November 9th marked the anniversary of one of the darkest events in history: Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” which signaled the beginning of the Nazi attack on Europe’s Jews. On November 9-10, 1938, synagogues were burned, Jewish-owned businesses and homes were looted, and thousands of Jews were sent to concentration camps. Neighbors’ indifference or complicity sent a chilling message: hatred against Jews was tolerated. Today, the rising tide of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world makes us wonder if history is repeating itself.

The recent attack on Israeli fans at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam – a brutal mob attack that the Dutch police seemed unprepared or unwilling to stop – is just one example of how today’s anti-Semitism is increasingly violent and unfettered. Jewish communities are once again being targeted, and as Christians we cannot ignore this. Anti-Semitic incidents in America, according to the 2023 audit of the American Defamation League (ADL), have increased to record levels,⁽¹⁾underlining an urgent need for action.

Christians, who have a great spiritual debt to the Jewish people, must speak and stand with the Jewish people in these perilous times.

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The terrifying rise of anti-Semitism today

Recent mob violence in Amsterdam and record anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, particularly on college campuses, paint a grim picture of what Jewish communities are facing. The ADL reported a staggering 140 percent increase in anti-Semitic attacks, from vandalism and harassment to physical attacks targeting synagogues, schools, and individuals.⁽²⁾This wave of hatred extends beyond isolated incidents – it is a pattern reminiscent of the path Germany took in the late 1930s, culminating in the Holocaust.

Eyewitnesses to the recent attack on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam compared the violence to a “modern day pogrom”. Hundreds of attackers stormed the streets, waving flags, hurling insults and assaulting anyone who appeared to be Israeli. The victims described desperate scenes in which they hid in alleys, fled to hotels and tried to avoid taxis driven by accomplices who ambushed them.⁽³⁾This horrific event serves as a stark reminder of the extreme consequences of unchecked hatred.

Echoes of 1938 in America

While the violence may seem geographically distant, America has seen similar patterns of anti-Semitism. Over the past two years, a spate of attacks against Jewish students on some of our most prestigious university campuses, vandalized synagogues and hateful slogans are chillingly reminiscent of the hate-driven destruction of Kristallnacht. Indeed, on the eve of the 86th anniversary of that horrific night, a six-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy was ripped from his father’s arms in broad daylight as they walked together on a Brooklyn sidewalk.

Today, this violence cannot go unanswered. History itself highlights how easily anti-Semitism can be achieved with tragic consequences when society allows it. The extent of anti-Semitism over the millennia—from ancient Rome to medieval Europe, the Russian pogroms, and the Holocaust—reveals a deep-rooted prejudice that requires constant vigilance.

Why Christians have a moral obligation

As Christians, our faith is inextricably linked to Israel and the Jewish people. We share with them a spiritual heritage and a history. Through the Jewish people, God gave us the Scriptures, the prophets, and even Christ Himself. The words of the apostle Paul in Romans 11 remind us that Gentile Christians are “grafted” into the same “olive tree” as the Jewish people, urging us to support and cherish them. It is both a moral duty and a biblical commandment to protect and defend our Jewish neighbors.

However, this duty is not only theological. It is a matter of human decency and responsibility. As the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), we are committed to fighting anti-Semitism worldwide and standing with Israel, the Jewish state. We have long educated Christians about the historical roots of this anti-Semitic hatred, making it clear that we cannot sit idly by while it resurfaces. When Jews are targeted in Israel, the United States, or anywhere else in the world, the very foundation of justice and human rights is at stake. History has shown that anti-Semitism is a bellwether of societal decay—when it takes root, it quickly spreads to threaten other groups, including Bible-believing Christians.

Learning from the past to protect the future

In the face of rising anti-Semitism, silence is complicity. Just as many German Christians remained passive during Kristallnacht, allowing hatred to escalate into genocide, those who remain silent today allow the forces of hatred to grow stronger. Jewish communities in America and around the world are calling for allies, and we of all people must answer their call.

Some might argue that our country is different – that we value diversity and freedom. However, recent incidents show that America is not immune. With anti-Semitic violence at historic highs, American Christians are called to stand up to this tide of hatred by advocating for our Jewish neighbors and working to prevent history from repeating itself.

A call to action

But practically speaking, what should we do? First, we must raise awareness and educate our communities about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Churches, Christian schools, and universities should engage with organizations like ICEJ to educate about the historical roots and contemporary dangers of anti-Semitism. Understanding the scale of past atrocities like Kristallnacht can help us recognize the importance of taking a stand today.

Second, we must speak out against anti-Semitism wherever we encounter it. Social media platforms, workplaces, schools, college campuses and churches must be spaces where anti-Semitic hatred is confronted. Each of us has a voice, and by raising it, we are signaling that this behavior has no place in the United States.

Finally, we must show up for the Jewish community, especially in times of crisis. Whether it’s contacting your local synagogue, sitting with them at rallies, speaking to local, state, and federal officials, or simply texting a Jewish friend to check on their well-being so they can he knows they are not alone. , these gestures convey the fact that we are committed to being with them.

Never is now!

Kristallnacht serves as a horrific reminder of the destruction that unchecked anti-Semitism can wreak. The stories from Amsterdam, the statistics on the rise of anti-Semitic violence and the lessons of the past compel us to act. In 2024, we have access to the knowledge, resources and platforms that allow us to raise our voices against anti-Semitic hatred. There are no excuses for inaction.

The Jewish people have endured unimaginable suffering throughout history, often abandoned by those who should have stood by them. Today, as Christians and as Americans, we have a chance to right this wrong by standing firmly with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Ultimately, our actions must declare: Not in our country, not in our time, and never.

(1) “Anti-Semitic Incident Audit 2023”. ADL. April 16, 2024. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2023.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Personal, TOI. “‘They came in droves’, ‘They attacked us all’: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans describe horrors in Amsterdam | The Times of Israel.” The Times of IsraelNovember 8, 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/they-came-in-masses-attacked-us-all-maccabi-tel-aviv-fans-describe-amsterdam-horrors/.