This article was originally published by the Jerusalem Post on October 29th, 2025, written by Adam Milstein.
After two years of war that began with the horror of October 7th yet also brought remarkable courage and achievements, we’ve reached a moment that seemed impossible—a ceasefire that stands as a testament to Israel’s strength, resilience, and unity.
Twenty Israeli hostages returned home free from Gaza captivity. Israel dismantled Hamas’s military infrastructure, eliminated Hezbollah’s leadership including Hassan Nasrallah, decimated the Houthis in Yemen and their senior leadership, and destroyed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The axis of resistance—Iran’s network of terror proxies spanning from Gaza through Lebanon to Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—has collapsed, at least for the immediate future. Israel demonstrated military and technological prowess that shocked the world.
After the October 7th debacle and the failures that allowed 1,200 Jews to be slaughtered, Israel rebuilt, regrouped, and responded with might and effectiveness. But victory on the battlefield doesn’t guarantee victory for the Jewish future. As antisemitism exponentially rises across the world and Israel faces growing isolation and delegitimization, our future will depend on what we choose to do now.
First, we must cultivate the October 8th Jews
The horror of October 7th created an opportunity. Across America, Jews who had drifted away from their identity came rushing back. The “October 8th Jews” rediscovered their Jewish identity and connection to Israel in the face of existential threat.
The numbers tell the story we’ve witnessed firsthand. According to UJA-Federation of New York’s 2025 study, 57% of American Jews reported feeling more connected to Israel or their Jewish identity after October 7th than before. 31% of American Jews are more engaged in Jewish life than before the attacks—a surge that sustained itself for 18 months.
This awakening represents the most significant shift in American Jewish identity in a generation. But surges don’t sustain themselves. Without deliberate investment, this energy will dissipate. We must build the infrastructure to keep this momentum and the next generations engaged, creating meaningful Jewish experiences that speak to their renewed sense of identity, deepen their connection to our community, and strengthen their enduring bond with the Jewish homeland.
Second, we must confront the war of the narratives
We must recognize that today, the fight for Israel’s survival extends beyond the physical battlefield. “The eighth battlefield”—the arena of media and social media—is where narratives are shaped and public opinion is won or lost. Our enemies understand this and invest heavily in spreading lies and distortions. To secure our future, we must take this front just as seriously, empowering voices that break through echo chambers, share the truth about Israel, confront misinformation, and ensure that our story is told with strength, clarity, and authenticity.
Third, we must build resilient, self-reliant pro-Israel communities
The violent surge of Jew-hatred after October 7th shocked Jewish communities around the world, but it should not have. The warning signs were there for years, yet, and as in 2021 and before, we were unprepared for the threat. We must now focus on building pro-Israel communities that are strong, united, and self-reliant, able to withstand inevitable future attacks, both physical and digital, and to protect and support one another in times of crisis.
What does resilience look like in practice?
Better security for institutions. Synagogues, Jewish community centers, and schools need professional protection, not volunteers with good intentions. We need to invest in trained security personnel, advanced surveillance systems, and rapid-response protocols.
Self-defense training for young Jews. The days when Jews could rely solely on others for protection are over. We must teach our youth to defend themselves, both physically and online, against antisemitic attacks.
Legal resources. Jews facing discrimination need immediate access to skilled attorneys who understand antisemitism and can fight back through the legal system.
Crisis management and PR resources. When antisemitic incidents occur, victims need professional communications support to tell their stories effectively and counter false narratives.
IT and technology resources. Digital attacks are as damaging as physical ones. We need cybersecurity experts to protect Jewish organizations and individuals from online harassment and doxxing.
Stronger professional networks. Jews experiencing discrimination in their fields need to find others who can help them—alternative employment opportunities, professional support, and solidarity.
Fourth, we must treat antisemitism as an American problem, not a Jewish one.
The most dangerous misconception is to view antisemitism as a problem for Jews alone. In truth, it endangers all Americans and undermines the moral foundation of our society.
Antisemitism is the canary in the coal mine. When hatred of Jews becomes acceptable, intolerance spreads to others until the entire body convulses with division and violence. History have shown that what begins with the Jews never ends with the Jews.
The Islamo-Leftist alliance that targets Jews has a broader aim: its main target is America itself. Their goal is not only to destroy Israel but to dismantle Western civilization led by the United States. They brand both Israel and America as colonial oppressors, working to delegitimize them, sow division from within, and erode the very values that hold our societies together.
We must build broad coalitions to fight antisemitism on the right, on the left, and among radical Muslims. We can’t think narrowly. We need Christians, African Americans, Asians, and other groups who understand that the fight against Jew-hatred is a fight for America.
We also can’t get complacent about tactics. The antisemites have been creative—utilizing technology, massive funding, and sophisticated legal, PR, and digital strategies to radicalize people. They’ve weaponized social media. They’ve infiltrated universities. They’ve manipulated language to make hatred sound like justice.
We must push back with equal creativity and greater resources. We need to expose their funding sources. Trace their networks. Demand accountability from universities and media institutions. Strengthen laws that protect vulnerable communities. Use every tool available—legal, technological, political, and cultural—to dismantle the infrastructure of hate.
Israel’s accomplishments in this war prove that strength works. Moral clarity works. Refusing to apologize for defending your people, work.
The diaspora must learn these lessons. For too long, we’ve been told to stay quiet, avoid provocation, trust others to protect us. October 7th and the explosion of antisemitism that followed shattered that illusion.
The choice is ours. Will we rise to meet it?