Marlton Middle School in Burlington County, New Jersey, experienced an antisemitic incident in December 2021.

Courtesy of Evesham Township School District Superintendent Justin Smith
rity as a priority for Jewish federations
and synagogues across the country. But
it’s also an issue with a clear and pretty
reliable response strategy, as evidenced
by the rise of security as a priority.

Virtual attacks like Zoom bombs
and threatening emails are prevalent
today but present a diff erent issue. How
do you combat an anonymous emailer
or Zoom bomber other than with
defensive methods in the moment, like
blocking the address or restarting the
chat? It’s a question with no easy answer.

But according to Linda Palsky, one
of the Pennsbury board members who
received threatening messages, the
ADL report is at least a place to start.

“It’s our only weapon to bring light to
it,” she said. “To try and make people
aware that it’s not acceptable behavior
and language.”
Th e multifaceted nature of antisem-
itism today underscores a scary reality
for modern Jews: Th ere might not be
any safe spaces anymore.

According to Goretsky, the ADL’s
national study showed that attacks
increased by 106% at K-12 schools, 61%
at synagogues and 21% on campuses.

To a large degree, too, those incidents
did not come from white supremacists
on the far right or Israel despisers on
the far left . Only 14% came from far-
right individuals or groups, and only
12% came from the far left , while 65%
emerged from people in the middle.

Rabbi Benjamin David of Adath
Emanu-El believes that Jews today
need to be prepared for antisemitism
from all angles.

“You can be attacked while sitting in
the comfort of your own home staring
at your laptop,” he said.

Even in this increasingly compli-
cated environment, though, the post-
World War II ethos should not change
for Jews, David explained. Jews can’t
take these off enses lying down.

“If those who hate are going to be
loud, then we simply have to be louder,”
David said.

“To be a Jew in the real world today
means to be an advocate for peace, an
ally of other people, to be a defender
of religion itself, its expression,” he
concluded. “Th e game has changed.” JE
jsaff ren@midatlanticmedia.com
Live fully in a
vibrant community
The Quadrangle is an inspired and highly engaged community for older
adults. Here, you will join residents who are as creative, active, and
intellectual as you. Plus, you’ll get to know our in-house chef who crafts
fresh, seasonal dishes made with your tastes in mind.

Join us for lunch to meet our welcoming residents
and sample our cuisine for yourself.

Get in touch by calling 610-484-4328 or visiting TheQuadrangleCCRC.com/Exponent.

©2022 Sunrise Senior Living
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 9