Reform Rabbi Hirsch: Midterms Signal Start of Harder Decade for US Jews

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch told his congregation on Friday night that the comfortable years for American Jewry are over. The leader of a prominent Reform synagogue in the United States argued that the country has entered a new phase defined by greater political friction and less social acceptance.

Hirsch linked this shift to the recent US midterm election results. He stated that the community must acknowledge a change in conditions that previously allowed older generations to build careers and families with relative ease. He identified the rise of right-wing messianism in Israel and growing instability in the West Bank as the primary causes of this new reality.

The rabbi pointed to specific public moments to illustrate the changing climate. He cited political influencer Hasan Piker, who compared liberal Zionists to liberal Nazis and expressed a preference for Hamas. Hirsch also referenced a political advertisement that connected Israel to rising food prices in the United States.

He targeted several incoming elected officials for their stances on Israel. Hirsch criticized House representative-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier for attending a rally celebrating the October 7, 2023, attacks. He also noted Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed’s response to a synagogue attack, specifically the remark that 'hurt people hurt people.' Hirsch described some incoming members of Congress as ideologically opposed to the existence of the state of Israel.

The criticism extends to Israeli leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hirsch focused on Netanyahu’s reliance on far-right allies, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. He highlighted a recent visit by Netanyahu and his wife Sara to the tunnels beneath the Old City of East Jerusalem. In video footage from that visit, Netanyahu declared a permanent presence near the Western Wall, a site sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

Hirsch labeled the current situation in the occupied territory as 'West Bank lawlessness.' He acknowledged that he supports coexistence but argued that current policies fuel hostility in the United States. He referenced data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. That agency documented more than 2,060 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage across roughly 300 West Bank communities from the start of 2026 until October 12.

During the two-week reporting period ending October 12, the UN recorded five Palestinian deaths by Israeli forces or settlers. Three of those deaths occurred in settler attacks. The agency also documented 246 Palestinian injuries, with 181 occurring in the context of settler violence. A separate UN commission reported that military operations and sustained settler violence constitute a widespread attack against Palestinian civilians.

Hirsch rejected what he called excessive anti-Zionism during his sermon. He described the ideology as hateful and illiberal. He criticized progressive politicians for failing to connect anti-Zionist rhetoric with rising antisemitism. He warned that the community should expect years of turbulence as antisemitism becomes normalized on both the political right and left.

The rabbi viewed the midterm elections as a rejection of President Donald Trump’s administration. He cited economic concerns and the impact of the Iran war as key factors. Hirsch called on Jewish communal leaders to conduct a harsh reassessment of their strategies. He urged them to seek broader coalitions and to be more humble about their influence in the coming years.