05/12/2026
What we are witnessing in cities like London and New York City is no longer merely political protest. Over the last five months, there has been a visible and deeply troubling escalation from anti-Israel activism into open hostility toward Jewish people themselves. What many Jewish communities are now experiencing is not simply disagreement over Middle East politics, but the normalization of intimidation, harassment, vandalism, and in some cases outright violence against visibly Jewish individuals — including children. The atmosphere has become increasingly volatile, emotionally charged, and in many cases frighteningly dehumanizing. This is especially true in London and NYC.
In London, Jewish neighborhoods such as Golders Green, Hendon, and Finchley have experienced a string of violent incidents that shocked even longtime community leaders. Volunteer ambulances belonging to Hatzola — an emergency medical service that serves both Jews and non-Jews alike — were firebombed in what British authorities described as an antisemitic attack. Synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses were later targeted with attempted arson attacks, while antisemitic graffiti appeared across multiple areas. Perhaps most disturbing was the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, one reportedly elderly, simply for being visibly Jewish in public.
The testimonies emerging from Britain are heartbreaking. Actor Elliot Levey publicly stated that his own son endured antisemitic abuse and that his family synagogue faced a firebombing attempt. He warned that many Jews in Britain now feel they must constantly assess their safety in public spaces. Others describe removing kippahs, hiding Stars of David, or avoiding certain areas entirely during demonstrations.
Meanwhile in New York City, tensions have intensified dramatically around anti-Israel demonstrations that increasingly spill directly into Jewish neighborhoods and outside synagogues. Violent confrontations recently erupted in Brooklyn outside a synagogue during protests connected to an Israeli real-estate event. Videos circulated online appearing to show masked protesters physically attacking counter-demonstrators, including footage that witnesses said showed a masked individual assaulting a young Jewish girl during the chaos. Residents described hearing chants glorifying “intifada” echoing through heavily Jewish streets while families stood watching in fear outside their homes. I would place these videos here but the language is so filled with vulgarities - I just cannot.
Islam1$ts in masks uses anonymity surrounding extremist behavior. Jewish residents and community leaders increasingly describe the feeling that lawlessness and intimidation are becoming normalized under the guise of activism. One elderly Jewish man in Brooklyn was reportedly shoved to the ground after confronting masked demonstrators and asking why they concealed their identities. Swastikas have also appeared across parks and public property in New York in recent weeks, adding to fears that anti-Jewish hatred is becoming socially acceptable again in parts of Western society.
What is especially grievous is the effect this climate is having on children. Jewish students in multiple Western nations have testified to being bullied, assaulted, mocked, isolated, and threatened simply because they are Jewish or perceived as supportive of Israel. Parents increasingly speak of fear for their children’s emotional and physical safety. There is a profound historical weight to this reality because Jewish communities recognize where this kind of dehumanization can lead if left unchecked. NYC - you voted for this in the form of a new Mayor.
Scripture speaks with sobering clarity about hatred toward the Jewish people and the spiritual dimensions surrounding it. In Psalm 83:4, the nations say concerning Israel: “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.” The hostility toward the Jewish people has always been more than geopolitical; it often reflects a deeper rebellion against the covenant purposes of God in history.
The prophet Zechariah recorded the Lord saying concerning Jerusalem and the Jewish people: “He who touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). This does not mean Israel is beyond criticism as a nation-state, but it does mean that hatred directed at Jews carries spiritual and moral consequences. Throughout history, societies that normalized antisemitism eventually descended into deeper moral corruption and violence.
At the same time, believers are called to respond not with hatred, fear, or vengeance, but with courage, truth, and compassion. Jesus Himself declared in John 4:22, “Salvation is of the Jews.” The early church was entirely Jewish in origin. The covenants, patriarchs, prophets, Scriptures, and Messiah all emerged from Israel. Paul wrote in Romans 9 that his heart broke continually for his own people and that he carried “great sorrow and unceasing grief” for Israel.
What we are witnessing now in London and New York should deeply concern anyone who values human dignity, religious liberty, and historical honesty. When Jewish children are afraid to walk openly, when synagogues require heavy security, when masked mobs chant outside houses of worship, and when violence against Jews becomes politically excused depending on the ideology behind it, society is entering dangerous territory. History repeatedly demonstrates that antisemitism never remains isolated to the Jewish people alone; it eventually corrodes the conscience of entire nations.
