The Rot Within

When Our Own Institutions Forget Who They Serve

Once upon a time, the great Jewish organizations of America, the ones whose initials used to command respect and pride, were born out of urgency. They existed to protect Jewish life, to safeguard our people, to speak truth to power, and to stand unapologetically for Israel, the only Jewish state in the world.

But somewhere along the way, something changed. The Big Jewish Organizations, the BJOs, grew large, rich, and comfortable. They built empires of bureaucracy. They learned the language of access, not authenticity. And while antisemitism has roared back with a vengeance, in classrooms, on the streets, in our own neighborhoods, too many of these once-proud organizations have chosen caution over courage.

They hold conferences. They issue statements. They form committees. But when the moment calls for spine, they show silence. When Jewish students are harassed on campuses, where are the emergency task forces, the lawsuits, the sit-ins, the outrage? When celebrities and politicians slander Zionism, our very right to exist, why do we get timid press releases instead of thunder?

Somewhere between their fundraising galas and political glad-handing, the BJOs forgot who they were meant to serve. They became gatekeepers instead of guardians, more afraid of losing donations than losing moral clarity.

Meanwhile, the next generation of Jews, fiery, informed, connected online, is doing what those boardrooms refuse to do: fighting back, calling out antisemitism, standing proudly with Israel, unapologetically Zionist. Grassroots accounts, small Substacks, Jewish creators on X, they’re now the real defenders of Jewish dignity. They don’t wait for permission to speak truth.

We don’t need more bureaucrats managing our outrage. We need leaders who love this people and this land enough to risk their reputations defending them.

It’s time for the BJOs to remember who they are. Or step aside and let those who still feel the fire take their place.