Ms. Rachel and the Mainstreaming of Antisemitism

When Glamour magazine named Rachel Accurso—better known as Ms. Rachel—one of its 2025 “Women of the Year,” it seemed like a natural choice. The beloved creator behind the wildly popular YouTube series for babies and toddlers, Ms. Rachel built an empire of kindness and color, drawing in over 17 million subscribers with her signature pink T-shirt, cheerful overalls, and radiant smile. For millions of parents, she was a trusted presence in their children’s earliest years. But in the months following October 7, 2023, that image began to fracture.

Though she insisted her concern was for “all children,” her social media feed told only one side of the story and began to mirror talking points traced to Hamas sources.

What started as gentle advocacy for the children of Gaza soon became something else. Ms. Rachel’s tone shifted from empathy to accusation. Though she insisted her concern was for “all children,” her social media feed told only one side of the story and began to mirror talking points traced to Hamas sources. One viral post was a shocking photo of a sick Gazan child and she blamed the child’s malnutrition on “famine,” leading viewers to believe Israel was starving the population. However, further investigation revealed the child suffered from severe malabsorption of nutrients. ¹

Multiple Jewish groups, parents, and organizations attempted—both directly and indirectly—to encourage her to research more thoroughly and consider the impact of her words on her millions of followers. After one post, Pens for Swords, a grassroots advocacy initiative supporting Israel and combating antisemitism, sent over 800 letters to Ms. Rachel urging her to temper her language, reflect, and include Israeli children in her advocacy. Although she briefly acknowledged the Bibas children, she proceeded to invite Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian journalist who openly supports Hamas, onto her show as a guest.

On November 4, Ms. Rachel accepted her Glamour “Woman of the Year” award wearing a dress embroidered with artwork by Palestinian children. During her speech, she shared the children’s stories and referred to them as victims of “the genocide”—a shocking and unfounded accusation that perpetuates the vicious lie that Israel is committing genocide. It was a missed opportunity for reflection, empathy, and truth.

Despite the Jewish community’s repeated attempts to highlight the harm and distortion in her words, Ms. Rachel has doubled down, flooding her social media with posts that echo anti-Israel propaganda. Her content no longer advocates for “all children”; it fixates on one group while vilifying another. Her feed overflows with posts about Gaza but remains silent about the suffering of children in Nigeria, Sudan, or Ukraine. Where, then, is her universal compassion?

Through her messaging, she is partnering with a terrorist organization, whether she fully realizes it or not.

What makes Ms. Rachel’s influence so dangerous is her role as a self-described “teacher” and “child rights advocate.” She has positioned herself as a trusted guide for millions of young parents—people actively shaping the next generation’s values. Yet through her messaging, she is partnering with a terrorist organization, whether she fully realizes it or not.

I agree with Ms. Rachel on one point: the children of Gaza have indeed been failed by the adults in their lives. But she refuses to name the real culprit. For two decades, Hamas has systematically exploited and abused Gaza’s children—raising them not with hope, but with hate. Terrorists are not born; they are shaped through years of hateful indoctrination and violence. The children’s books, television programs, and even toys recovered by the IDF reveal a chilling reality: from their earliest years, these children are taught that they should hate and kill Jews. Instead of learning to love and build, they are trained to hate and destroy.

It is a troubling reality that misguided sympathy and selective outrage are now rewarded with praise, lucrative entertainment deals, and glossy magazine spreads. As blood libels seep into mainstream culture, Jewish parents increasingly feel alienated, unseen, and fearful for their children’s safety. When Israel—or Jews collectively—are portrayed as genocidal baby killers who deliberately starve children, it becomes easier for others to rationalize hatred and even violence. Today, simply wearing a yarmulke can “provoke” someone to shout “Free Palestine” from a passing car. Since when did being Jewish become a provocation?

No one in this conflict wants children to suffer. But there is no genocide—and the moment Hamas, a terrorist organization that brutalizes both Israelis and Gazans, lays down its weapons, the war will end.

Our resilience lies in raising a generation of kids who are confident in their heritage, steadfast in their values, and determined to help build a more just and compassionate world.

We may not be able to control whom the world chooses to elevate as role models, but we can decide how we raise the next generation of Jewish children. Parenting—especially in the baby and toddler years—is rarely glamorous. It is repetitive, exhausting, and often thankless. Yet it is also profoundly meaningful and deeply rewarding. The voices in popular media may be loud, but the voice that shapes a child most is the one they hear at home—the voice of a parent who teaches them love, faith, and truth.

As parents and community members, we share a profound responsibility to engage with Jewish learning, history, and culture—and to pass on to our children the joy and pride of belonging to an ancient, enduring people. When we root them in knowledge, empathy, and identity, we give them the clarity to see through falsehoods and the courage to stand for truth.

Our resilience lies in raising a generation that stands tall in the face of hatred—young people who are confident in their heritage, steadfast in their values, and determined to help build a more just and compassionate world.

1. https://honestreporting.com/the-medias-starving-gazan-images-narrative-reality/