March 20, 2026
The following article was used with permission by the SIR Information Agency in Rome.
“To my Catholic friends, I always say: if Jesus was Jewish, then you too are called to know the Jews of today, not just those in the Bible. And not because the Jewish people are vulnerable right now, but because we all need friends sometimes. Today, the Jewish community needs friends.”
These are the words of Rabbi Allyson Zacharoff , a 35-year-old female rabbi living in New York and the new Associate Director of the AJC Interreligious Affairs Department.
SIR interviewed her in Rome, where she arrived after attending an international interreligious meeting for young people held in Turin from March 6-8, at the Arsenale della Pace (Sermig). The meeting—titled “Young People in Dialogue. Fraternity as a Bond of Peace”—was organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, in collaboration with the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life.
"What I really appreciate about these youth meetings," says the Rabbi, "is that they offer a crucial opportunity to acquire dialogue skills. It's not just about talking, but about practicing real skills that we can then put into practice when we return to our communities. The goal is to enable young people to learn to engage in authentic dialogue."
Some say that after October 7th, the dialogue between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church changed completely. What do you think?
I wouldn't say completely. I'd rather say that for many Jews, the world has changed. And inevitably, dialogue must adapt to this change. In reality, history hasn't changed completely: hatred and anti-Semitism existed before. Now, we simply see them more clearly.
Don't you think that part of the problem of anti-Semitism today is linked to Israel and its actions not only against Gaza, but throughout the region?
Throughout history, there has always been a reason—or rather, an excuse—for hating Jews. In the Middle Ages, during the Black Death, some noticed that Jews were getting sick less, and so they were accused of spreading the plague. In the 1930s, they were blamed for the economic crisis. Today, the "reason" many use is Israel. But it's not the cause of anti-Semitism: it's the excuse this generation uses to express it openly. Israel, like any country, is a complex place. It does a lot of good, and there are things—as with any nation—that we wish were done differently.
How did this change affect his life and the Jewish people?
I can speak from my personal experience. I've never seen so much anti-Semitism as after October 7th. I grew up in an area of New York where many Jews live, and I thought anti-Semitism was a problem that had passed. Then, as I grew older, I began to realize it still existed. But now I see it constantly: on social media, in everyday conversations, even in taxis. I encounter it everywhere.
Today, they feel empowered to express it openly. Perhaps before, certain ideas remained private; now, they're expressed without filters.
How do you feel when you are attacked by anti-Semitic language or phrases?
I feel sad. Statistics tell us that when you know someone from a certain community, you're much less likely to hate the entire community. If you know a Jew, you're unlikely to hate all Jews. The same goes for Muslims, Christians, anyone. Anti-Semitic comments hurt me. The first thing that comes to mind is: "I wish I could explain. I wish you'd ask me questions instead of judging me. You could try talking to me, instead of hating me without knowing anything about me ."
Are you afraid of wearing a kippah?
I purposely take it off when walking down the street, whether in New York, Rome, or anywhere else. Like last night, I wore it to an interfaith event and, just to be safe, took it off when I got back to the hotel, so as not to risk being targeted. How sad.
We need courageous people. It takes courage, but it also takes preparation: we need to help people learn about Judaism and understand what anti-Semitism really is. I'll give you an example from New York, where I'm from: on the subway, sometimes someone says something anti-Semitic, something against Jews, or against Israel. Sometimes someone stands up and says, " Don't say that ." It's risky because you could be attacked or end up in a fight.
In New York, too, the situation has worsened: protests, clashes, verbal and physical attacks. Some Israeli businesses have had to close because they were being targeted. It's heartbreaking in a city with so many Jews.
How can religious communities educate people to have the courage to say, “ No, I don’t want to be a man or woman of hate ”?
Cultural change is the most difficult, but there are several things that can be done. For example, it is essential that leadership, not only Catholic ones, be well-prepared and truly aware of what anti-Semitism is and how to address it. In the United States, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) published a document in 2024 entitled "Translate Hate," a booklet that collects various anti-Semitic terms and explains why they are problematic. In 2024, with the USCCB (the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), we produced "Translate Hate: Catholic Edition," with bishops' comments on selected entries.
Do you have a message for the Church and society in Italy?
Whatever your faith—Catholic, Jewish, or another—I hope you can look to your religious tradition as a source of inspiration. I believe religion—especially Catholicism—can be a great source of strength and courage. The courage to stand by us, not to save us, but to walk together, hand in hand.
