In a time when hatred seems to find new expressions every day, we find ourselves called once again to raise our voices: this time, in the face of rising antisemitism. As leaders in the Jewish and Christian communities, we speak with one voice when we say that this crisis is not one the Jewish community can or should face alone.
It is not merely a Jewish problem, but an American one, and the health of our democracy, the integrity of our shared society and the dignity of our children depend on our collective response.
Antisemitism is an ancient hatred, but it has found renewed energy in today’s polarized climate. We see it in vandalism against Jewish-owned businesses such as Manny’s in the Mission, rampant online harassment, verbal denigration in classrooms and even acts of physical assault and murder. These are symptoms of a deeper erosion in our public values and shared understanding. The Jewish community, though resilient, is only one segment of our nation. The responsibility to confront antisemitism must be shared by all who care about justice and peace.
That is why we support legislative efforts like the state’s AB 715. This bill would create critical protections for Jewish students who face harassment or discrimination based on their real or perceived identity, religion or national origin. It is a vital step to ensure our schools remain places of safety and belonging for all children.
There is precedent for this kind of moral legislation. In 2011, with widespread Jewish communal support, California passed AB 9, known as “Seth’s Law.” Named in memory of a young student who took his own life after enduring relentless bullying, the law mandated that public schools update their anti-bullying policies to protect students targeted for their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion or disability. In 2014, and again with widespread support from the Jewish community, SB 840 built upon this foundation by requiring schools to improve how they handle discrimination and bullying. It called for training, counseling referrals and comprehensive reporting procedures.
AB 715 is the next link in this moral chain. It extends the same principle of dignity and safety to Jewish students who, in recent years, have reported rising levels of antisemitic bullying. These students should not have to choose between their identity and their education. They should be able to walk into a classroom without fearing the slurs or stares that come when they wear a Star of David or speak openly about their heritage. They deserve the same protection that has been rightly extended to other vulnerable groups.
Voices of faith have a special role in this struggle. We have seen the power of unity in our work together, whether feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless or standing with marginalized communities. When we bring our different traditions to bear on a common cause, we illuminate the path forward. This moment demands such unity. It demands that we stand shoulder to shoulder and declare without equivocation that hatred against Jews has no place in our society.
Much of the hostility directed toward Jews today is born of ignorance. Too many still do not understand the richness and diversity of Jewish identity. Jewish Americans come from every racial and ethnic background, and every social identity imaginable. There are Jews of color, LGBTQ+ Jews, liberal Jews and conservative Jews, and Jews who have immigrated to America from all over the world. Some express their Jewishness through religious observance. Many others do so through culture, tradition or ancestry. To speak of “the Jews” as a monolith is not just incorrect. It is dangerous.
This ignorance becomes even more volatile when international politics enter the conversation. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has fueled confusion and anger. Although the Bay Area Jewish community, like much of the broader American Jewish population, is complex and diverse in its views, JCRC Bay Area’s professional survey has repeatedly found that 89 percent of Bay Area Jews support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. To deny that right is to erase the aspirations of an entire people. And yet, to hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government is textbook antisemitism. Two things can be true at the same time.
It should be uncontroversial to say that we must respond to ignorance with education. But education alone is not enough. We must also build coalitions. We must renew and deepen the relationships that have long sustained interfaith collaboration. When Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu and other faith leaders lock arms, we send a powerful signal that hate will not divide us.
In times of crisis, our faiths remind us that silence is not an option. Our sacred texts demand action in the face of oppression, not complicity through inaction. As clergy, we carry these mandates not only as moral imperatives but as a sacred trust passed from generation to generation.
California has always led with moral clarity. From civil rights to marriage equality to religious freedom, this state has shown that justice is not a passing sentiment but a lasting principle. With AB 715, we can extend that legacy. Together, as rabbi and bishop, as Jew and Christian, as people of conscience, we urge our communities to stand tall and meet hate with unity and love.