Twenty-five years after 9/11: Looking back at the 'Before Times' for American Jewry

The article reflects on the state of American Jewry in the days leading up to September 11, 2001, contrasting it with the present. Before 9/11, American Jews were preoccupied with the Second Intifada in Israel, a "viciously anti-Israel, anti-Jewish circus" at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, and the nascent Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses. Despite these challenges, there were also stories of Jewish resilience, such as the reopening of New York's Central Synagogue after a fire and the rebuilding of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. The article highlights how 9/11 was seen as a unifying moment against a common enemy, fostering sympathy for Israel. However, it concludes by noting that the period between 9/11 and October 7, 2023, saw a rise in antisemitism and anti-Zionism, with the ethos of Durban becoming mainstream and the vilification of Israel becoming a "progressive shibboleth."