My father and our family were in France during the Holocaust, and we lost my grandfather and aunt in Auschwitz. I often show people this picture and ask them where and when it was taken. Just five or ten years ago, everyone would immediately say Berlin, and they’d be genuinely shocked when I told them the truth: New York City, 1939, Madison Square Garden.
Today, the answers I hear are far more varied, and that shift speaks volumes. Antisemitism has reached such an alarming and normalized level worldwide that people can now imagine that same scene unfolding almost anywhere. The hatred of Jews, of Israel, of anything identifiably connected to us, has metastasized across borders, finding expression in protests, assaults, and rhetoric that echo darker times.
When the unhinged far-left and the deluded far-right begin to converge in their disdain for Jews, and we find ourselves once again caught in the middle, that is the clearest sign that the normalization and even popularity of antisemitism has returned.
That is profoundly sad. And it’s why I can no longer say, as I once did, that “it could never happen again in my lifetime.” Because now, I see the warning signs forming, eerily familiar, and tragically real.
#stopantisemitism #neverforget
Hey everyone! Check out "Don’t Say It!" — now streaming on TUBI! This hilarious indie comedy was written, directed by, and stars my talented friend Rich Grosso... and I even make a few appearances myself! It’s a relatable, feel-good ride through the wild ups and downs of life and love. Give it a watch and let us know what you think!
