04/16/2026
In 1962, Harvey Swados, an American novelist and social critic asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe if the Holocaust was a unique tragedy or something that could happen again. The Rebbe replied, “Tomorrow morning.” A surprising statement, perhaps, coming from the Rebbe, who was renowned for his unflappable optimism.
He explained that the danger lies in the unquestioning obedience to authority, not just in the past, but as a cultural phenomenon.
The Rebbe asked Swados how he explains the survival of Judaism over three millennia. Swados attributed it to “the negative force of persecution [that] has certainly driven people together.”
The social critic may have been onto something. After all, Jews do band together when they are threatened. Under attack, Jews from diverse streams will band together.
But it makes one wonder: what would happen to Jewish continuity if we were not isolated by such hatred? Is persecution somehow essential to the project of Jewish continuity?
The Rebbe emphasized that our continuity doesn’t come from persecution, but from a commitment to our values and heritage. We thrive not from negativity, but from the light of goodness and community.
Continue Reading: Lubavitch.com/do-we-need-anti-semitism-to-keep-us-jewish/