Opinion: Calling balls and strikes on charges of antisemitism

As we find ourselves in the midst of New York City's municipal elections, there are two overlapping truths about antisemitism. First, antisemitism is real, and there is a documented, significant increase in its incidents. And second, some politicians and candidates are using the rise in antisemitism as a pretext to advance political agendas that have little, if anything, to do with Jewish safety or meaningfully combating hate.

These are deeply challenging times for the American Jewish community. Jewish Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home was firebombed on Passover, and in the last two weeks, there have been two incidents of serious violence targeting Jews, ostensibly as a protest of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Let us be clear: violence against American Jews at Jewish gatherings is antisemitism. Regard