Written by Jerry Elman, January 27, 2025
Eighty years ago, the world stood still as Auschwitz was liberated, revealing the unimaginable horrors inflicted upon the Jewish people. It was a moment of reckoning, a grim reminder of the cost of unchecked hatred and silence in the face of evil. The liberation of Auschwitz became a symbol of both the resilience of the Jewish people and the responsibility of humanity to ensure “Never Again” was more than just a phrase. Yet, as we mark this solemn anniversary, one cannot help but wonder: have we truly learned anything from history?
Today, Jew-hate persists, but it’s no longer confined to the extremist fringes of society. It wears many disguises, often hidden behind political ideologies or cloaked in rhetoric that seeks to normalize hostility against Jews. The bitter truth is that Jew-hate thrives across the spectrum: from the far-right, from progressives, and tragically, even from within the Jewish community itself.
The Far-Right’s Hatred
On the far-right, Jew-hate is blatant and often violent. It manifests in conspiracy theories about Jewish control of media, finance, and politics. It fuels white supremacist ideologies that see Jews as a threat to their imagined purity of race and culture. In recent years, we’ve seen synagogue shootings, Nazi salutes at public rallies, and chants of “Jews will not replace us.” These are not relics of the past; they are stark reminders that the hatred which fueled Auschwitz has not been extinguished.
The Progressive Betrayal
On the other end of the spectrum, progressives—who pride themselves on championing human rights—too often find themselves complicit in Jew-hate under the guise of anti-Zionism. Criticism of Israel, which is valid and necessary in any democracy, often crosses the line into demonization, delegitimization, and double standards. For some, Israel has become the world’s scapegoat, much like Jews have been for centuries. Progressives who support every marginalized group but find excuses to exclude Jews from their activism reveal a deep hypocrisy that echoes historic patterns of exclusion and prejudice.
The Painful Reality of Jewish Infighting
Perhaps most painful is the division within the Jewish community itself. Political differences have become a weapon to attack one another, as Jews on the left and right hurl accusations of betrayal, self-hatred, or complicity. Instead of recognizing the shared threats we face, we allow our disagreements over Israeli policy, social issues, or political affiliations to fracture our unity. There is nothing more dangerous for Jews than when we turn our aim against one another solely for political differences. Have we forgotten that division makes us vulnerable? Have we learned nothing from our history of exile, persecution, and genocide?
Survivors of Auschwitz and other horrors of the Holocaust would be heartbroken to witness what is being seen today. They endured unimaginable suffering, clinging to the hope that future generations of Jews would stand together against hatred and division. To see Jews spewing hatred toward one another solely because of political beliefs, or because of loyalty to a party and its leader, would be a profound disappointment. Such behavior would be viewed as no better than the blind loyalty people proclaimed to the Nazi Party and Hitler himself.
Even more troubling is the vitriol from second-generation survivors, those who carry the legacy of their parents’ unimaginable suffering. Some of these individuals, instead of drawing strength and unity from their heritage, now unleash venomous attacks against fellow Jews who hold differing political views. It is a betrayal of the resilience and solidarity that Holocaust survivors fought to preserve. Shockingly, some even imply that those Jews who disagree with them deserve to be ostracized—or worse, eliminated. This toxic rhetoric mirrors the very dynamics of hatred and division that led to Auschwitz.
Even organizations that were once pillars of Jewish defense, such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), have fallen into patterns of capitulation. Recently, even the Prime Minister of Israel and leading Jewish organizations have defended individuals with a history of Jew-hate. For example, Elon Musk, during President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, made a gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute. I sure as hell saw it as a sieg heil, facial gesture and all! This action justfiably drew widespread criticism and concern. However, the ADL characterized Musk’s gesture as an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm,” downplaying its potential significance. Similarly, Prime Minister Netanyahu defended Musk, stating he was “being falsely smeared” and calling him “a great friend of Israel.” These defenses—motivated by a desire to maintain favorable relations or financial support—risk undermining the principles of dignity and justice that survivors and their descendants strive to uphold. Excusing such actions under the guise of diplomacy or expediency is to betray the very principles survivors fought to preserve.
