There has been a major shift among Jewish and Jewish allied peoples. There has been a “great recalibration.” People have rethought many assumptions they believed were facts. There has been a recognition amongst individuals and organizations that doing things in the same way does not suffice. This extends to the secular and the religious as well as the conservative and the liberal.
Before Oct. 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 of Oct. 7 and the critical aftermath have shattered these divisions. The veil has been lifted, revealing 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 a stunningly transparent way. Your actions have been a catalyst for a profound transformation, not just within the Jewish community, but across broader societal lines. Through 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 than divides us. There’s also a recognition that we cannot afford to focus on those differences. The days of passively observing events as they unfold are gone. A sleeping giant has awoken.
We have seen people speak out in ways that they’ve never done before. A few examples would be Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Rapaport, Amy Schumer, Mark Hamill, J.K Rowling, Quentin Tarantino, Kim Kardashian and Michael Douglas.
More important is what is happening to the average Jewish person. The number of organizations, initiatives and WhatsApp groups that have been created post-Oct. 7 is staggering. A Sienna poll from February 2024 showed President Joe Biden trailing Donald Trump among the New York Jewish population by 53% to 44%. Biden won 68% of the New York Jewish vote in 2020. Change is coming and has already begun in big and small ways. Many thousands of people have decided to become engaged.
The divisions that existed in Israel before the Oct. 7 massacre seemed unbridgeable. The fight over judicial reform had Israelis at each other’s throats. Post-Oct. 7, a recalibration among Israelis has occurred. Israelis recognize that the country must be united 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 community. 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 equally.
Sadly, it took events like the ones we are experiencing to create this “great recalibration.” Nonetheless, this recalibration will be remembered as a pivotal moment in history. The events that drove it 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, the American people have an opportunity for a major recalibration as well. They have an opportunity to understand that there’s much more that unites than divides us.
At this moment, we can acknowledge that extreme rhetoric is not only dangerous but represents a true existential threat to our society. Let us hope that we as a people learn these lessons and begin to heal our nation.
