This year, Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day, as Jewish communities will honor their historic victory over oppression by lighting candles in their windows—offering their light not only to illuminate their homes but also to share with the broader world. Many Muslims celebrate this time by gathering with family and volunteering their time to assist colleagues and neighbors, allowing them to enjoy their own religious celebrations.

Every day, we encourage our Jewish and Muslim children to embrace their identities, aspire for success, and receive protective whispers in prayer for their safety.

Recently, reports of hate crimes have invaded our newsfeed and social media, even in our home city of Chicago. Last month, a group of masked individuals assaulted two Jewish students at DePaul University for showing support for Israel. In a related incident in Downers Grove, police reported a woman attacking a Muslim Palestinian couple at a Panera, after questioning, “Are you Palestinian?”

These incidents are just a couple among many occurrences of antisemitism and Islamophobia, both of which have escalated in the United States following the tragic attacks on October 7, 2023, in Israel, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the Middle East.

In the U.S., threats against Jews increased threefold in the year after the Hamas attacks, while reports of anti-Muslim bias were the highest recorded in nearly 30 years.

As individuals with two decades of interfaith experience and as parents to young Muslim and Jewish children, we recognize that the rising tides of antisemitism and Islamophobia pose a threat to our families’ futures and that of our country. We believe a vital and unifying solution to this pressing issue is our commitment as a nation to the values of pluralism.

Outside influences divide American Muslims and Jewish communities

In our efforts to combat both antisemitism and Islamophobia, it is crucial to anchor our work in the broader objective of reducing all forms of bias and discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, and more.

Often, we become overly focused on the specific prejudices faced by our own communities. Social media exacerbates this situation, causing us to only engage with narratives that resonate with our own beliefs and fears, leading to a cyclical effect.

Through our friendship and ongoing dialogues, we see how frequently both our communities face discrimination, yet how seldom those stories are shared within each other’s circles.

Moreover, outside entities that should be allies to both Americans Muslims and Jews often exacerbate tensions between our communities, seeking to prioritize one at the expense of the other.

Positioning our efforts to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia within a framework of pluralism provides a clear goal for our work—not just something we resist, but a vision to strive for. By fostering communities that embrace our diverse identities and significant differences, we can cultivate respect for all communities far more effectively than if we merely attempt to address specific biases without considering the welfare of the entirety.

While it’s vital to educate about both antisemitism and Islamophobia separately due to their distinct natures, using a pluralism approach also proves effective in mitigating both forms of bias.

Research and experience inform us that fostering pluralism—which we define as respect, genuine relationships, and collaborative efforts across diverse communities—significantly enhances attitudes toward various groups, leading to a decrease in both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Building relationships helps reduce antisemitism and Islamophobia

The IDEALS report—a pioneering national study of religious diversity in higher education, conducted collaboratively by Alyssa Rockenbach from North Carolina State University, Matthew Mayhew from The Ohio State University, and Interfaith America between 2015 and 2019—demonstrated that involvement in interfaith activities positively influences college students’ attitudes toward both Muslims and Jews.

Furthermore, findings from the Pew Research Center reveal that individuals who have personal connections with members of religious groups, including Muslims and Jews, report significantly more favorable feelings toward those groups.

We have seen a noted decrease in both antisemitism and Islamophobia, and this connection is evident in the work we engage in each day.

At Syracuse University, Imam Amir Duric and Rabbi Ethan Bair, who had created a bond prior to October 7, 2023, initiated a Jewish Muslim Dialogue Fellowship aimed at uniting students for discussions, relationship-building, and storytelling. This program focuses on understanding one another before addressing more complex subjects.

Similarly, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Muslim student partnered with Jewish Social Services, the Alpha Lambda Rho Muslim interest sorority, and various campus student services organizations to assemble essential supplies for newly arrived refugees.

As we navigate our social circles and online platforms, it’s important to reflect: Are we experiencing a variety of stories and life experiences through our interactions?

To break free from our echo chambers, we need to cultivate relationships that may seem challenging and uncomfortable. The goal is to inspire ourselves to be proactive in combating discrimination against communities other than our own.

We are committed to the idea of pluralism, which is rooted not only in our professional experiences but also in our religious beliefs and civic duties to foster inclusive communities for our children that embody principles of respect, connection, and collective action.

Our goal is to nurture within our children a strong sense of pride in their identities, coupled with a desire to learn about those who are different from them.

It is vital that we support one another, and we must involve more than just Muslims and Jews in addressing the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Combating this hate and fostering a spirit of pluralism to create cherished communities requires all of us working together.

Jenan Mohajir is vice president of external affairs at Interfaith America, and Rebecca Russo serves as the vice president of higher education strategy.