“I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did [at the Governor’s Mansion]. I refuse to let anyone with evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.
If the arsonist “was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night… We celebrated our faith last night proudly, and in a few hours we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover again, proudly … No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”
– Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
No matter one’s political party, identity or worldview, the arson at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence is another wakeup call among an endless list of wakeup calls that have not been heeded. It is now clear that this was an anti-Jewish hate crime, an attempt to literally burn alive the Jewish Governor of Pennsylvania and his family, during a holy Jewish holiday, by someone claiming to stand up for Palestinians. It is appalling beyond comprehension that people still do not see that violence against Jews and demonization of Zionists is not “pro-Palestine,” it is anti-Jewish and it is unquantifiably dangerous.
Those who are silent on this attack –– and its motive –– are complicit in the dangerous, rapid spread of anti-Jewish animus and conspiracy theories that are ripping apart the fabric of our society at an unprecedented pace –– and during an impossibly dangerous moment. Those who believe it is a human rights or progressive orientation to be “anti-Zionist” or “anti-Israel” must recognize that, whatever their intent, this type of attack is the real-world outcome of that worldview, and Jews have been warning against these threats and dangers for years.
It must also be said that others were silent about this heinous attack on Governor Shapiro and his family this week because they thought the attack may have been perpetrated by someone who shared their right-wing political orientation or worldview. Donald Trump has fanned the flames of raging polarization, division, xenophobia and dehumanization of minorities, including Jewish Americans, in ways that have endangered our safety even inside our own homes. As the President of the United States –– and as the victim of an attempted assassination –– the fact that Trump has not loudly and unequivocally condemned this is abominable and indefensible, and should show without an ounce of uncertainty that he is not a friend to the Jewish people but is using “antisemitism” as a weapon to pursue nefarious, anti-American goals.
Jews are being scapegoated and victim-blamed for the war in Gaza (which started with a grotesque attack on Israel by Hamas), for inequity and inequality in America, and for the erosion of our democracy, all at the same time. If you are not naming this, you are perpetuating it.
We are all being tested. Every single American should feel compelled to use their voice to condemn this sickening act, to stand in solidarity with Governor Shapiro and his family, and to reject further antisemitism and extremism in their name.
Jewish Americans are being terrorized from the right and from the left. If there was ever a time to stop using us as political pawns, it is right now. Speak to those in your own communities, families, political parties and social movements. Do not point somewhere else and claim “it’s worse on the other side.” Wherever you sit ideologically — antisemitism sits too. You are either fighting it or allowing it to metastasize. There is no in between. As a proud Jew and a courageous leader, Governor Shapiro has been slandered from every direction, and it is on every person of conscience to refuse to allow this hate to be normalized.