Transcript [00:01] We have a problem in [music] politics [00:03] and that problem is when politicians are [00:05] using hatred of Israel and the Jewish [00:07] people to rise [music] to power. I'm Bob [00:10] Scott, ministry engagement director for [00:12] Christians United for Israel. [00:21] In my work traveling the country, I [00:23] speak with [music] members of both the [00:25] Jewish and Christian communities on a [00:27] regular basis. My friends [music] in the [00:29] Jewish community are concerned. Yes, [00:33] they have become increasingly aware that [00:35] the Christian community stands with [00:36] [music] them since the attacks on [00:38] October 7th in Israel, but they've also [00:40] seen a rise in [music] the rhetoric [00:42] against the nation of Israel and the [00:44] people of Israel. And by default, Jewish [00:46] people outside [music] of Israel. Now, [00:49] it seems that politicians who are [00:50] supposed to be for all the citizens they [00:53] [music] represent are only exasperating [00:55] the problem. [00:57] Speaking with a friend in Queens [music] [00:58] a week ago, he was telling me that when [01:00] he entered the city Manhattan, he no [01:03] longer wore his yarmaka. An identifying [01:06] characteristic of his [music] faith and [01:07] identity was now not worn because it [01:09] made him a target. He he attributed the [01:13] rhetoric which had [music] created an [01:14] atmosphere for hatred and violence [01:17] against him just because he [music] was [01:20] Jewish. And that rhetoric was promoted [01:22] by the mayor of New York City, Zoron [01:24] Mandani. [01:26] With our work at KUFI, [music] [01:28] it is usually not about the person. It's [01:30] always about the policy. However, in [01:33] [music] this case, it's about both. When [01:36] a mayor promotes hatred, do not be [01:38] surprised when the [music] citizens [01:40] begin to take his lead. Is the fear of [01:42] my friend walking into the city and [01:44] being targeted as a Jew warranted? While [01:48] [music] statistics could never tell the [01:49] whole story, they are telling. In New [01:52] York City, [music] anti-Semitic hate [01:54] crimes are up. The Jewish community [01:56] makes up 10 to 12% of the community, but [01:59] well over half of the hate [music] [02:00] crimes in New York City are directed at [02:03] the Jews, with more than 200 of [music] [02:05] these hate crimes happening since the [02:06] beginning of the year. It's worth noting [02:09] that on his first day in office, Mandani [02:12] revoked the Adams administration's [02:14] executive order adopting [music] the IRA [02:16] definition, the International Holocaust [02:19] Remembrance Alliance definition of [02:21] anti-semitism as [music] city policy, as [02:24] well as the city's anti-BDS provisions. [02:27] He told the citizens of New York City [02:29] what he [music] thought of Israel and [02:30] the Jewish people. And I guess now they [02:33] believe him. We should [music] have seen [02:35] this coming. The signposts were along [02:38] the way. We need to get past the shock [02:42] that anti-semitism could [music] have [02:44] become acceptable and even celebrated in [02:46] places around the country. When elected [02:50] officials campaign [music] on the idea [02:51] that Jews are evil, that Israel controls [02:54] the world, and who flipped the script to [02:57] call terrorists in Gaza freedom [02:58] fighters. It's only the next step for [03:01] the words of hate to [music] move into [03:02] action. This cannot become acceptable. [03:06] We also need to get past the idea that [03:08] it's only in [music] certain places in [03:11] America that Jew hatred and castigating [03:13] Israel can be platforms that get you [03:15] elected. Some would [music] say it's [03:17] only New York and that doesn't affect [03:19] the rest of the country. Now, the [03:21] problem is we cannot allow anti-semitism [03:23] [music] to rise in power anywhere [03:26] because if it does, anti-semitism is [03:28] only a step away from rising to power [03:30] everywhere. The Jewish [music] people of [03:33] any community must not live in fear just [03:37] because [music] they are Jewish. [03:39] When there are areas in New York City [03:41] that Jewish citizens [music] are told [03:43] not to go to because of the danger to [03:45] them, it's the job of the mayor and the [03:47] government of New York City or any city [03:49] for that matter to not remove the Jewish [03:52] citizen, but instead remove the ones who [03:54] are [music] threatening the danger. It [03:57] all begins with words. Words of hate, [04:00] words [music] of accusations, [04:02] words like genocide, apartheid, and even [04:04] deocide. But it doesn't stop [music] [04:07] with words. The words against Israel and [04:09] the Jewish people are meant to [04:11] dehumanize and other a people so action [04:15] against [music] them can somehow be [04:17] justified. mayors, council [music] [04:20] members, and school board members who [04:22] spew vile rhetoric against the Jewish [04:25] people, not only in Israel, but in your [04:27] own neighborhoods is coming to a [music] [04:29] small town near you. It's long past time [04:32] for those who love the word of God. And [04:34] because of [music] that, those who love [04:36] the Jewish people to stand in such a way [04:38] to make anti-semitism a disqualification [04:41] for service. Yes, there is a right to [04:44] believe any vile thing [music] one wants [04:46] to believe, but it's the conscience of a [04:49] people in a community to make sure those [04:51] who believe vile things would never make [04:54] it into [music] seats of power. Kufi [04:56] makes that stand. Will you? [05:02] Thanks for checking out this episode. Be [05:04] sure to like and subscribe so you get a [05:06] notification every time a new episode [05:07] [music] hits. And if you want to check [05:09] out some of our previous episodes, and [05:10] we've got some really good ones, click [05:12] on one of the thumbnails and that will [05:13] take you right there. And finally, if [05:15] you want to know more about Kufi and the [05:17] work we do, go to kufi.org to check out [05:19] all the resources we have available free [05:21] to you.
What happens when antisemitism becomes a political strategy?
In this week’s CUFI Weekly, we take a closer look at the growing use of anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric in political discourse, and what it means for the Jewish community, Israel, and those who stand against hatred. From inflammatory rhetoric to the normalization of dangerous ideas, antisemitism cannot be dismissed as simply another political talking point.
History has shown us where unchecked hatred can lead. When hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people is embraced, excused, or used as a tool for political gain, it creates an environment where discrimination and hatred flourish.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to recognize antisemitism, reject it, and stand with the Jewish people. Supporting Israel and opposing antisemitism is not merely a political position but rather a matter of moral conviction.
Watch this week’s CUFI Weekly to learn why hateful rhetoric against Israel and the Jewish people cannot be ignored, why words matter, and why Christians must continue to speak out when antisemitism is used to divide, manipulate, and gain political power.
