Middle East tensions hit US after surge in antisemitic attacks
MISSOURI(KBSI) – As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East Jewish communities across the United States struggle with antisemitic incidences leading to fear for some.
President Donald Trump posting to X “Acts of terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” after multiple attacks on Jews in the past week, leaving many fearful and anxiety ridden.
Ben Lesser is a holocaust survivor. Lesser is one of the only remaining members of his of his family who survived the holocaust.
Now at 97 years old he still shares his story with the world of the horrors that millions of people went through simply because they were Jewish.
“I hate to say it. Theres’s antisemitism going on all over the world” says Lesser. “Where’s that going to lead too? Where’s it going to lead to? You see what happened in Israel 1200 people were slaughtered by Gaza Nazis.” “It’s all hate. They hate the Jew, and I don’t know, hate has to stop.”
According to AP sources a dozen people were injured in Boulder Colorado on Monday during a protest that called for Hamas to release hostages. The suspect identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman had 18 Molotov cocktails and sources say he yelled “free Palestine” as he set protestors on fire. This follows the murder of two Israeli embassy staff killed in Washington DC on Wednesday May 22, 2025. It’s reported the suspect identified as Elias Rodriguez also screamed “free Palestine” after he shot both victims.
Leaving a mark on Jewish communities everywhere.
Carey Smolensky is the founder of the Shalom Passion initiative. The initiative shows support to Israel after the October 7 attacks. Smolensky had boots on the ground and got a first-hand look after the attack, which led him to write a documentary on the impact it left on Israel. Ap sources say the attack was primarily led by the Hamas militant group.
“My opinion on Hamas is pretty straight forward. They are a terrorist organization they’ve called for the killing of Jews everywhere” says Smolensky.
According to a survey by the Combat antisemitism movement approximately 3.5 million American Jews have experienced antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas led attack on Israel.
“It’s an absolutely insane time” says Smolensky. “We thought that when the holocaust was over that was it never again and that is the whole point and the whole purpose of my documentary never again is now, because it happened again.”
“With all the antisemitism that’s going on already it’s eventually going to come to a head” says Lesser.
