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A weekly wrap of ADL’s reports, updates and analysis on antisemitism around the world.

This Week’s Topline

ADL Bearing Witness, Sharing Solidarity in Israel

Friends, last weekend I had my first opportunity to visit Israel since October 7. As I landed at Ben Gurion, I recalled hearing the initial reports about the massacre, and staying awake all night trying to comprehend what would ultimately turn out to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust.

Each day since then, we have learned new details and heard unbelievable stories. Some further expose the cruelty of Hamas and the hypocrisy of the world’s muted or hate-filled response, while others highlight the bravery and amazing spirit of the people of Israel.

Yet there is no substitute for actually experiencing today’s Israeli reality. My first stop was “Hostages Square” in front of the Tel Aviv Art Museum, where the families and supporters of those taken hostage have been gathering and camping out. It was the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, and as I, along with my wife and ADL colleagues, lit the Menorah together with the families of several hostages, we all shared our hope for another Hanukkah miracle — their safe return.

It was moving to be there in person and hear about the hostages directly from their loved ones. We made sure they know that we are doing everything we can to ensure the safe and quick return of the hostages, and that we will not rest until every single one is home. The following day we were devastated to learn that kidnapped soldier Ron Sherman, whose brother Dan spoke to us about the challenges Ron faced as an asthmatic in a Hamas tunnel, was discovered killed and his body returned to Israel.

Later in my trip, I toured Israel’s northern border which has been bombarded by missile and rocket attacks from Hezbollah terrorists based in Southern Lebanon. While we were making a stop in the war room of the Upper Galilee Regional Council, two Hezbollah drones entered Israel’s airspace and attacked an IDF position, killing 53-year-old military reservist Yehezkel Azaria. The attack brought home just how vulnerable Israel’s northern communities are to deadly attacks by Hezbollah terrorists.

ADL bears witness to the devastation in Kfar Aza.

On my last day in Israel, I had the opportunity along with my ADL colleagues to visit the communities near Gaza that were attacked on Oct. 7, and to bear witness to Hamas’ atrocities. Upon arriving in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, I was struck by the contrast between the pastoral beauty of the place and the horrific massacre that took place there. Kfar Aza, which was home to about 800 people, lost over 70 of its members, including babies, children and the elderly, and eighteen more were kidnapped to Gaza.

We bore witness to burned homes, bullet-holed walls, everyday items like clothes, toys and dishes scattered about, and Sukkot left standing, all of which remain as evidence of life before the massacre and the death and destruction that hangs over the community. Our visit concluded with a ceremony in memory of the massacred, and we prayed together for the quick and safe return of the hostages and the safety of the IDF soldiers fighting Hamas.

At the conclusion of my trip, I was privileged to meet with my dear friend Israeli President Isaac Herzog. We discussed many things, but what struck me was the genuine concern he, and indeed so many in Israel, had about the safety and well-being of the American Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism. Despite all of the challenges Israel is facing in this moment, there is a clear recognition that the events of Oct. 7 have reverberated around the world, and that Jews around the world are all in this together. No matter the geographic distances or political differences, there is an indisputable connection between Israel and the Diaspora, one that underlies our shared destiny as a
united Jewish people. Am Yisrael Chai!
Sincerely,

Jonathan Greenblatt
CEO and National Director
ADL

What’s News

Bomb Threats Soar: We are investigating an exponential increase in reported bomb threats against Jewish institutions; there were over 400 such incidents just last weekend. This is a serious escalation. In fact, this latest wave represents more bomb threats than the Jewish community experienced in all of last year. While the threats were deemed to be hoaxes, the Jewish community does not have the luxury to ignore them. We are working with law enforcement, partners and local communities to respond. If you experience an incident or receive an alert of a threat, please report it to law enforcement immediately, then
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report it to ADL.
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Read more in CNN.
→ NEWS UPDATE: The ADL Center on Extremism provided substantial support to law enforcement in advance of an arrest that was part of the disruption of an antisemitic online swatting ring.
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Read more about the arrest.

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Alliance Against Antisemitism: “We have traveled to Paris from around the globe to examine the current state of antisemitism in the seven largest Jewish communities in the Diaspora. Each of our Jewish communities are experiencing unprecedented, sharp increases in antisemitic attitudes and incidents in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks on Israel. In every country, Jewish university students are particularly vulnerable. Each community is working to develop effective strategies...”
→
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Read more about the latest work of ADL and other J7 Task Force partners to collaborate to fight hate.

