On October 6, contemporary Jewish identity rested on two seemingly rock-solid pillars. The first was the core promise of the post-Holocaust era: a sovereign Jewish state, backed by a military, that would guarantee physical security. The second was the unwritten pact of the diaspora: liberal democracies would ensure freedom and full, permanent civic integration.

The next morning, both certainties evaporated.

In the United States, 87% of Jews feel that antisemitism has skyrocketed. Six in ten have felt unsafe doing basic things like wearing a Star of David on the street, walking into a synagogue, or simply expressing an opinion on social media. The shockwave also penetrated their private lives: 64% have seen personal or professional relationships suffer, with many cutting ties with friends or entirely cutting off acquaintances. The illusion that Western integration and progress offered an impenetrable shield was shattered.

Theodor Herzl warned about this over a century ago. In his diaries and letters, he wrote bitterly: “In our native lands where we have lived for centuries we are still decried as aliens… If they would only leave us in peace… But I think we shall not be left in peace.”

Yet, paradoxically, the collective response wasn’t flight or mass migration to Israel. It was a return.

This........

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