Are we sheep or lions?

JERUSALEM — Two weeks back, at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, I found myself face to face with a disturbing reality: the persistence of raw, unfiltered hatred. A man, brimming with antisemitic rage, tried to attack me, hurling slurs and venomous threats. It was a terrifying moment, but what struck me even more deeply was the response afterward. Many people, well-meaning friends and strangers alike, told me that I should have simply walked away. “Why make waves?” they asked. “Why risk escalation?”

Their words reflected a broader societal attitude that has become particularly prevalent among American Jews as we become a community of sheep rather than lions. The belief that confronting hatred is more trouble than it’s worth, that it’s better to stay quiet, retreat, and avoid stirring the pot, is becoming the norm in many Jewish communities.

But history teaches us that silence in the face of bigotry is complicity. The greatest progress in human history has been achieved not by those who stayed quiet, but by those who were unafraid to disrupt the status quo.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this profoundly. During his lifetime, he was labeled a troublemaker for organizing protests and challenging the comfort of the majority. Yet, as he wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.” King was not afraid of tension; he embraced it as a necessary force for change.

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The impulse to avoid conflict is understandable. It feels safer, easier, and less costly in the short term. But what is the long-term price of silence? When hatred goes unchallenged, it grows. When bigots face no resistance, they feel emboldened. This is as true today as it was in the 1930s, when the world turned a blind eye to the rise of Nazi Germany, choosing appeasement over confrontation until it was too late.

In the Jewish tradition, we are commanded to remember Amalek, the biblical archetype of evil, who attacked the weak and vulnerable of Israel. The Torah demands that we confront and eradicate such evil, not ignore it. To do otherwise is to allow it to fester and spread.

Yet there is a persistent belief, even within the Jewish community, that making waves is counterproductive. This mindset suggests that those who speak out against antisemitism, racism, or injustice are troublemakers who disrupt the peace. But peace without justice is not true peace; it is merely the absence of visible conflict, a fragile façade that hides underlying rot.

Being a troublemaker for good, as John Lewis put it, requires immense courage. It means standing up when it would be easier to sit down. It means speaking out when silence would feel safer. And yes, it often means facing backlash, criticism, and even danger.

But consider the alternative. If we do not fight back, who will? If we retreat in the face of hatred, what message does that send to the next generation?

The story of the Maccabees, celebrated every year during Chanukah, reminds us of the power of resistance. Faced with a mighty empire determined to erase their faith and culture, the Maccabees chose to fight back. Their victory was not just a military triumph but a spiritual one — a testament to the enduring power of courage and conviction.

Here in Jerusalem, as I walked the streets, hundreds of people stopped me to tell me how disgusted they were by the attack on me in Miami. Apparently the video went viral, even among Hebrew speakers here in Israel. They all are of one mind: it is so good that you stood your ground and refused to retreat. But that is the Israeli way and not necessarily the American Jewish way.

The Israeli fight over the past year dwarfs by orders of magnitude the wars the Maccabees fought 2200 years ago. Israel is fighting a seven-front war across a vast expanse of the earth that has completely rewritten the Middle East in 12 months. By contrast, we American Jews cannot even stop our campuses being taken over by thugs at the Ivy League.

It is important to clarify what it means to fight back. The fight against hatred must not descend into hatred. Our actions must be guided by a moral compass, rooted in the values of justice, compassion, and human dignity.

Dr. King exemplified this balance. While he was unapologetic in his demands for equality, he rejected violence and hatred. His approach was not about defeating his opponents but demonstrating an unwillingness ever to succumb fear or cowardice.

As Jews, we are taught to pursue justice, but to do so with humility and integrity. The Talmud teaches that saving one life is akin to saving an entire world. This principle underscores the value of every human being, even those who oppose us. Our fight against antisemitism, racism, and bigotry must be a fight for a better world, not just for ourselves but for all of humanity.

Being a troublemaker for good is not about seeking conflict for its own sake. It is about creating the kind of constructive tension that forces society to confront its shortcomings. It is about refusing to accept the unacceptable and inspiring others to do the same.

When I stood my ground at the Fontainebleau Hotel, I did not do so out of anger or vengeance. I did so because retreating would have sent the wrong message, not just to the man who attacked me, but to everyone who witnessed the incident. It would have signaled that hatred can intimidate us into submission. That bigotry can silence us.

Instead, I chose to fight back — not with fists, but with resolve. I reported the incident to the authorities, spoke publicly about it, and recommitted myself to the fight against antisemitism. This is how we transform trouble into progress: by channeling our pain into action, our fear into courage, and our outrage into a force for good.

Each of us has a role to play in this fight. Whether you are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or of no faith at all, whether you have experienced hatred firsthand or stand in solidarity with those who have, your voice matters.

Speak out when you witness injustice. Support organizations that combat hatred and promote tolerance. Educate yourself and others about the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all forms of bigotry. And above all, refuse to stay silent.

The world needs more troublemakers for good, people who are unafraid to disrupt the status quo in the name of justice, compassion, and truth. Let us honor the legacy of Dr. King, the Maccabees, and all those who came before us by carrying their fight forward.

The next time someone tells you to back down, to avoid making waves, or to stay silent, remember this: silence is surrender. And surrender is not an option.

The Jewish people have endured for millennia not by retreating, but by resisting. We have survived not by staying quiet, but by speaking out. Let us continue to be lions, not lambs. Let us make trouble — not for its own sake, but for the sake of a better, brighter, and more just world.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach of Englewood is the author of “The Israel Warrior” and “Holocaust Holiday.” Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @RabbiShmuley.