Then and Now
The founders of Zionism had presumed that the normalization of the Jewish condition – that is, the achievement of statehood, and with it a flag and an army – would seriously diminish antisemitism; however, the existence of the Israeli state seemed to have the opposite effect.
In the 21st century, renewed and evolving forms of antisemitism have prompted ongoing debate about how to define it. Scholars and observers have wrestled with a central question: where does legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy end, and antisemitism begin?
In 2004, Israeli cabinet minister and former Soviet human rights activist Natan Sharansky proposed a widely cited framework to help clarify that boundary. His “3D test” identifies three warning signs that the line has been crossed: double standards (judging Israel by one standard and all other countries by another), delegitimization (the conclusion that Israel had no right to exist), or demonization (regarding the Israeli state not merely as wrongheaded or mistaken but as a demonic force in the contemporary world).
Voices That Refused to Stay Silent
The history of antisemitism is, sadly, well known. Less often told is the parallel history of those who chose to stand against it. Here are ten voices, from more than two centuries ago to today, who spoke out with clarity and conviction.
1. John Adams
2. Napoleon Bonaparte
3. Winston Churchill
4. Charles Chaplin
5. Arturo Toscanini
6. J.R.R. Tolkien
7. Gregory Peck
8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
9. Bono of U2
10. Reese Witherspoon
Sources
1. John Adams
“I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation.”
John Adams, the second U.S. president, was a strong defender of Jewish contributions to society and often condemned the antisemitism of his contemporaries. He held the Jewish people in high regard for their historical role in shaping the moral and religious foundations of Western civilization.
2. Napoleon Bonaparte
“I will never accept any proposals that would oblige the Jewish people to leave France, because to me the Jews are the same as any other citizen of our country.”
Few figures shaped modern Europe as profoundly as Napoleon Bonaparte. At a time when Jews still faced widespread restrictions, he took a markedly different stance. His position reflected a broader vision of a unified society under equal law. At the same time, this vision came with expectations of integration. In 1807, he convened the Grand Sanhedrin to align Jewish religious practice with French civil law, a move that combined emancipation with pressure to assimilate.
3. Winston Churchill
“Some people like the Jews, and some do not. But no thoughtful man can doubt the fact that they are beyond all question the most formidable and the most remarkable race that has ever appeared in the world”
“I have the strongest abhorrence of the idea of anti-Semitic lines of prejudice”
In the turmoil of the 20th century, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, stood at the forefront of the fight against Nazi Germany. His rejection of antisemitism was explicit, while also recognizing the historical significance of the Jewish people. His views combined political awareness with a broader historical perspective.
4. Charles Chaplin
When asked in the 1930s whether he was Jewish, Charles Chaplin famously replied: “I’m afraid I don’t have that honor”
Few artists reached as wide an audience as Charlie Chaplin, whose films spoke across borders and languages. Through The Great Dictator, he used satire to confront hatred directly, at a time when many others remained silent. The film offered a bold critique of fascism, though Chaplin later expressed mixed feelings once the full extent of Nazi crimes became known. Despite his reservations about its comedic elements, the film’s final speech, warning against hate and appealing to our shared humanity, remains one of the most powerful moments in cinematic history.
5. Arturo Toscanini
Deeply disgusted by Nazi policies, Toscanini famously referred to the Jewish people as “This marvelous people persecuted by the modern Nero”
Toscanini was the first non-German conductor to perform at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, but he famously refused to return in 1933 after the Nazis came to power. He sent a telegram to Hitler personally, stating his “strongest protest” against the persecution of Jewish musicians. He later conducted the inaugural concert of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra (now the Israel Philharmonic) in 1936 to show his solidarity. He declared, “Truth we must have at any price, and freedom of speech, even if that price should be death… You can kill me if you wish, but as long as I am living I shall say what I think”. During a banquet following the orchestra’s sold-out debut, the 69-year-old conductor remarked: “I have passed many countries; here I have found my corner”.
6. J.R.R. Tolkien
In 1938, as a German translation of The Hobbit was being prepared, the publishing house wrote to Tolkien asking whether he was of “Aryan” origin. He replied in a furious letter, now considered a legendary piece of anti-racist writing: “If such impertinent and irrelevant inquiries will become the rule in literature, my name will likely no longer be found in German print.”
