Two Americas, One Jewish American’s Wake-Up Call

By Rachel Sapoznik

There are two Americas today,sharing one flag, but no longer one future. Over the past 15 years, we haven’t just divided by party or politics, but by worldview. As a proud Jewish American who cherishes both this country and the values that built it, I write this not out of bitterness, but with urgency and heartbreak.

I grew up believing that America was a miracle. It was the country that welcomed my family fleeing pogroms and persecution. The land where Jewish values,education, hard work, family, and faith,could flourish. A place where we could debate, even argue, but still raise our children together and share a common dream.

That America is slipping away.

When Barack Obama was elected president, it should have been a unifying moment—a national milestone to celebrate how far we had come. But instead of healing our divisions, his rhetoric often deepened them. He emphasized America’s flaws, frequently framing our identity around systemic racism and historical guilt. That worldview transformed the Democratic Party and opened the door to radical voices who no longer see America—or Israel—as forces for good.

Today, members of Congress openly demonize Israel and amplify antisemitic tropes. We’ve all heard the accusations: “apartheid state,” “colonizer,” “genocide.” We’ve watched as figures like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez malign the only Jewish state while downplaying Hamas terrorism. And yet, far too many Jewish Democrats—including Chuck Schumer, Jerry Nadler, and Bernie Sanders,remain silent. Their silence is not neutrality; it is complicity. They choose party unity over moral clarity.

But let’s be clear: antisemitism is not limited to the progressive Left. It is rising on the Right as well—from voices who wrap themselves in the American flag while legitimizing Holocaust deniers and cozying up to the Iranian regime. These figures do not speak for most Americans.

For the majority of Jewish Americans who understand that moral courage matters more than partisan loyalty.

As Jews, we know the dangers of societal fracture, historical ignorance, and ideological extremism. We know what happens when identity is politicized, when children are taught grievance over gratitude, and when truth becomes optional. If we are serious about saving this country, we must begin with education,real education. Civics, history, and critical thinking are disappearing from our classrooms, replaced by victimhood narratives that divide rather than unite. Jewish tradition has always valued learning, not indoctrination. Our children must be taught liberty, responsibility, and the exceptional idea that is America.

It’s time to revive shared rituals,not as relics, but as reminders. The Pledge of Allegiance isn’t just patriotic; it’s aspirational. “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” That promise is both an American ideal and a deeply Jewish one.

This country,our country,has been the safest, most prosperous home the Jewish people have ever known. But it will not remain that way if we continue to let the loudest fringes dominate our discourse, our politics, and our schools.

I love America. I love Israel. And I believe our future depends on having the courage to stand up for both.

We must reject the extremes on all sides and recommit to the enduring principles that made America a beacon,for Jews, for immigrants, for all who seek freedom. That is how we will once again live up to our name: the United States of America.

Rachel Sapoznik is the Founder of Jewish Shield Action Alliance. She can be reached at [email protected]