PART 2: Antisemitism and the American Left | A Discussion with Asheville's Jewish Leaders

This is the second half of my conversation with four leaders in Asheville's Jewish community: Rabbis Batsheva Meiri of Congregation Beth HaTephila and Mitchell Levine of Congregation Beth Israel, along with Frank Goldsmith, who is on the steering committee of Carolina Jews for Justice; and Sharon Fahrer, who has documented much of Asheville’s Jewish history.

In the vapors of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel and the ensuing war, we delve deeper into the impact on local Jews, the documented rise of antisemitism across the U.S., particularly at colleges, and the distinctions and double standards of how Israel and Hamas conduct themselves in this conflict. I also ask what these Asheville leaders want to see happen once the smoke of war clears.