As A Jew, My Community Failed Me

As a Jew, the last few months following October 7th have been frustrating and disappointing.

The Jewish community thought it would be hard enough to see the graphic onslaught of women and children dismantled and tortured in the streets of towns and embankments in Israel.

We weren't quite prepared to see our own communities at home in the United States spew propaganda, discount our value, and lie about us.

Being a Jew by race while not identifying to the Jewish faith has made it easier for me than for my Jewish brothers and sisters who adhere to a lifestyle of Judaism.

They walk exposed as Jews.

And sadly, for them, to walk around now as a Jew in America is considered dangerous and provocative.

So we've tried to be gentle.

As we've watched our political leaders completely in chaos figure out what to do.

We've let millions of young people scream at us and blame us for the war Hamas waged. Calling us offensive names, labeling us as colonizers and oppressors. A cancer to society. Something, someone to be neglected and ridiculed and bullied.

A year ago, I had the freedom and joy of being a quiet Jew. So did many of my brothers and sister in this community.

Now, you've left us with no choice.

We have to come out of our shell and defend ourselves to you.

Defend the acts of the IDF.

Walk together for protection from the rioters who have labeled us as dangerous scum.

To my own community around me in my own circles and friend groups: I'm disappointed in you. I have not been defended by you. I am not impressed. And you've let me down.

You're mistaken if you think I'm thrilled to throw such direct feedback in your face. I never thought we'd be here.

What’s happening in the streets of America concerning the war in Gaza is not the fault of American diplomacy.

It's not President Biden's fault.

It's the the government of Israel's fault.

It's many of you.

It's professors. Teachers.

Pastors. Mayors.

Elders. Deacons. Journalists.

Moms. Dads. Harvard grads.

UNT grads. A&M grads. Baylor grads.

Because you've chosen silence.

You've chosen to eat up the lies that this is a controversial topic.

You've chosen to be disengaged. And uninvolved. To protect your own reputation, status, and how you appear to others, you have chosen to remain lukewarm at best in the face of Jewish Americans being subject to the greatest waves and movements of Antisemetic behavior and actions in nearly one century.

Most of you won't even make it to the end of this post. Many of you won't like what I've said. Some of you will unfollow my social media accounts to get my "garbage" off your feeds.

I want you to know if you are that person, I still love you and you're still my friend.

I will not turn my back on you. Because my identity is rooted in the freedom and goodness of the gospel before it is found in my Jewish lineage.

But I will not forget. How can I?

So here we are, with my hand being forced. On behalf of my Jewish community, I cannot be quiet anymore. I am pleading with you to wake up. This is not okay. This is wrong.

I want OUR hostages to be released.

I want OUR antisemitism to be called out and abolished from society.

And I want the young people of OUR country, the United States of America to stop choosing a wrong and vile side of history.

Let our people go!!

Head over to my website dallasjewishcoalition.org to learn how you can draw the line in the sand against Antisemitism.