‘We’re losing the war’: Hoenlein calls for rethink of fight against antisemitism
Veteran American Jewish leader tells i24NEWS donors should scrutinize communal spending, urges unity as US and Israeli elections approach
American Jewish organizations must reassess how they spend hundreds of millions of dollars fighting antisemitism, veteran communal leader Malcolm Hoenlein told i24NEWS, warning that divisions and ineffective coordination were undermining their efforts.
“We’re spending well into the nine figures fighting antisemitism. We win some battles, but we’re losing the war,” Hoenlein, vice chairman emeritus of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said during his appearance on American View. He urged major donors to bring in forensic accountants to review spending and identify opportunities for mergers and greater cooperation.
Hoenlein offered a blunt assessment of what Jewish leaders were leaving younger generations. “We promised them never again, and what we’re giving them is ever again,” he said. He later clarified that his criticism did not negate the community’s achievements, including rescuing endangered Jewish populations and building educational institutions.
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With US midterm and Israeli elections approaching, Hoenlein warned of hostility toward Israel on the Democratic Party’s far left and among elements of the Republican far right. He said rebuilding bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship, which he described as “fraying in many places,” required a more united Jewish community.
Hoenlein also argued that some critics were using opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disguise broader hostility toward Israel. While criticism of government policies was legitimate, he said, efforts to undermine Israel’s legitimacy went beyond disagreement with its leadership.
He pointed to efforts to rebuild alliances with Black leaders and strengthen ties with Hindu, Asian American and Hispanic communities. “We can’t live in isolation,” he said, arguing that antisemitism threatened American society as a whole.
Despite his warnings, Hoenlein expressed confidence in younger Jews creating new organizations and initiatives. Established institutions needed to give them greater responsibility, he said: “When you show them what a difference they can make, and they have, they will be more involved.”