Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity, along with members of our community, to attend ADL’s annual Never Is Now conference. It was a massive gathering of over 4,000 people in person, and countless more online, all coming together to better understand the current state of antisemitism and to think seriously about what we can do to confront it.
The tone this year was noticeably different from the conferences I’ve attended in the past. That shift reflects a reality we are all feeling: a significant and deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents, both here in the United States and around the world. The numbers are staggering, and this past year saw yet another sharp increase.
There were powerful sessions throughout—experts analyzing the evolution of antisemitism, conversations about how AI is being used to amplify hate, and students sharing how their day-to-day lives on campus have changed in response to what they are experiencing.
And yet, for me, the most impactful moments came from a different place.
Some of the most powerful voices were those of people who are not themselves Jewish. Hearing individuals like actor Jerry O’Connell speak about why he has chosen to stand with the Jewish community was genuinely moving. At one point he said, “I realized that my Jewish friends and colleagues have been there for me in the past, and it was time for me to stand up and be there for them.”
That mattered.
It was a reminder that we are not alone. That while there were moments when it felt like too many were silent, there are people who care deeply about our safety and our future—and who are beginning to find their voices. We need them. And, increasingly, they are stepping forward.
At the same time, I found myself coming back to something I’ve been thinking about for a while now: the most powerful response to antisemitism is not only external, it is internal.
Yes, we need allies. Yes, we need advocacy. Yes, we need to confront hatred wherever it appears.
But we also need something else.
We need to be so deeply rooted in our own Jewish identity that it cannot be shaken by the noise around us.
The strongest answer we can give is to build a Jewish community that is vibrant, engaged, knowledgeable, and connected. A community where being Jewish is not something we retreat from when things get difficult, but something we lean into. A community where Jewish life is not reactive, but proactive. One that is alive with learning, with practice, with meaning, and with pride.
Because history has taught us something again and again: those who sought to diminish us have never had the final word.
We are still here.
And not just here but building, teaching, gathering, arguing, praying, and continuing the story of our people.
That is our response.
Not only to stand against hate but to stand firmly, confidently, and unapologetically as Jews.
That is the holy work in front of us. And it is work we are already doing…together.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen
P.S.: Barbara Schwartz, who many of you know as one of our dedicated volunteer leaders and who has attended this conference for years, shared a few reflections that I think capture some of the sessions powerfully. Click here to read her words.