EDISON, N.J. โ Following the vandalism of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue with antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas, Bernhard Rosenberg, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth El in Edison, New Jersey, issued a stark warning about the persistence of antisemitism and the limits of memory without action.
In a written response to reporting on the incident, Rosenberg reflected on Holocaust survival, Jewish vulnerability, and what he described as the urgent need for a coordinated national Jewish defense organization. His remarks come amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across North America, particularly targeting synagogues, schools, and Jewish institutions.
Rosenberg framed his response through the lens of Holocaust survival. Referencing The Survivor, a film based on the life of a Holocaust survivor who later became a boxer, he emphasized the incomprehensibility of what survivors endured. โNo one except a survivor can understand the horrors they experienced, and no one should judge them,โ Rosenberg wrote. โThey experienced hell and came back to build a life for themselves and their families.โ
He addressed the generational gap between survivors and their descendants, noting that even second-generation Jews often misunderstand the depth of trauma. โWe may think we understood our parents, but in reality, did we?โ he wrote, adding that even extensive scholarship has limits. Rosenberg said he believes he has written more books on the Holocaust than any rabbi currently alive, yet still acknowledged the boundaries of historical understanding.
โWhat do I really know?โ Rosenberg asked rhetorically. โI know that if the Holocaust happened once, it could happen again.โ
The rabbiโs comments go beyond remembrance to contemporary political and social concerns. He argued that expressions of antisemitism have intensified as the moral restraint that followed the Holocaust has faded. โMaybe years ago, there was less antisemitism expressed because of the Shoah,โ he wrote. โBut no more. We are being accused of committing genocide.โ
Rosenberg also criticized what he described as ideological influences in higher education. He said that professors on college campuses have contributed to what he called the poisoning of young minds against Jews and Israel. While he did not cite specific institutions, his remarks reflect concerns frequently raised by Jewish advocacy groups about antisemitism in academic settings.
In his response, Rosenberg called for tangible measures rather than rhetoric. โWords will not destroy antisemitism,โ he wrote. โOnly real action.โ Among his proposals were self-defense training in yeshivot, increased security awareness among congregants, and practical steps to safeguard synagogues.
Most notably, Rosenberg urged the creation of a strong national Jewish defense organization. He said such an effort would require significant financial backing and competent leadership. โWe need wealthy people to support such an organization and to hire competent leadership,โ he wrote.
Rosenberg also addressed political divisions within the Jewish community, arguing that internal disagreements should not distract from shared security concerns. He warned that global trends show antisemitism flourishing in societies where Jews lack the means to defend themselves.
โThe Holocaust happened because most of the world hates us Jews and Israel,โ Rosenberg wrote, framing antisemitism as a persistent and global phenomenon rather than a historical anomaly.
Community leaders have condemned the vandalism at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and reiterated calls for vigilance. Jewish organizations across the United States and Canada have reported similar incidents in recent months, including threats, property damage, and harassment.
Rosenberg concluded his message with a call to collective responsibility, urging readers to take the issue seriously and to share his warning. His response underscores a growing sentiment among many Jewish leaders that remembrance of past atrocities must be paired with proactive measures to address present threats.
As synagogues and Jewish institutions reassess security and communal strategy, Rosenbergโs remarks reflect a broader debate within the Jewish world over how best to confront antisemitism in an era when historical memory alone no longer appears to deter it.
