Here’s a question that you’ve probably never asked. In the modern age, which of these two phenomena have caused more Jews to cease having any real relationship with their Jewish tradition: assimilation or antisemitism? The answer is quite clear: assimilation.

Certainly, there are Jews who try to escape their antisemitic environment by camouflaging their background or immersing themselves in their gentile surroundings. This is especially the case where and when antisemitism is particularly virulent, constituting a threat to Jewish life and limb. However, other than the mid-20th century Holocaust period where millions of Jews perished at the hands of antisemitic governments (Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union), in the past two centuries most Jews have been able to escape such killing grounds by emigrating elsewhere.

The largest such emigration occurred between 1880-1920, to the United States: approximately 2.5-3 million Jews, mostly from Eastern Europe (including Russia) to the United States (about 80%). America at the time was certainly no Jew-loving country; “soft” antisemitism was rampant. Jews experienced very little outright murder (indeed, some became professional assassins!), but most did suffer from heavy discrimination in many fields e.g., the reason some picked up from the East Coast and established “Hollywood” on the other side of the continent.

These immigrant Jews were overwhelmingly “Orthodox” when they arrived (again, most came from highly traditionalist Eastern Europe). Within two to three generations, the majority had moved “leftward” religiously: Conservative, Reform, and agnostically non-denominational. The next two generations continued the trend, but now many – perhaps most – left Judaism behind as anything but some culinary vestige of their ethnic (not religious) past.

The central statistic buttressing this: intermarriage. Over the past 15 years in the US, roughly 72% of non-Orthodox Jews married a non-Jewish spouse (counting the Orthodox, the number is 61%, still a decided majority). Arguing that a number of these Jews still keep some traditions is beside the point. First, by Jewish historical, theological standards, marrying a non-Jew is considered a complete no-no (except when the spouse converts, a la biblical Ruth). Using a contemporary, secular criterion for “remaining Jewish” is not Jewish; it’s secular. Second, the next generation or two of the intermarried couples’ progeny will have little experience in Jewish practice or knowledge to guide them in remaining Jewish.

No matter how one wants to count “who’s a Jew” in assimilationist America (and Europe for that matter), the numbers of those ceasing any personal Jewish commitment are completely higher than the number of Jews in western countries (post-World War II) who have died as a result of an antisemitic attack. Thus, from a purely physical (living) standpoint, the question I raised at the start has a clear answer: assimilation is a far greater threat to Jewish continuity outside Israel than antisemitism.

But perhaps antisemitism drives assimilation i.e., the threat pushes Jews to leave the fold? Certainly, there are some Jews who do exactly that. But the overall numbers display the exact opposite situation: as American antisemitism decreased through the 20th century, assimilation increased by leaps and bounds. If anything, outbreaks of antisemitism tend to push many assimilated Jews back to some form of Jewish traditionalism. Some examples:

• A 2020 Pew Research Center survey on American Jews found that those with less traditional observance reported antisemitism as being a significant factor shaping their sense of Jewish identity; indeed, 75% said that remembering the Holocaust and combating antisemitism are essential to their Jewish identity.

• The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in a 2018 survey of European Jews, found that while they thought antisemitism had increased in their country, many asserted this reality had made them more aware of their Jewishness, with a concomitant renewed interest in Jewish history, customs, and community engagement as a response to their feeling threatened.

• The UK’s Institute for Jewish Policy Research found in 2020 that concerns about antisemitism led to increased attendance at Jewish communal events and greater involvement with synagogues and cultural organizations, particularly during times of heightened tension. There’s even a scholarly term for this phenomenon: “reactive ethnicity.” It states that when a group feels itself threatened by external forces, its members are more likely to accentuate the traits that feature their difference. This is a form of resistance and also a way to cope with fear and uncertainty by having a sense of shared struggle that enhances community bonds. None of this is to suggest that antisemitism is “good for the Jews.” It isn’t. But it does lead to a corollary question: if Jewish continuity is the ultimate goal, what is the best path to take? Put simply (perhaps a bit simplistically): should Jewish resources be funneled to fighting antisemitism or to reducing assimilation? The above analysis leads to a clear answer: the latter.

What this means is that Jewish resources should primarily be poured into Jewish education and practice: subsidizing tuition from kindergarten through high school, strengthening college courses and Jewish-related departments (history, religion, Israel studies), finding ways to make synagogue attendance more attractive without eviscerating core Jewish practice, expanding communal activities with bona fide Jewish content, and the like. The overall conclusion: antisemitism will not disappear; it is surely incumbent to utilize some Jewish resources to fight its most egregious expressions. However, paradoxically it can also awaken a stronger sense of Jewishness among many who otherwise will continue to drift from their roots. Thus, the brunt of Jewish resources should go to reinforcing Jews’ connection to Judaism, for there is much within Judaism as a religion and culture to celebrate. This will enable assimilating Jews to explore their heritage out of positive pride, and not merely as a reaction to hate. In short, we have to re-source where Jewish resources are spent.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)