A scholar of language and the author of The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien is best known for his epic storytelling, but his moral clarity extended beyond fiction. In the same letter, he also addressed the question more directly, writing: “If I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.” This letter remains one of the most famous historical rebuffs of antisemitism.
7. Gregory Peck
At a time when even major Hollywood figures urged him not to proceed with Gentleman’s Agreement, fearing the film would stir controversy, Gregory Peck chose to move forward. In the film, he portrayed a journalist posing as Jewish to expose everyday antisemitism. Reflecting later, he said: “We felt we were brave pioneers exploring antisemitism in the United States.”
An acclaimed actor whose influence extended beyond the screen, Gregory Peck helped bring the reality of subtle, socially accepted antisemitism into public conversation. In the 1947 film Gentleman’s Agreement, he revealed how prejudice often persists not through open hostility, but through silence and quiet complicity. Reflecting years later in his acceptance speech for the Simon Wiesenthal Center Humanitarian Award, Peck acknowledged both the impact of the film and the resistance it faced. His decision to take on the role contributed to a broader awareness of antisemitism in American society.
8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“If we’re going to be outraged by injustice, let’s be outraged by injustice against anyone.” In 2020, in a widely discussed column for The Hollywood Reporter, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar challenged the silence surrounding antisemitism in sports and entertainment.
Known first as one of basketball’s greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later became a respected writer and cultural commentator. In his 2020 column, he criticized what he described as a “shrug of the shoulders” response to antisemitic incidents, arguing that calls for justice lose their meaning when applied selectively. Reflecting further in later writings, he described antisemitism as “lazy, irrational, and unoriginal,” emphasizing that prejudice often persists not because it is complex, but because it goes unchallenged.
9. Bono of U2
“Early morning, October 7, the sun is rising in the desert sky / Stars of David, they took your life, but they could not take your pride.” During a U2 performance at the Sphere in Las Vegas on October 8, 2023, Bono altered the lyrics of “Pride (In the Name of Love)” to honor the victims of the Nova festival.
Known both as the frontman of U2 and as a longtime activist, Bono has consistently used his platform to speak out against rising extremism and the targeting of Jewish communities. He has warned that ideas once considered “unthinkable” after the Holocaust are again entering mainstream discourse, both in politics and on social media. Through his work with the ONE Campaign, he has emphasized the importance of shared humanity, arguing that this sense of “oneness” is broken whenever any group is singled out for hatred, particularly the Jewish community in light of its history.
10. Reese Witherspoon
“I am deeply sorry that you have to face the hatred of antisemitism in your lifetime. You deserve a world where your identity is a source of pride and celebration, not something to defend.” Following the antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney in 2025, Reese Witherspoon shared this message of support and solidarity.
As an actress and producer with a wide public reach, Reese Witherspoon has used her platform to speak out against antisemitism. She has collaborated with StandWithUs and amplified their advocacy by sharing messages of awareness and solidarity. Emphasizing that “staying silent is not an option,” she has encouraged others, especially younger generations, to “stay in the light” and speak out against hatred in all its forms.
Sources
- John Adams (1809): Letter to François Adriaan Van der Kemp on the “Hebrew” contribution to civilization.
- Napoleon Bonaparte (1806): Remarks to the Council of State regarding Jewish citizenship.
- Winston Churchill (1920): “Zionism versus Bolshevism” article in the Illustrated Sunday Herald. Speech in the House of Commons on August 1, 1946.
- Charles Chaplin (1964): Publication of My Autobiography, detailing his refusal to deny Jewish identity in the 1930s.
- Arturo Toscanini (1933): Personal letter of protest sent directly to Adolf Hitler.
- J.R.R. Tolkien (1938): Letter to German publishers Rütten & Loening regarding “Aryan” requirements.
- Gregory Peck (1947): Release of the film Gentleman’s Agreement and his role as a “pioneer” against systemic bigotry.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2020): “Where Is the Outrage…” column in The Hollywood Reporter.
- Bono (2022/2023): Remarks on “The Unthinkable” (2022) and the Las Vegas Sphere tribute (2023).
- Reese Witherspoon (2022–2025): Social media statements (2022) and her “Message to the Next Generation” via StandWithUs (2025).
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