American Jews and the Rise of Anti-Semitism: What We’ve Learned and What Comes Next

For decades, American Jewish leaders have invested immense energy and resources into fighting anti-Semitism—through education, advocacy, dialogue, and political engagement. Despite these efforts, anti-Jewish hostility erupted across the country after October 7, with little sign of slowing down since.

In a recent essay, the historian Jack Wertheimer takes a hard look at how the American Jewish establishment has sought to combat anti-Semitism—and why so many of these strategies have fallen short. He argues that Jewish leaders were caught off guard by the virulence and scale of today’s hatred, and that it is time to think differently about how Jews understand and confront it.

To discuss his findings—and to explore new approaches to defending American Jews—Wertheimer joined David L. Bernstein, a leading Jewish communal professional and the author of Woke Antisemitism, for a live conversation moderated by Mosaic’s editor Jonathan Silver. This conversation was recorded on Thursday, October 30, 2025. You can watch the video or read the transcript below.