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Extremely: An ADL Podcast: Hosted by Oren Segal and Jessica Reaves of the ADL Center on Extremism, extremely gives audiences a window into the daily work of fighting — and disrupting — antisemitism and other forms of extremism. Our podcast provides intelligence, wit and critical insights into the ever-evolving extremist landscape while showcasing fresh perspectives from experts. Don’t miss recent episodes where Oren and Jessica explain
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how white supremacists are hijacking anti-Israel rhetoric,
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talk with the families of people taken hostage by Hamas and
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dig into ADL’s incredibly useful Hate Symbols Database.

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International Incidents Rise: ADL’s International Affairs team has been tracking the rise in antisemitic incidents across the world. Since Oct. 7, there have been hundreds of incidents in Argentina, a 738% increase in Australia, and 29 incidents a day in Germany. Among the new incidents in our
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international blog are a French attack where a man entered the office of a kindergarten director who is Jewish, brandished a knife, and said, “You’re a Jew. You’re a Zionist. Five of us are going to rape you and cut you up like they did in Gaza” and an incident in Poland where a far-right lawmaker used a fire extinguisher on Hanukkah candles in parliament.

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Damage from Denialism: Since Oct. 7, many anti-Israel and antisemitic voices around the world, including some in the United States, politicians, journalists and Palestinian leaders, have engaged in denialism -- repeated attempts to cast doubt over the massacre, its perpetrators, their methods, the nature of its victims, its scope or Hamas’ goals. This constitutes a gaslighting campaign through which moral clarity is blurred, Hamas is lauded and Israel is demonized. At a time of rising antisemitism around the world, these claims only fuel animus, and potentially attacks on Jews and Israelis worldwide.
→
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Read the full report for examples of this propaganda effort.

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Take Action Today

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. Investigators have documented rape and sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli women and girls. Yet the world remains silent. Human rights organizations, advocates for women and children, and feminist leaders have ignored or denied these atrocities. A bipartisan group of Senators have introduced a resolution to recognize and condemn the use of sexual violence on Oct. 7.
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Please click here to join ADL in asking your Senator to support the resolution.

Social Spotlights

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@ADL


As if we needed another reminder that Ye is a virulent antisemite... This long rant includes disgusting lies & conspiracy theories about Jews & Zionists. Ye has more followers on social media than there are Jews in the world (which is around 15M, not 60M, as Ye claims). He is dangerously spreading more hate at a time when antisemitic threats & violence are on the rise.
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News Link.

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@JGreenblattADL


Spending time with university students always sheds light, this time in France with @UEJF. The news is far from good, but I’m inspired by their perseverance, pride and creativity in standing up against #antisemitism on their campuses.

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@ADL


Thank you, @SecCardona, for condemning #antisemitism & detailing the action that @usedgov is taking since 10/7, in line with the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and beyond, to protect Jewish students in the face of rising campus antisemitism.

@ ADL’s Incident Tracker

The
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@ADL_tracker feed of news and developments in antisemitism activities.

The statement made by a witness during today’s Chicago City Council Committee on Human Relations hearing that the city appropriates $40 million to Israel is categorically false. That an alderman would repeat the stat without asking questions, as if it is true, is reckless.

— December 18, 2023
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Read the full post
Incidents like this one in DC are disturbing and, as our data shows, are part of an alarming trend around the US. We thank @DCPoliceDept for investigating and quickly apprehending the alleged suspect. We cannot allow #antisemitism to be normalized.
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News Link.

— December 18, 2023
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Read the full post
We're horrified that a young teen has been arrested and accused of planning a mass shooting at a synagogue in Canton, Ohio. We thank law enforcement for its thorough investigation.

— December 13, 2023
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Read the full post

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Now is the Time to Act.

During this unprecedented moment since 10/7, with surging antisemitism, your voice is critical. It is more important than ever to come together and send the message that hate cannot win.

Be in the room at the world’s largest summit on antisemitism and hate to connect and engage on the most critical challenges facing our communities today. Come away empowered with the tools to continue to fight antisemitism and hate in your communities. Never Is Now general programming is on March 6-7, 2024. Save on registration at
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neverisnow.org through Jan. 5.

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Register Now

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