American Jews need a new activism

The article argues that American Jewish activism needs a new approach, as the traditional methods of institution-building and education are no longer effective against modern antisemitism, especially on social media platforms. Author Dara Horn's forthcoming book suggests that antisemitism is a persistent lie, not mere ignorance, and requires disruption rather than just refutation. The piece contends that Jews should define themselves as a people, not just a religion, and actively engage in an information battle by creating original Jewish content and directly exposing manipulation.

• The old model of activism, focused on education and litigation, is insufficient against the rapid spread of misinformation on platforms like TikTok.
• Antisemitism is framed as a lie, not just bias, requiring a strategy of disruption and direct confrontation.
• A new activism should involve pattern recognition, being vocal in neglected spaces, and building leverage through donor pressure, legal action, and lobbying for algorithm transparency.
• Investing in culture and forming coalitions beyond the Jewish community are crucial for a coordinated counternarrative.