In an era already plagued by rising antisemitism and deepening divisions, one might expect Jewish institutions—particularly those with long-standing reputations for community advocacy and religious leadership—to be at the forefront of defending their people against hate. Instead, in what can only be described as a catastrophic moral failure, the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements have chosen appeasement over protection, rhetoric over reality, and leftist politics over Jewish survival. Their recent alliance with pro-Hamas sympathizers marks a moment of profound betrayal—one that will be remembered as a dark chapter in the history of American Jewish life.

As Daniel Greenfield of Front Page Mag reported, Amy Spitalnick—formerly of J Street and now head of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)—has taken pride in leading a coalition of left-wing Jewish organizations that includes the Union for Reform Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism, and prominent Reconstructionist groups. Together, they signed onto a letter that not only undermines Jewish safety on campus but extends a grotesque olive branch to individuals and groups who have openly incited violence against Jews, particularly in the wake of the October 7th Hamas massacre.

The letter in question is not just disappointing—it is fundamentally dangerous. It argues that Jewish safety is “intrinsically tied to the safety of others,” a phrase that, on the surface, might appear as a call for universal dignity and compassion. But context is everything. In this case, “others” includes those who have taken to America’s college campuses to chant genocidal slogans, glorify the actions of Hamas, and intimidate Jewish students with everything from hostile graffiti to physical aggression.

This isn’t a theoretical threat. Jewish students at institutions such as Columbia, Harvard, and UCLA have reported being harassed, chased, doxxed, and even physically assaulted for daring to express support for Israel—or simply for being Jewish. To equate the “safety” of these aggressors with the safety of their victims is not a noble moral position. It is moral inversion. And it leaves Jewish students unprotected and betrayed.

Worse still, the letter casts federal efforts to address antisemitism on campus as nothing more than a smokescreen to violate student rights, deport foreign nationals, and jeopardize university funding. According to this coalition, attempts to hold students accountable for glorifying terrorism and threatening Jews are somehow authoritarian. These are the same talking points advanced by radical activists and pro-Hamas apologists who have claimed that free speech should include the right to incite hatred against Jews without consequence.

And why the concern over research dollars and due process now? Where were these institutions when Jewish students were being systematically silenced in student governments, when Jewish professors were being marginalized for pro-Israel views, and when openly antisemitic speakers were welcomed to campus under the guise of “academic freedom”? Their sudden concern for “civil liberties” appears to be highly selective—and politically expedient.

Perhaps most outrageously, these alleged branches of Judaism accuse their own community of “weaponizing” antisemitism. That phrase, frequently used by anti-Israel radicals, suggests that Jewish fears of rising hate are either exaggerated or deliberately manipulated to suppress criticism of Israel. This is a deeply antisemitic trope that delegitimizes the lived experiences of Jews who are being threatened, attacked, and ostracized for their identity.

By adopting this language, the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements have not only failed to stand up to antisemitism—they’ve become complicit in amplifying it. The message is clear: defending yourself as a Jew is problematic, unless it aligns with progressive orthodoxy.

As Greenfield rightly emphasized, these movements have forsaken their spiritual responsibilities in favor of political alignment. In trying to be “on the right side of history,” they have abandoned the right side of Jewish survival.

Rabbinic leadership is supposed to offer moral clarity, especially in moments of crisis. Instead, we are witnessing a theological and ethical collapse. The betrayal of Jewish students—who are assaulted and vilified on college campuses while their own religious leaders side with the perpetrators—is not just tragic; it is unforgivable.

These purportedly religious movements have chosen not to speak truth to power, but to appease it. Not to confront evil, but to accommodate it. They have sold out their people for political capital, trading genuine Jewish values for hollow progressive platitudes.

Amy Spitalnick, the architect of this disastrous coalition, is no stranger to aligning with organizations that take a hostile stance toward Jewish self-determination. Her tenure with J Street, a group that routinely undermines Israel on the world stage while pretending to speak for American Jews, set the tone for what has now become a full embrace of the far-left agenda, even when it intersects with antisemitic ideologies.

Equally troubling are the groups and figures with whom this coalition has implicitly aligned. Pro-Hamas campus leaders such as Mahmoud Khalil, currently fighting deportation after years of organizing anti-Israel agitation, and Momodou Taal, known for incendiary rhetoric against Jewish students, are not incidental characters—they are the very people this letter defends under the guise of student rights.

To protect individuals such as Khalil and Taal while ignoring their Jewish victims is the final proof of a moral chasm that can no longer be bridged.

In contrast to this capitulation, Orthodox Jewish organizations have refused to sign the letter. Their principled stand is not merely symbolic—it is an act of courage. These institutions have chosen solidarity with Jewish students over political posturing. They have chosen truth over trend, and their refusal to be party to this betrayal deserves recognition.

At a time when mainstream Jewish institutions are caving to pressure, it is the Orthodox community that has remained a moral compass. This clarity and resolve must serve as a model for all who care about the survival of the Jewish people in America.

The harsh reality is this: there is no walking this back. The Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements have irreparably severed their credibility by siding with those who enable, excuse, or advocate violence against Jews. Their statements, actions, and alliances speak louder than any retroactive clarification could.

Their betrayal will be remembered—not just by those they have failed to protect, but by history. It will be remembered as the moment when American Jewish leadership abandoned its most vulnerable, turned its back on truth, and prioritized ideological conformity over moral duty.

It is time for congregants, donors, students, and alumni to hold these movements accountable. Demand transparency. Demand leadership that actually represents the values and safety of the Jewish community. And most importantly, demand that religious institutions return to their core mission: to protect, uplift, and unite the Jewish people, not divide them with cowardice and appeasement.

History will judge this moment with unflinching clarity. Let us make sure that, unlike these failed movements, we are remembered for standing with our people—not abandoning them.