A message from Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett:

It seems hard to believe that the horrors of October 7 unfolded in Israel three years ago today. I will never forget watching the devastating news as it was reported, followed by the shock of seeing the way much of the world responded to the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. The global Jewish community, and the entire world, is still grappling with the surge of antisemitism unleashed immediately following Hamas’ brutal attacks.

Today, I want to share an essay I was asked to write reflecting on that infamous day, three years on. I wanted to use the opportunity to take a clear-eyed, unvarnished look at the scourge of antisemitism today, but also the warning signs over the past decades that such a resurgence of Jew hatred could occur. I also wanted to offer hope on this somber anniversary; I wanted to remind readers of the moments in history when individuals, and even nations, have chosen light over darkness and have taken a courageous stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate.

As I write in the essay, “These heroic examples of light shining in the darkness give me more than hope; they give me courage to face the evils of my day…I am grateful for those in history and today who have chosen light over darkness. I pray, and I must believe, that this will always be the choice that ultimately prevails in our world.”

Read the full essay here.