Summer is supposed to be a time to relax, but for Israel and the Jewish world, this is a year with no summer break. Our calendars are stuck. Even if we could get beyond the horror and tragedy of October 7, 2023, we are in a perpetual state of mobilization and a seemingly endless struggle.

Far from the combat zones, Israel’s legitimacy is questioned more widely than ever, and it’s clear that the war with Hamas provides an excuse for people who believe the Jewish state’s illegitimacy goes back to its founding. For many, the central issue is Zionism, which they misunderstand—out of malign intent or ignorance.

Zionism, of course, is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people. Dozens of new nations emerged after World War II, and all of them had independence initiatives. The Zionist movement accepted the United Nation’s original two-state solution for Palestine, but the Arabs rejected that plan and instead launched a war. Between 1948 and 1967, Gaza and the West Bank were under Arab sovereignty, but no Palestinian Arab state emerged. As an independent nation, Israel has engaged on numerous occasions in negotiations over the creation of a Palestinian state—and will no doubt join in such negotiations in the future.

Right now, the horizon is bleak. We appreciate the support of cherished friends in government and public life, including the broad bipartisan congressional majority that approves aid to Israel. We also engage with people and institutions who could be friendlier. And just as important, we are talking among ourselves about justice, self-defense and how to preserve our humanity as we confront those who hate Jews and those who are too easily persuaded by slogans that mask hate.

We are troubled by the alarming increase in antisemitism. According to an Anti-Defamation League report, antisemitic incidents in the United States—including physical assault, vandalism and verbal harassment targeting synagogues, schools, Jewish institutions and individuals— increased by 140 percent between 2022 and 2023. The spike was especially dramatic after October 7. The ADL audit is reason enough to recommit to our pride as Jews and Zionists, to empower and defend ourselves and to call on our leaders and allies to join us in fighting hostility. We are experienced in handling hurt feelings and defending free speech, even when it is painful to hear. But when speech crosses into harassment and assault, we will draw—and hold—the line.

Hadassah continues to pressure the United Nations and other organizations to strengthen their efforts to address the weaponization of violence against women. Secretary General António Guterres’s 2023 Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence was heartbreaking, but it didn’t go far enough. There is voluminous documented evidence that Hamas carried out systematic sexual violence during the October 7 attack and against hostages it kidnapped. By failing to explicitly hold Hamas responsible for rape and murder, the United Nations report fell short of promoting justice for Israeli women and signaled to terrorists everywhere that they can escape accountability.

Advocacy on this issue is central to Hadassah’s End the Silence campaign. I also encourage everyone to watch Screams Before Silence, a documentary film by former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and available on YouTube, which includes interviews with survivors of the October 7 attacks.

Our busy summer will give way to a busier fall, which includes an election on November 5 that will affect issues of great concern to Hadassah. First and foremost, I encourage all of you not only to vote but also to be involved in our #HadassahVotes efforts. There are so many key issues at stake: Strengthening American support for Israel, combatting antisemitism and championing women’s health, public health and reproductive freedom.

We haven’t had much good news of late. With our advocacy and action, I am confident we can create some.