The recent murder of two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, is a grim reminder that antisemitism is not a relic of the past—it is a growing, deadly threat in America today. The shooter, Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he gunned down Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple who had just attended a humanitarian event and were planning to get engaged in Jerusalem the following week. This wasn’t a random act of violence. It was a targeted assassination fueled by hatred, and it reflects a disturbing trend: the normalization of antisemitism and hate under the guise of political activism.
Across US college campuses, antisemitism is no longer lurking in the shadows, it’s marching through the quad. At Columbia University, anti-Israel protesters disrupted graduation by burning diplomas and chanting slogans in support of Mahmoud Khalil, a former student detained for alleged ties to Hamas. The university’s acting president even defended Khalil during her commencement speech, sparking outrage among Jewish students and families. At George Washington University, a student was banned from campus after delivering an unsanctioned commencement speech calling for divestment from Israel. These incidents are not isolated. They are part of a broader movement that cloaks antisemitism in the language of social justice, making it palatable to the uninformed and dangerous to the targeted.
Many of these campus protests are organized by groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which has been accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric and even celebrating terrorism. The AMCHA Initiative found that antisemitism was eight times more likely to occur on campuses with at least one active anti-Zionist student group such as SJP. When students chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” they are echoing a call for the elimination of Israel. When they praise Hamas as “resistance fighters,” they are legitimizing a terrorist organization responsible for the murder of civilians. This rhetoric doesn’t just stay on campus. It spills into the streets, into our communities, and, as we saw in DC, into acts of deadly violence. Our society must confront this rising tide of antisemitism with unwavering resolve.
Universities must be held accountable for allowing hate to fester under the banner of academic freedom. Lawmakers must ensure that support for terrorist organizations like Hamas is not tolerated under the guise of political activism. And as a society, we must recognize that antisemitism, in any form, is a threat to the moral fabric of our nation. The murder of Yaron and Sarah is a tragic reminder that words have consequences. When hate is normalized, violence becomes inevitable. It’s time to stand up, speak out, and ensure that “Never Again” is not just a slogan, but a commitment. Ephesians 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Silence in the face of evil is not wisdom—it’s surrender. Let’s stand boldly, speak clearly, and never let hatred wearing the mask of justice go unchallenged.
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