One way that I have been thinking about antisemitism is as a kind of twisted and inexcusable stress response. In times of social or economic strain, people tend to go looking for explanations as to why things don’t work the way they want or why life feels harder. And far too often, they reach for the oldest hatred in the book as their answer. Comforted by conspiratorial thinking, they conclude it must be the Jews who are to blame.

This cycle can then be hastened by popular figures who step in and exploit people’s anxieties for their own goals. As Deborah Lipstadt explains, “[Bad actors] cannot create a fire where none exists, but they can add fuel to preexisting fires.” The more disconcerted people feel, the more they may turn to hating Jews, and the more wayward leaders will encourage those inclinations. Antisemitism and chaos are intertwined. Sadly, and to great harm, this has been the pattern for millennia.

What this means for us is that there is space to tackle the challenge from two sides: by pushing back against antisemitism explicitly and tending to the health of our democracy generally, both of which we are focused on at Federation.

Five years ago, we adopted a multi-pronged strategy to address antisemitism in our region. This includes providing funds to address antisemitism in public and private schools, developing teen leaders who can directly confront antisemitism, supporting local Hillels in their campus efforts, as well as providing critical resources to local agencies including the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

We are also working to strengthen the relationships that underpin a healthy democracy and break down conflict by facilitating conversation among community members of diverse perspectives; deepening Black–Jewish relations; and partnering with local agencies and institutions on civic engagement efforts; all of which contribute to a more connected, stable, and resilient community.

Ultimately, fighting against antisemitism is a form of fighting for our democracy just as fighting for democracy and strengthening civil institutions is a form of fighting antisemitism. As antisemitism metastasizes, everyone loses. When we replace mistrust with credibility and community, everyone wins. It’s our civic duty to call out antisemitism and disrupt its chaotic breeding ground.

At a time when so many people are losing faith in institutions, Federation can be a steady fixture. A shared space where our community can come practice listening to those who think differently, caring for the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger, and working together toward a shared vision for the future. If antisemitism is what seeps in when our social foundation starts to crack, we can help ensure its integrity.