AJC Dispatch

Spotlight

On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, Israeli filmmaker Yaron Zilberman joins us to talk about his movie, Incitement, and to share his perspective on the state of politics and extremism in Israel. Then, Orthodox Jewish comedian Ashley Blaker joins us in the studio to discuss his new show Goy Friendly now running at Soho Playhouse theater in New York. Listen now

Must-reads

In Israel, Three Attacks in 12 Hours
The Times of Israel / 2-minute read
Three Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers and police officers took place within 12 hours on Thursday, wounding 14 service members and killing two members of the Palestinian security services. Palestinian leaders blamed the U.S. peace plan for inciting the violence that included an intentional car crash, highway shooting, and another shooting in Jerusalem. Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have decried the peace plan, dubbed by President Trump as the “Deal of the Century.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called it “the slap of the century.” AJC has urged the Palestinian Authority to resume talks with the U.S. and negotiate with Israel. Read more

Netanyahu Meets with Sudan Leader
The Times of Israel / 2-minute read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Uganda this week for a secret meeting with Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s transitional government. About 24 hours later, Burhan publicly announced the meeting, saying it was necessary “for preserving and protecting the Sudanese national security and to achieve the highest interests of the Sudanese people.” For Israel, the meeting and public acknowledgement was a major diplomatic breakthrough with a Muslim-majority African country. AJC tweeted: “Since Sudan's 2019 change of government, AJC has supported advancing Israel-Sudan ties. This encouraging development is another sign of Israel's increased engagement across Africa.” Read more

Jewish Leaders Rush To Secure Synagogues
The New York Times / 2-minute read
Following violent attacks on synagogues in Pittsburgh and Poway and other Jewish sites such as a kosher supermarket in Jersey City and a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, religious leaders and state and local governments are scrambling to safeguard Jewish institutions. Synagogues have tried to cover the costs of cameras, alarms, and locks by increasing annual dues, adding new security fees, or organizing fundraisers. Some have also applied for city and state grants, or a slice of the $90 million in federal funds that lawmakers earmarked this year. President Trump authorized an additional $75 million over the next five years. Read more

Good to Know

Germany and Jews: The Man Behind the Unlikely Friendship
AJC Global Voice / 3-minute read
Twenty-two years ago, Eugene DuBow had a firm belief that only AJC could establish a presence inside Germany, shape its democracy, and hasten its redemption. Now the first American Jewish organization to establish a post-Holocaust presence in Germany is bringing DuBow back to Berlin along with thousands of other American Jews for a landmark event. Join AJC for the first-ever AJC Global Forum in Berlin. Read more

Yad Vashem Apologizes for Historical Error at World Holocaust Forum
Haaretz / 2-minute read
Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Authority, has apologized for “a number of inaccuracies” in films featured at last month’s World Holocaust Forum. The films, which overstated Russia’s role in overcoming Nazi Germany, failed to mention the 1939 division of Poland between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Maps also were drawn incorrectly, and concentration camps were labeled as extermination camps. Polish President Andrzej Duda had already bowed out of the event after Russian President Vladimir Putin was given a high-profile speaking slot. AJC CEO David Harris welcomed the apology, tweeting: “The venerable institution shouldn’t have allowed itself to be weaponized for someone else’s political agenda. And that included a regrettable decision not to invite Polish Pres. Duda to speak.” Read more

Indian Students Should Be Taught About Holocaust
Sunday Guardian / 1-minute read
India and Israel celebrated 28 years of full diplomatic ties on January 29 – two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. But even as the relationship between the two countries continues to strengthen, India teaches its schoolchildren very little about World War II or the Holocaust. The country has no Holocaust memorials to commemorate victims and Hitler’s Mein Kampf is sold nationwide. Since Israeli students learn about Gandhi and the role of Indian soldiers in liberating the city of Haifa, Arjun Hardas, AJC’s India representative, suggests that India should teach its children about the murder of 6 million Jews. Read more

Duke University Resolves Antisemitism Complaint
JTA / 2-minute read
Duke University has resolved a discrimination complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights over a Middle East conference about the conflict in Gaza. Co-sponsored with the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the conference featured a performance by Palestinian rapper Tamer Nafar, who invited audience members to sing along with lyrics he labeled, some say facetiously, as antisemitic. But days after the conference, swastikas and antisemitic flyers appeared on campus. Per Duke’s agreement with the Department of Education, a university official emailed the campus community last week to clarify the university’s position: “Simply put, the University does not tolerate anti-Semitism, and I encourage any member of the community to report when such conduct occurs.” The university also agreed to add a unit on antisemitism to its diversity and inclusion training. Read more

Tidings

Kosher and Open on Shabbat? (Tablet magazine)
Fran Drescher: Millennial Whisperer (NYT)
Israeli Funkinstein: Red Hot Chili Peppers To Play Tel Aviv (JPost)

The articles featured here do not necessarily reflect AJC’s positions.

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