I’m angry. It’s the primary emotion I have felt since I first learned of the horrific murders of Israeli Embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim on May 21 in Washington.

These two young people were leaving for Israel in the coming days, and Lischinsky was planning to propose while they were in Jerusalem. Instead of starting a family together, they were gunned down in cold blood by an antisemitic monster.

When I first heard the news Wednesday night, my wife and I were leaving a dinner several miles away from the attack. There are events and moments ingrained in our memories that stick with us for the rest of our lives. Though it has only been a few days, I can already tell this will be one of those moments.

Why am I so angry? Typically, in tragic moments of loss, especially the loss of innocent life, I am often overcome with grief. In this instance, I am angry because the tragedy on Wednesday was the culmination of 19 months of antisemitic vitriol that has poisoned our colleges and universities and corners of our culture. Instead of confronting this antisemitic cancer from its outset, too many have turned a blind eye. Inaction and incitement are what led to their deaths.

I recently became the CEO of an organization called Passages. Our mission is in part to “prepare and empower a new generation of Christian leaders who love God, stand with the Jewish people, and support Israel.”

Like many people, I was disgusted watching what unfolded on our college campuses after Oct. 7, 2023. I was angry then, much like I am angry now. The chants for a “global intifada” on the campuses of Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and other prestigious institutions more closely resembled 1930s Nuremberg than an American higher education institution. It was Oct. 7 and what ensued at our colleges and universities that lit a fire within me, determined to confront the enemy bearing down on us and support the Jewish people.

At a time when antisemitism and hostility toward the foundational Judeo-Christian values of Western civilization are at an all-time high, there are encouraging signs beneath the surface that we should take heart in.

God is at work, and a shift among our youth toward faith is happening before our eyes. Stories from across the country and around the globe lead me to believe there is a revival happening among Christians and, specifically, Generation Z. According to the Pew Research Center, a decadeslong decline in practicing Christians has stalled with Gen Z.

The United States is at a crossroads. If we are going to make generational, transformative change, the time is now for all Christians to engage in the public arena. As Dietrich Bonhoffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.” It is time to call out the forces behind Yaron and Sarah’s murders for what they are: evil.

Antisemitism is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the course of human history, rising antisemitism within a society has foreshadowed ultimate collapse and destruction. The sooner we harden our resolve and speak out against antisemitism wherever it may rear its ugly head, the greater chance we have to ultimately be successful in this decisive battle for the soul of our nation and Western civilization.

I have a warning for Christians who would rather sit on the sidelines and argue that the Israel-Palestinian conflict is separate from the broader challenges we face as a nation: You will be made to care, either now or in the future.

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim’s deaths should not be in vain. I hope this tragic event serves as a wake-up call to this new rising generation of Christians. As more of our youth accept the gift of salvation offered to us on the cross, it is imperative that we equip these new brothers and sisters in Christ with courage and fortitude.

Here at Passages, we intend to do our part to ensure this next generation of Christians won’t sit idly by but instead rise to meet this moment. I believe we can, and we will, with God’s help and unwavering determination, be successful in this endeavor.  Now, more than ever, our country needs young Christian men and women willing to stand up for truth and against antisemitism in all its hateful forms on their campuses, in their communities, and throughout society.

Zach Bauer is the CEO of Passages.

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