatred. As Wistrich said, “Once you have Jews who are highly motivated, who understand what their Jewishness demands of them, and who care about this … the solutions will come.” In this time of rising antisemitism, I believe the answers lie not only in external strategies but in cultivating a deep connection to Jewish identity. My book “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew” and accompanying film, “Tragic Awakening,” offer a path to understanding the roots of Jew-hatred, but more importantly, a path to reclaiming Jewish strength and resilience.
The world may continue to ask why Jews are so often and intensely hated, and we must answer with pride: It is because we are a people who have been tasked to carry the torch of our faith and serve as a guiding light for the world. We endure, innovate and thrive despite all the terrors and traumas leveled at us. With that knowledge, young Jews today should raise their heads high and wear the inner armor needed to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
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