A Call for Unity
The lessons of Auschwitz should be seared into our collective consciousness. It stands as a permanent reminder of what happens when hate is allowed to fester, when division is exploited, and when humanity fails to protect the vulnerable. Today, we must confront a harsh reality: “Never Again” is not guaranteed. It requires vigilance, unity, and a willingness to stand together against hate in all its forms—even when it comes from within.
To those on the far-right: your Jew-hate is a continuation of the same poisonous ideologies that led to Auschwitz. To progressives: your selective outrage and willingness to excuse Jew-hate disguised as anti-Zionism betray the very principles you claim to uphold. To Jews: our survival depends on unity, not conformity. We do not have to agree on everything, but we must agree on one thing: that we will not let political differences tear us apart.
The Road Ahead
As we remember the liberation of Auschwitz, we honor the victims by committing to action. We must educate the next generation about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred. We must challenge Jew-hate wherever it arises, whether from the right, the left, or within our own communities. And above all, we must resist the temptation to let our differences divide us.
Eighty years later, the question remains: will we allow history to repeat itself, or will we finally learn from it? The choice is ours. Let us honor those who perished by ensuring their suffering was not in vain. Let us remember, and let us act.
I believe the root or anti-Semitism in many cases is simply envy. The Jewish people have been envied for their success in business, politics, and science. In prewar Poland, where at one time 60% of the world’s Jewish population lived, the social stratification was a few wealthy Poles ( nobility, landed gentry ) at the top that held all the power, a large peasant class with no power and a middle class comprised of Polish Jews. The latter constituted a disproportionate number of professionals like doctors, lawyers, merchants and importantly, bankers. Polish Jews had no political power, but did hold some economic power- if the peasant class owed money, it was to a Jewish merchant or banker. Throw in the effects of religion, like labeling Jews Christ-killers, and it is easy to see how antiSemitism evolved in Poland. Post war, those that survived the Holocaust had property confiscated & were subjected to pogroms, so most left for Israel if they could. That was Poland’s loss, as the brain drain to Israel held back Poland, even much later as it emerged from communism in 1989. Anti-Semitism is sadly demonstrative of much human flaws- people should be admired & emulated for their success, not hated or envied. As for Elon Musk, that was a Nazi salute, with just enough slight modification to give him plausible deniability. Anyone should be able to see that.
I do not believe progressives engage in Jew-hate ( clearly, the far-right does ). Some progressives mistakenly equate Zionism with European colonialism when they are vastly different. European colonialism was European powers subjugating a land in Africa, Asia and the Americas and the people that lived there with the intent of exploitation of resources. Zionism is the return of the Jewish people to an ancestral homeland after being scattered in the diaspora. European Jews did not want to colonize Palestine for exploitation of resources ( there aren’t any ) or the Arabs that lived there. Instead, after centuries of persecution, the Jewish people needed their own nation to be responsible for their own defense. The Holocaust demonstrated that other nations were unwilling or unable to defend/protect the Jewish people and Zionism is totally understandable. Progressives that equate it with colonialism are totally mistaken. I do not think progressives hate the Jewish people. I also think it is a cheap shot for anyone to label criticism of the actions of the Israeli government as “anti-semitism”. That implies that the Israeli government/their actions should be untouchable./above reproach in all circumstances. Bernie Sanders is Jewish & lived in a kibbutz in Israel and often criticizes the Netanyahu government– does that make him “anti-Semitic “? I do think progressives are guilty of holding Israel to a much higher standard than its Arab neighbors– we can feel sorry for the plight Palestinians in Gaza/West Bank or in refugee camps in Lebanon or Jordan but we need to remember the context. Israel, a small country, took in Jews from all over the Middle East but much larger Arab nations have let Arabs languish in refugee camps for generations and exist in a crowed hellhole like Gaza without taking them in. In the present situation, Hamas, which denies the right of Israel to even exist, launched a terrorist attack knowing very well the Israeli response and the massive suffering that would inflict on its own people. Most of the suffering in Gaza is the fault of Hamas, but maybe not all. I don’t think the Netanyahu government cares about civilian casualties in Gaza- only how it might bring international condemnation. I think progressives are not motivated by hate, but are often misguided and wrong on many aspects of the Middle East conflicts. There will never be an easy answer to all of this!