Rabbi Andrew Jacobs

What a week this has been. Emily, Doron, and Romi were liberated. President Biden’s term came to a close and President Trump was inaugurated. In a short period of time and in very different ways, Israel and the United States have dramatically changed. There is so much to talk about, struggle with, and reflect upon.

Today, I want to focus on a man who has great influence in both Israel and the United States: Elon Musk.

Before I do, I want to share that back in 2021, I spoke with then Miami Heat player, Meyers Leonard, after he was caught using an antisemitic slur on a video game live stream. As was reported by Local 10 WPLG, I explained that my decision to reach out to Leonard was my feeling that “we need to be about building bridges and not tearing those bridges down and throwing that person on the other side (aside) and saying, ‘I’m done with you.’” I found my conversation with Leonard to be meaningful. He was both remorseful for his actions and grateful for the time I spent with him, explaining that he had a lot to learn. He was willing to admit his own ignorance and grow.

I do believe, even more so during this extremely tumultuous time, that we Jews have an obligation to do everything in our power to build bridges, allowing us to move closer to those who are not part of our Jewish world, particularly to those who do not understand us. Ignorance is often the source of antisemitism. By sharing ourselves with others, we can help to undermine the hate directed at our community. We are the best spokespeople for the Jewish world. We need to be out there and represent. Part of representing is confronting those whose ignorance spawns hate directed at us.

And this brings us to Musk.

Back in 2023, Musk commented on an antisemitic post on X, agreeing with it. Soon after, he apologized, calling his response his “dumbest” online post. Soon after, Musk visited Auschwitz and admitted, he said “to being somewhat frankly naive about this. In the circles that I move, I see almost no antisemitism.” In an attempt to salvage his reputation and learn about antisemitism, he traveled to Israel after October 7, visiting Kfar Azza – the kibbutz near and dear to so many of us at RSBI. After this experience, Musk began to wear a hostage tag, spoke out on behalf of the hostages and their families, and expressed support for Israel. Many rightfully questioned if his actions and sentiments were genuine, pointing to the  antisemitism that pervades X, his threat to sue the ADL, and his connections with questionable individuals and groups, including Germany’s AfD. This being said, Musk appeared to have gained the trust of Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and many of the hostage families – so much so that the Musk was called upon by Herzog just last month to help revitalize the hostage talks. And, given this, with great hesitation, I was willing to see if we Jews could continue to build that bridge to bring us closer to Musk, allowing us to educate him about the dangers of antisemitism and push him to be a voice against it. Yes, especially after this week, I know my desire to be a bridge builder makes some see me as dreamer or worse, a very naïve “craftsman”.

Earlier this week, a visibly excited Musk was seen jumping around the stage at the inauguration and gesturing to the crowd in a way that appeared to many to be a Nazi salute. At the same time, many personalities and organizations, from the Anti-Defamation League to musician Matisyahu, stated that Musk did not make a Nazi salute. Despite my reservations about Musk, I found myself agreeing with and supporting those who did not find his gestures to be antisemitic. That’s not to say I wasn’t concerned. For me, the gestures were unquestionably awkward. However, what truly rattled me was that at the same time the world was obsessed with what might have been Musk’s Nazi salute, a Jewish preschool in Australia was burned down in an antisemitic attack, students in a  Jewish Studies class at Columbia University were ambushed by antisemites, a swastika was painted onto a statue at an anti-Israel protest at NYU, and another statue at Cornell was vandalized with antisemitic slurs. These terrible events got little to no media attention. Celebrities weren’t taking to their Instagram to condemn them. Tragically, none of these antisemitic incidents that took place while we were all focused on Musk were unique or shocking. They’ve become the new, twisted norm. I read about them while I was sitting at RSBI locked behind a gate guarded by an armed guard, a police officer parked in our lot. This is nothing new. What was new to me, and quite shocking, was watching as some who pushed us to focus on Musk’s gesture at the inauguration were the same people who have supported and stood with those who are promoting antisemitism in our streets and on our campuses. I felt that I was living in a bad theater of the absurd performance. It was painful on so many levels. If these folks had taken a stand when antisemitism began to spike following October 7^th, if they had pushed the world to be as outraged over the hostages as they were over Musk’s hand gesture, maybe the world would have unified against the hate, and the captives – some of whom we pray return alive this weekend – would have been liberated a long time ago. But these folks didn’t do that, and they won’t.

As if things couldn’t get more disturbing, Musk responded to all the criticism he has faced as a result of his actions at the inauguration by posting a Holocaust “joke” on X yesterday. I will not post a link to it. I don’t want to give it any more attention than I already am.

A man who visited Auschwitz after promoting antisemitism online made a Holocaust “joke.” A man who saw with his own eyes the brutality of October 7^th at Kfar Azza made a Holocaust “joke.” He learned nothing. He betrayed any Jew who served as his teacher over the past several months. He betrayed those of us who were willing to continue to build that bridge and get closer to him. There is no such thing as a Holocaust joke. His words are a disgrace.

The debate over his hand gesture will continue, but it doesn’t matter. What Musk shared yesterday exposes his true nature, and it is dangerous. As someone who tries to see the good in people who struggle with sharing their goodness, as someone who wants to give people second chances, because we need to build bridges, it pains me to admit that what Musk did to me yesterday was stomp on the spark that drives me to be a bridge builder, that pushes me to discover the good hidden inside complicated people. Today, I am a defeated bridge builder. I know the spark will reignite.  I will return to bridge building. But, while we bridge builders might be dreamers, we are not stupid. No bridge can reach Musk. He has a lot of power right now. He must be watched closely and we must all call upon the President and other national leaders to condemn Musk’s words as strongly as possible.

Praying that this weekend we see beautiful, liberated souls return alive to Israel.

Shabbat Shalom