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As we approach Passover, one truth from the Exodus story stands out: hatred of Jews has never needed a reason, and today, that reality is once again impossible to ignore.
From Pharaoh’s decree to drown Jewish children in the Nile to the threats we see unfolding across the world today, the pattern is unmistakable. Jews have been targeted not for what they have done, but for who they are, and it is exactly this reality that prompted me to recently write an open letter to the Jewish community.
Across the United States and around the world, Jewish communities are facing a surge in targeted violence, making clear that this is not a localized problem, but a global one. Synagogues have been attacked. Institutions have been threatened. In some cases, even those whose sole mission is to save lives, ambulance workers, have been targeted.
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This is not incidental. It is not political. It is something deeper. It is a form of hatred that does not distinguish between religious or secular, left or right. It does not ask questions. It does not require justification.
For years, the response has followed a familiar pattern, marked by conferences, statements, photo-ops and social media campaigns built around superficial attempts at dialogue. While often well-intentioned, these efforts have not reversed the trend. Antisemitic incidents continue to rise, leaving Jewish communities asking a simple but urgent question: what is actually changing? These are the very concerns I raised in my letter.
At a certain point, we have to say clearly: the status quo is failing.
Passover offers us a different model. The Exodus was not achieved through gradual consensus or carefully managed discussions, but through clarity, a recognition that the threat was real, collective and required a response that was equally decisive. That lesson is not abstract. It speaks directly to the moment we are living in now and to the urgency behind why I chose to write on this topic.
Antisemitism does not differentiate between communities, denominations or political perspectives. It targets Jews as Jews, and because of that, the response cannot be divided or conditional. It must be unified, direct and unapologetic. That also requires honesty about the sources of this hatred, whether it stems from extremist ideologies, movements that excuse or celebrate violence, or environments where antisemitism is tolerated and or left to go unchecked. Avoiding that conversation does not reduce the threat. It allows it to grow.
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At the same time, we are reminded that leadership makes a difference. We saw this clearly in Belgium, where, following pressure from the United States, military personnel were deployed to protect Jewish communities, resulting in the swift arrest of the perpetrators of an antisemitic attack. That decision was not symbolic. It was real action, and it sent a clear message: Jewish security is not optional. It is a responsibility.
We have also seen the impact of leadership in the efforts to bring hostages home. Last Passover, Jewish families sat at their Seder tables praying for those held in Gaza. This year, we gather with a different reality, one shaped by action, resolve and results.
With deep gratitude, we recognize the leadership of President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and their teams, whose relentless efforts helped secure their return and bring an end to that nightmare. That shift from uncertainty to relief will be felt at Seder tables around the world and underscores a broader point: when leadership is clear and decisive, results follow.
As we sit at the Seder this year, we break the matzah, the bread of faith and healing, a reminder that Jewish history has never been defined only by what we face, but by how we respond. As we raise our glass for the four cups, which represent redemption, deliverance, freedom and hope, we are reminded that these are not only symbols of our history, but a call to action in our own time.
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This moment calls for more than reflection. It calls for action. We must raise Jewish children who are proud of who they are, not afraid to show it. We must teach our history clearly and without distortion, and we must use every available tool to confront misinformation and ensure that truth is not overshadowed.
But above all, we must be prepared to protect our communities without hesitation and without apology.
That is the message behind my writing this, because the lesson of Passover is not only that we were freed, but that we endured because we refused to abandon who we were.
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In every generation, that responsibility returns, and this year we must meet it with clarity, unity and strength to protect our people without apologies and without waiting.
Wishing Jewish communities across the United States and around the world a meaningful and peaceful Passover.
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