In his article “The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending” in the Atlantic Franklin Foer argues that the historically unprecedented period of safety, prosperity, and political influence enjoyed by American Jews is concluding, largely due to a dramatic resurgence of antisemitism. Foer describes the “Golden Age” as a period, primarily spanning the latter half of the 20th century, where American Jews achieved widespread acceptance and success—becoming full-fledged members of the American establishment without needing to fully assimilate or abandon their identity. This era was undergirded by a distinct form of American liberalism that championed robust civil liberties, the protection of minority rights, and an ethos of cultural pluralism, ideals that Jewish intellectuals actively promoted. This consensus provided an unparalleled level of safety and opportunity.

The golden age is threatened by a confluence of factors, which became particularly stark following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which unleashed a massive spike in antisemitic incidents across the United States. Foer argues that the rise of extremist movements on both sides of the political spectrum is dismantling the liberal order that once protected the Jewish community. As he argues this rising antisemitism from two distinct sources:

• The Right: Driven by the MAGA movement and other populist/authoritarian tendencies, this strain revives traditional conspiracy theories, often portraying Jews as clever plotters or globalists undermining national identity and white power.
• The Illiberal Left: This strain, often rooted in the concept of intersectionality and post-colonial theory, tends to categorize Jews, and particularly Israel, as agents of Western colonialism and oppression, leading to a new cultural acceptance of anti-Zionist rhetoric that often bleeds into classic antisemitic tropes, particularly on college campuses.

Foer concludes that the new political movements on both the populist right and the illiberal left are actively seeking to demolish the consensus that upheld the Golden Age, dismissing foundational concepts like tolerance, fairness, meritocracy, and cosmopolitanism as shams. The end of the American Jewish Golden Age is a warning sign for the broader health of American democracy, arguing that what is bad for the Jews—namely, the rise of political violence and reckless hyperbole—is ultimately bad for the country that nurtured them.

After the recent shooting in Australia and the earlier violence in Manchester, one is forced to ponder if his claims extend beyond America. I might be very saddened by all of this, but I am not particularly surprised. I am not just claiming that I saw the signs that Foer is sharing, but rather I have a more traditional frame of Jewish history. In many ways this project of liberal tolerance of Jews itself is exceptional and a real aberration. While it is sad that it is coming to an end, it is not surprising.

This reminds me of one of my father’s favorite jokes to tell or reference. A man dies and goes to Hell. There he meets Satan, who tells him that he can spend eternity behind one of two doors. Behind the first door is an infinite room, with people as far as the eye can see up to their necks buried in shit. “Eh, that seems pretty unpleasant,” says the man. “Let’s see what’s behind the other door.” Satan opens the second door, revealing another infinite room, this one with six inches of shit, but the condemned people are sitting around drinking coffee, tea, and love lovely lattes. “Well,” says the man, “I guess this is better. I’ll spend eternity in this room.” So Satan walks the man to his spot, calls for a demon to bring him a cup of the beverage of his choice, wishes him luck, and leaves. The man enjoys sipping his drink and chatting with his neighbors until, five minutes later, Satan opens the door and announces, “Okay, folks, coffee break’s over! Back on your heads.”

It is clear that the Coffee Break is over for the Jewish community. I am not saying that to evoke altruism toward Jews. Something very dangerous is coming for everyone, we are just the bellwether for the larger herd.

The conservative right in collaboration with the Illiberal Left are destroying Western society. If we can figure out how to accommodate or even make the Jewish community flourish there is hope for the larger society. If not, I am confident that the whole herd is going down. That will be a living hell.