In this powerful episode of Echoes of Jewish History, historian Jimmy Bitton examines how the Hamas terror attack of October 7, 2023 shattered the long-held belief in American exceptionalism within the Jewish diaspora. Once seen as the safest and most integrated Jewish community in history, American Jewry now faces a reckoning — as antisemitism resurfaces across universities, media, and public life.

Drawing on centuries of Jewish historical patterns — from the Golden Age of Spain to Weimar Germany — Jimmy reveals the repeating cycle of acceptance and betrayal that has defined diaspora existence. Through calm, reasoned analysis, he explores how October 7 exposed the fragility of Jewish security abroad and re-ignited the question: Can Jews ever be truly safe outside Israel?

This episode blends scholarship, moral clarity, and emotional depth to challenge comforting myths and reaffirm a timeless truth: Jewish sovereignty in Israel remains the only enduring safeguard against history’s recurrence.

Topics include:

– The collapse of Jewish exceptionalism in America

– The rise of campus antisemitism after October 7

– Historical parallels with Spain, Germany, and the Islamic world

– Why Zionism was — and remains — the logical answer to Jewish vulnerability

– The enduring necessity of Jewish sovereignty and identity

Special Thanks

This episode of Echoes of Jewish History is proudly supported by our partner, the 11th Annual Wharton DC Innovation Summit, taking place November 6, 2025, at the Valo Park Conference Center in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

The Summit brings together visionaries, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders dedicated to inventing a better future for the world.

Learn more at https://whartondcinnovation.com

Powered by Echoes Media — Unfiltered. Unfashionable. Unafraid. Position your brand where leadership listens: https://tr.ee/hZymakO5Ss