For the Jewish people, the Holocaust of the Second World War drew a sharp line in the sand, a line that marked the rebirth of assertive Jews. The passivity that characterized Jewish life for centuries, before that dreadful war, ended with the call "Never Again."
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The generation of Jews who witnessed the horrors of unleashed antisemitism embraced proactive defense of all forms. The newly born State of Israel adopted and nurtured that new Jewish zeitgeist to become a model of returning to Torah principles roots.
Since the Holocaust, antisemitism has been somewhat buried under the guise of guilt-ridden humanity. However, 76 years after World War II ended and the remnants of surviving Jews were liberated from Nazi Concentration Camps that thin guilt veneer became undone to bring about Antisemitism upsurge, the kind of Jew-hatred not been seen since the Holocaust.
That post-WWII Jewish zeitgeist is evolving. A growing number of Jews and Jews' supporters will not stand idly by in the face of widespread Antisemitism; they step up to shield Jews, using any available defense strategy. One such like-minded Jews are Dr. Eli Ben-Moshe, chairman, and Brian Blacher, CEO, the founder of Shield of David organization.
"Shield of David was born out of necessity," explains Eli Ben Moshe. "It started with a group of parents whose kids attended college, a place where Antisemitism is rife and growing, just as what takes place in Europe today."
Disturbed by the past few years' rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States, Eli and Brian could not stand idly by seeing people voicing the meaningful slogan "Never Again," yet, doing nothing about it.
They grew motivated to take action. In 2019 they founded Shield of David, its goal to be on every campus and help change the mindset of young Jews who encounter Antisemitism on campus; educate Jewish students to be proud Jews and have self-empowerment through tailored self-defense courses, facilitated by an organization with a presence on every campus.
Shield of David message to Congress, "your silence in the face of Antisemitism is deafening." "The quiet ones in congress bear the fault for the rise in Antisemitism in every American city," says Eli.
By teaching Jewish students the history of the Jewish People's constant fight for survival and giving them the right tools to defend themselves, when necessary, Shield of David aims for them to proudly reconnect to their roots.
Shield of David Fall 2021 plan is ambitious, offering classes on campuses, also to synagogues, to any Jewish group affected by Antisemitism as well as to any none-Jewish group who would like to learn how to stand by their fellow Jews.
"Civilized society is commanded to fight evil, more so, to teach the next generation to fight evil when evil's head has risen," says Eli.
Shield of David message to all Americans is clear: "stay together and help each other to fight Antisemitism and the hate of others."
According to Eli, speaking up is not enough. Social media post is just a post. American Jews and their supporters must confront evil. Go on the offense in every way possible. Fight legal battles, fight BDS actions and social media platforms that allow to incite Antisemitism. According to Eli, "even be ready to physically stand up when there is a fight to fight."
"Tolerating Antisemitism is not a grey area issue, rather, it is black and white, it is good versus evil," says Eli. "Good beats evil only when it fights evil." That is what Shield of David work cut out to do.
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