Senator Weber Op-Ed: Say no to hate. Acts of antisemitism have been shocking to witness in New York.

Hate is taught, and the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 made it clear that hate is being taught right here in New York and across America far more systematically than I realized. The explosion of public acts of antisemitic violence and antisemitism in general has been shocking to witness.

Last spring, I was appointed to the state Senate Republican Antisemitism Working Group, which held a series of roundtable discussions and meetings to hear from community leaders and community members about their experiences with antisemitism. While it was unfortunate that such a working group would be needed in New York in 2023 before Oct. 7, its necessity has grown by a factor none of us could have anticipated.

To see college students, elected officials and other so-called prominent members of our society in 2023 embrace the position taken in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s is sickening. To hear the presidents of some of our nation's most elite schools refuse to condemn not just antisemitism but calls for the genocide of their Jewish students was a national embarrassment.

When you see not just antisemitic and anti-Israel but pro-Hamas protests on New York streets and New York college campuses, ask yourself why the protestors are wearing masks. Might it be that the call for "from the River to the Sea" is a call for the destruction of Israel? Might it be that Hamas's charter calls for the death of Jews everywhere? These are calls for genocide.

We used to say politics stops at the water's edge. Politics has to stop when it comes to antisemitism and for the right of Israel not just to exist but to defend itself. To this end, Gov. Kathy Hochul is to be commended not just for her strong words but also for her actions for Israel and against antisemitism. I proudly stand with her and will work with her whenever possible against what is often, and I believe correctly, called the world's oldest hatred.

Like so many, I have attended several events and memorials to honor and remember those who were murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped by Hamas. As a member of the New York State Senate, I have the additional ability to advocate for change and to sponsor and cosponsor legislation to fight antisemitic crime and antisemitism in general here in New York.

On Dec. 7, the members of the state Senate Republican Antisemitism Working Group joined me in writing a letter to Hochul calling for additional security funding for our predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there have been 2,031 antisemitic incidents, including 905 anti-Israel rallies since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Many of these have happened in New York and the violence is only increasing.

Legislatively, I sponsored S7752, the Combating Campus Antisemitism Act, which would ensure that New York State tuition assistance awards will not be provided to any college student knowingly engaged in certain antisemitic activities. Additionally, I cosponsored S7773, the Dismantling Student Antisemitism Act, which would require higher education accredited institutions to implement antisemitism awareness and prevention in administrative, faculty, staff and student sensitivity training seminars.

Over the last few years, we have seen the pendulum swing radically left, especially in New York State. We desperately need that pendulum to get back to the middle so we can all sit down again and have common sense discussions and conversations for the betterment of our state. Some basic civics lessons are in order, which might be a good place to start.

State Sen. Bill Weber, a Republican, represents the 38th state Senate District, which includes most of Rockland County.