Standing Up To Hate

"Instead of standing with the innocent victims — women who were raped, families burned alive, babies murdered — what we saw was a resurgence of hatred reminiscent of history's darkest days."

By Amy Salman

I never imagined we would be living in a time when Jews are being attacked around the world, with antisemitism reaching unprecedented levels since October 7th. As a resident of New York City—the second-largest Jewish community outside of Israel—I have witnessed firsthand the alarming rise in hostilities. The surge of anti-Israel protests on the streets and on college campuses like Columbia University, coupled with overt displays of antisemitism, has spread like a disease, becoming disturbingly commonplace.

My first encounter with antisemitism happened during my freshman year at Indiana University in 1987. A fellow student, upon learning that I was Jewish, asked me where my “horns” were. She also questioned how I could have blonde hair and blue eyes, assuming that all Jews had dark hair, dark eyes, and large noses. I was taken aback by the ignorance.

Not long after, I experienced my first Passover away from home. As I entered the cafeteria, I overheard someone mockingly ask, “What is that cracker shit?” — referring to a box of matzah on the counter. Another student, laughing, replied, “It’s for the Jews.” I walked up to them, unfazed by their size, and in a voice loud enough for the entire line to hear, stated, “I’m Jewish, and that ‘cracker shit’ is matzah! Do you have a problem with that?” They stood there, stunned, shaking their heads in silence. I turned to the rest of the line and asked if anyone else had any questions. None of them spoke a word. The four boys walked away quietly.

Throughout my time at IU, there were more incidents: a swastika painted on the driveway of my sorority house and fraternities refusing to pair with us for events simply because we were Jewish. Having grown up in a predominantly Jewish town, this level of discrimination was something I had never experienced before. After leaving IU, I did not really encounter antisemitism again — until now.

A Shocking Reality

The atrocities committed on October 7th are beyond comprehension. But perhaps even more shocking is how the world responded in the aftermath. Instead of standing with the innocent victims — women who were raped, families burned alive, babies murdered, and people of all ages tortured — what we saw was a resurgence of hatred reminiscent of history’s darkest times.

The fate of the Bibas family left me devastated in a way I could hardly process. Since October 7, we have all carried immense grief, but this news reopened the wound as if that terrible day were happening all over again. While so many babies were murdered and families destroyed that day, we came to know the Bibas family on a more personal level. Their story felt like it belonged to all of us, as if this horror had struck our own children. I imagine many around the world felt the same. 

I shared my anguish with my friend David in Israel, pouring out my grief and frustration. He listened calmly before offering a perspective I hadn’t considered. He explained that Hamas’ ultimate goal was to invade Israel to free all their prisoners. But in their obsession with inflicting suffering — raping, torturing, and murdering — they failed in their mission. They never reached northern Israel, and had they succeeded, the devastation would have been even greater. “The Bibas family helped save Israel,” he told me. “Your anger and passion remind me that we are one people.”

Unity in the Face of Hate

David’s words brought me some comfort, especially his reminder that we are one people. While Jews around the world are facing the highest levels of antisemitism in recent history, we stand together in unwavering unity. We have endured and survived persecution for thousands of years, and we will continue to do so. There is nothing more powerful than the resilience and strength of the Jewish community. When others stand against us, we only grow stronger — together.

AMY SALMAN is a Holistic Nutritionist, Wellness & Recovery Coach and Founder of The Wellness Map. She is also a coach and board advisor for the Lean In mentoring program.

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