NR’s editors published a powerful editorial on the rise of antisemitism, pointing out that since “Hamas’s barbaric October 7 assault on Israeli Jews, antisemitism has become so rampant that Jews all across America are feeling unsettled and unsafe.” The antisemitism we have witnessed, the editors write, is “horrifying, and it is unacceptable. It is also un-American.”
It is also un-Christian.
No less an authority on the subject than the late Pope Benedict XVI made this point directly in 2008 when meeting with representatives of the Jewish community at the Elysée Palace:
By her very nature the Catholic Church feels obliged to respect the Covenant made by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, the Church herself is situated within the eternal Covenant of the Almighty, whose plans are immutable, and she respects the children of the Promise, the children of the Covenant, as her beloved brothers and sisters in the faith. She compellingly repeats, through my voice, the words of the great Pope Pius XI, my beloved predecessor: Spiritually, we are Semites. The Church therefore is opposed to every form of anti-Semitism, which can never be theologically justified. The theologian Henri de Lubac, in a time of darkness, as Pius XII described it, added that to be anti-Semitic also signifies being anti-Christian. Once again I feel the duty to pay heartfelt recognition to those who have died unjustly and to those that have dedicated themselves to assure that the names of these victims may always be remembered. God does not forget!
Or consider the words of Pope John Paul II in 1986 during a visit to a synagogue in Rome:
The Jewish religion is not “extrinsic” to us, but in a certain way is “intrinsic” to our own religion. With Judaism therefore we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion. You are our dearly beloved brothers and, in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.
NR’s editorial argues correctly that “the explosion of antisemitism we’ve seen in the past several weeks is on a different scale from anything we’ve experienced in contemporary America.” This is a time for Christians to rally behind our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Many have. For example, the Philos Project’s Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemism jumped into action with a statement of solidarity and action, which I was proud to sign. There is much to admire about the statement, including its self-awareness and its explicit acknowledgment of the responsibility of Christians to educate others about the evil of antisemitism:
We condemn antisemitism in humility, mindful of the sins of Catholics and other Christians against the Jewish people throughout history, and aware that these wounds remain real for many Jews today. We denounce antisemitism in a spirit of compassion, aware that education about the evils of this hatred is a moral responsibility for Christians. Antisemitism in our community, even when it is not the action of Catholics or other Christians, demands condemnation. We reject hatred, bigotry, and racism in all their forms. As Catholics and Christians, we believe that antisemitism is a spiritual evil.
One example of how Christians can fulfill their educational duty is to be clear about what antisemitism is. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) provides this working definition:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
IHRA provides illustrative examples of antisemitism, including:
* Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
*Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
The Philos Project statement is clear on the first example:
We encourage Catholic scholars and academics to confront antisemitism on campus and in popular ideological movements that seek to use anti-Zionism as a pretext for hatred of the Jewish people.
We affirm the right of the Jewish people to live safely and securely in their ancestral homeland, and recognize that modern Israel is essential to that security. These rights should not jeopardize the right of Palestinians to also live in safety and security.
As for double standards, we see this clearly in the denial of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas following the barbaric terrorist attack of October 7.
The NR editorial is right to conclude: “History is rife with examples of antisemitism being allowed to fester and only becoming more violent with time.” Fighting antisemitism should be a top priority for all those with the ability to help contain its spread — especially for us Christians, who are called in a particular way to support our elder brothers and sisters during this dark time.