Rabbi Amiel Hirsch Declares End of Golden Age for American Jewry
Rabbi Amiel Hirsch warned that the golden age of American Jewry has ended as antisemitism normalizes across U.S. politics and anti-Zionism surges.
The recent election cycle in the United States has served as a sobering wake-up call for the American Jewish community, with the disillusionment proving particularly acute among liberal circles. In a forceful sermon delivered this week, Rabbi Amiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York outlined a stark turning point for the diaspora.
The End of the Golden Age
Addressing his congregation, Rabbi Hirsch noted that while the elections were largely driven by economic concerns and the cost of living—exacerbated by the ongoing conflict involving Iran—the reality for American Jews has fundamentally shifted. He declared that the golden age of American Jewry, which defined the decades of growth and prosperity for the Baby Boomer, Generation X, and older Millennial generations, has officially come to an end.
According to Hirsch, antisemitic sentiments have been fully normalized across the American political spectrum, infiltrating both the right and the left. Statements that would have been marginalized a decade ago have now entered the political mainstream, creating an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish communities.
Ideological Opposition to Israel
Rabbi Hirsch pointed out that several newly elected members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are not merely critical of Israeli policies, but harbor a deep, obsessive ideological opposition to the very existence of Israel. He warned that this radical mindset views the Jewish state not through the lens of policy debate, but as an absolute moral failure.
The Response to Extremism
Highlighting specific concerning trends, Hirsch addressed the rhetoric surrounding recent security incidents, including the March 2026 terror attack at the Temple Israel kindergarten in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He criticized public figures who downplay violent extremism and warned of the dangers posed by the anti-Zionist left. Hirsch concluded by asserting that anti-Zionism functions as an inherently destructive ideology that threatens the safety and foundational values of contemporary society.
