A Different Antisemitic Attack

At this writing, it’s one full day after the horrific hostage crisis at a synagogue in Texas ended. A lot of information is being withheld from the public, and many questions still remain. But we already know enough that we should recognize two things: this was indeed an antisemitic attack and it was one that was very different in nature, as well as outcome, from others in recent memory.

In a clumsy statement, an FBI spokesperson said that the attack was motivated by an issue “not directly connected to Jews or Israel.” Unsurprisingly, this got interpreted by many as saying that this was not an antisemitic attack. In all fairness, that is not what the spokesperson said, and it doesn’t seem likely to be what he meant.

Still, it’s true that the motivation — at least as it was reflected in the assailant’s demands — centered around a Pakistani woman accused of terrorism and serving an 86-year sentence for a crime many believe she did not commit. That crime, indeed had nothing to do with Israel or Jews, at least not directly.

So does that mean, as some interpreted it, that this was simply a matter of opportunity, and the synagogue was just unlucky? It may be possible, but other circumstances make this very unlikely.

The fact that the assailant came to the shul in late morning on Shabbat, when services would obviously be…