Raising Our Flag

by Nina Fondiller Woldin

Like all the boats on our dock, we raised flags on our mast this weekend in honor of July 4. Our neighbor raised the USA 250 flag. We considered raising the American/Israeli flag, as we did last year… and then reconsidered.

As a child, I was taught that religious freedom was the cornerstone of the United States. My grandparents came here to find a better life, free from persecution. If they were alive today, I wonder what they would think?

If they were alive today, I wonder what they would think?  

Antisemitic acts spiked 140% following October 7, and according to the ADL, numbers remain elevated. Physical assaults and incidents involving deadly weapons have reached historic record highs, with 203 violent assaults reported and three homicides occurring on U.S. soil. In addition, a less violent but just as damaging antisemitism seems to be gaining traction both in Social Media and in popular culture. 

Just over a month ago, the Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn voted to boycott about a dozen Israeli-made products, including tahini, snacks, and fresh produce. This action did not create jobs, build institutions, or improve a single Palestinian life. It was just a thinly veiled excuse for an act of Jew hatred. This Jew hatred has become accepted, even fashionable, in the United States today. Cornell student Austin Franco recently made headlines  after he refused a summer internship interview, explicitly telling the Jewish-owned startup: “Not interested in working for a Jew.” To add insult to injury, a crowdfunding campaign on YouTube later raised nearly $20,000 for Franco. Since late 2023, Jewish and Israeli authors have reported facing a hostile climate in the English literary world. Many writers have experienced canceled events, quiet distancing from literary agents, and organized online campaigns aimed at boycotting or giving bad reviews to Jewish authors. But the Jewish community is creative and resilient. Newly formed alliances are being launched to protect and support Jewish professionals and Jewish-owned businesses.

This July 4, I found myself hoping that we will pass through this challenge, and that, as my grandparents believed, the United States will once again emerge as a beacon of hope and liberty for all.

Nina is the Managing Director of Chai Mitzvah, and has worked in Jewish education for decades, creating student materials and programs for all ages, pre-K – adult. Her work has been published by Behrman House, Ktav, Kar Ben Publishing, Addison Wesley, and Grolier. She created one of the first online Jewish education resource centers, Yourpage.org, which became part of Jewish National Fund’s website in 2003.