Jewish Americans have a choice to make. They can take a stand against the radical anti-Semitism that has infected the Democratic party and led to the current spate of violent attacks in major American cities. Or, they can lie down and submit to the hate and abuse that has plagued Jewish people all over the world.

As a Jewish American (and a Christian) myself, I know what I’m going to do, but not everyone agrees with me.

Last week, a former member of President Joe Biden’s transition team named Aaron Keyak encouraged his Jewish followers on Twitter to remove identifying clothing if they “fear for their safety.”

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Keyak’s mindset is exactly what’s led to the subjugation of Jews throughout history. If Jewish Americans respond to anti-Semitic rhetoric and attacks by acquiescing to those who hate them, they’re inviting more anti-Semitic rhetoric and attacks. Radical Muslims would love nothing more than to scare Jews into hiding their faith, and Keyak is playing right into their hands.

I refuse to submit. I refuse to bow to intimidation and aggression, and I’ll fight, both literally and figuratively, for my right to live peacefully in the Land of the Free. If Jews start to hide in the United States of America, we’re truly on the road to the pogroms.

First, we must refuse to hide who we are. I wear a Magen David (Jewish Star) every single day, and I’ve recently begun wearing it outside of my shirt, instead of underneath. I refuse to bow before hatred and prejudice by hiding who I am. I will stand proudly and will defend those who do the same. I am disgusted by Kayek when he claims it’s better to hide. That is cowardice at best and encourages weakness and submission. 

Second, we must stand up to violent assaults and prepare ourselves to defend those we love. History is a brutal teacher in this regard.

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I recently had the chance to attend a four-day defensive handgun training class at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. I’m quite comfortable with my daily carry gun, and I shoot regularly. But this was the first time I’ve had a chance to receive intensive instruction from professionals, and I learned how important it is to get real training in self-defense. There is a significant difference in knowing how to safely operate a firearm, and knowing what to do and how to do it in a real-life scenario. If Jewish Americans want violent, anti-Semitic assaults to end, we can’t rely on others to protect us. We must take into our own hands the responsibility for protecting our lives, and that starts with effective self-defense training.

Before anti-gun activists start crying about shootouts in the streets, consider this: an anti-Semitic attack began to unfold last week in Florida, but an armed bystander put a stop to it without ever firing his gun. He simply showed the attackers that he was prepared to defend the innocent, and the four men fled like the cowards they are.

Once Jewish Americans determine to stand up for their right to live without fear of attack, they must turn their attention to the anti-Semites in the highest levels of American government. This battle won’t be fought with physical weapons, of course. This battle will be fought with ideas, politics, and true patriotism.

Many Jewish Americans have cast their lot with the Democratic party. I don’t believe they’ve made the correct decision, but that’s the reality. Whatever they believe about abortion, healthcare, or foreign policy, these Americans should be united in their belief that the anti-Semitic statements made by Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have no place in our country. They must immediately demand that the Democratic party punish these members and remove them from all leadership positions.

If this sounds like a pipe dream, I get it. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer certainly won’t lead the charge against the anti-Semitism in their own ranks. But I believe that reasonable, patriotic Democrats still exist, and many of them are Jewish. If these Democrats care about the future of their country and their heritage, they must root out Jew hatred within their own party, and secure the future for Jewish Americans in the United States.

About The Author

Mark was a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, and served as the national coordinator. He left the organization to work more broadly on expanding the self-governance movement beyond the partisan divide. Mark appears regularly on television in outlets as diverse as MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Fox News, CNN, Bloomberg, Fox Business and the BBC. He’s highly sought after for the tea party perspective from print and electronic media outlets, from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, L.A. Times, Washington Examiner, Politico and the The Hill. Mark blogs at MarkMeckler.com, and his opinion editorials regularly run in many of the leading political newspapers both on and offline. Mark has a BA in English from San Diego State University and graduated with honors from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1988. He practiced real estate and business law for almost a decade. For the last eleven years of his legal career he specialized in Internet advertising law. When not fighting for the future of our nation, Mark is an avid horseman, and lives in rural northern California with his wife Patty and two children.