The October 7 attacks on Israel by the terror group Hamas were a wake-up call for American Jews for several reasons. Most immediately, the realization that Israel was not as secure as it purported to be was shocking – especially after years of skirmishes but no major wars. But perhaps the more traumatic realization for American Jews, and one that hit much closer to home, was how those who identify as progressives reacted to the attacks. These people took to the streets not to protest the brutal murders, rapes, and kidnapping of Israelis by a U.S.-designated terror group, but in support of that terror group.
These so-called progressives operate on several assumptions that are counter to the Jewish understanding. One is that because of the Israeli “occupation,” the Jewish state in some way deserved this attack. Two, that all resistance is justified, including the rape of women and beheading of children. Three, Zionism is inherently a form of racism and oppression. And four, that any Jew is a Zionist who should answer for the “crimes” of the Jewish state. Though the vociferous public display of these wrongheaded assumptions was a shock to many Jews, it was not at all surprising to activists who have been privy to the rise in left-wing antisemitism in recent years, such as strategic venture philanthropist Adam Milstein.
Milstein is an American of Israeli descent who co-founded the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation with Gila his wife in 2000, which is dedicated to supporting a robust network of nonprofits that strengthen American values, support the U.S.-Israel alliance, and combat hatred and bigotry in all forms, most notably antisemitism. He’s also the co-founder of the Israeli-American Council, whose mission is to foster a community that strengthens the Israeli and Jewish identity of our next generation, the American Jewish community, and the bond between the peoples of the United States and the State of Israel. Through his in-depth research and advocacy, he has tracked the leftward shift of antisemitism and writes passionately about how to combat it.
In his latest article for The Jerusalem Post, he discusses the surge of Jewish activism since October 7 and the importance of harnessing it effectively. As of April 2024, $1.4 billion in aid has been raised for Israel since October 7, with about half of that amount raised by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and its member organizations. Similarly, Birthright Israel raised a record $85 million in 2023 after a year of steep budget cuts. Milstein writes that the Jewish community is witnessing an “unprecedented surge in passion, commitment, and determination” post-October 7. “[N]othing ignites a fire quite like the recognition that your survival is at stake,” he says, and so the community has grown more determined and resilient. But how do we ensure this new resilience leads to tangible results?
It’s important first to understand how we go to this point so we can capitalize on it. Milstein takes readers through the philanthropic mindset of previous generations. Those born after the Holocaust lived through “a time of newfound advocacy and institutional legitimacy” when huge institutions like JFNA, AJC, and the ADL reached their peak of influence. Succeeding generations were raised in relative safety from antisemitism as the “Never Again” mindset reigned.
However, “this sense of comfort led to a perception that the battle was largely won, making the fight for Jewish security less urgent and less present,” Milstein argues, and so the Jewish community grew complacent. Our enemies used this complacency to “unite and advance antisemitic and radical agendas in universities and high schools, on social media, in the media, in politics, and beyond.” Major Jewish institutions refused to acknowledge that the rising threat came from the radical left, and so the progressive reaction to October 7 took many by surprise. College campuses have become “hotbeds of hostility” while social media platforms are “rife with hateful propaganda funded by foreign entities and amplified by misguided Western sympathizers, including many self-hating Jews.” The impact of these events will be “felt for generations.”
Now that the community at large has awoken to these threats, its support for Israel remains “robust, strategic, and deeply organized.” Milstein cites an AJC survey which shows that 85% of American Jews believe U.S. support for Israel is vital post-October 7 while 57% feel more connected to Israel or their Jewish identity. Adam Milstein zeroes in on two demographics that can make maximum impact in the fight against antisemitism: affluent Jews with financial means and young Jews with the will to make change.
Wealthy Jews who previously donated to the legacy institutions are now also looking for new ventures to invest in. They use various strategies to make an impact, but they often don’t have time to identify the most effective Jewish and pro-Israel nonprofits. Milstein says that they “rely on institutions and professional consultants, which take months and years to research and vet new effective organizations and new ideas.” And even then, they don’t get connected with “smaller and medium-sized philanthropists who have been doing this work and making an impact for years.” Philanthropists like Milstein are trying to change this, exploring new ways to help affluent Jews maximize their impact.
The other group with the potential for great impact is young Jews. Organizations across the country have seen an influx of engagement from young Jews since October 7, including the Impact Forum, which Milstein co-founded in Los Angeles with a group of other philanthropists in 2017 to empower and mobilize a large network of nonprofits. The key moving forward is to ensure that these “inexperienced, yet motivated ‘new philanthropists’ work in concert to support effective efforts.” Teaching them strategies for maximum impact will ensure they can adapt to the ever-shifting landscape of antisemitism in the coming decades, as large institutions have proven slow, unwilling, or unable to do these last several years.
Milstein believes that the recent surge in resilience and determination since October 7 should “infuse the Jewish people with hope and optimism for the future,” despite the trauma and pain that got us here. It presents an opportunity we can’t afford to waste. Because “[w]ith the right direction and philanthropic expertise, the determination of today’s Jewish community will lead to a more vibrant and secure future for the Jewish people.”