| Dear John, |
| What is antisemitism? |
| This week we learned that nearly half of all Americans can’t answer that question. One in five have never even heard the term. |
| This is just one shocking finding from AJC’s first-ever State of Antisemitism in America Report. The study is based on parallel surveys of American Jews and the general public on this urgent issue. The results are damning. |
| In short: Jews in America are deeply concerned about antisemitism, and nearly half of the rest of the country seems painfully unaware of the severity of the problem. |
| AJC is bringing this disturbing data to light. And, more importantly, we are using these valuable results to advance our advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people. Your support today will help AJC continue to fight antisemitism in America. |
| This week marks two years since a gunman murdered 11 Jews in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Since that horrific attack, Jews have been targeted with even more violence, vandalism, and conspiracy theories. |
| Our study found that more than one in three American Jews have been verbally or physically assaulted over the past five years simply because they are Jewish. A similar number have taken steps to hide their Jewish identity in public out of fear. |
| It’s no wonder that our survey revealed that nearly nine in ten American Jews believe antisemitism is a problem in the U.S. today; eight in ten say it’s getting worse. Yet only six in ten non-Jewish Americans share that concern and only four out of ten see the problem worsening. |
| The disparity in these perceptions—and so many others in our study—serves as a clarion call for a stepped-up, multi-pronged response to rising antisemitism in this country. |
AJC is leading the way. But your support is crucial.
- We’re leading the way by defining antisemitism. AJC helped draft the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism—a universal standard for what constitutes Jew-hatred. And we’ve been playing a key role in securing its widespread adoption and implementation around the world.
- We’re leading the way by educating policymakers. AJC is working with government officials and law enforcement authorities to keep them informed and collaborating with them on strategies to address antisemitism.
- We’re leading the way by countering online hate. AJC is partnering with social media companies, including Facebook and its two billion followers, to tackle antisemitism and conspiracy theories on their platforms. And we’ve created easy-to-share digital resources, like Translate Hate, our glossary that helps people expose antisemitic tropes.
- We’re leading the way by forming coalitions against hate. AJC is uniting diverse faith and ethnic groups behind common goals. Antisemitism may begin with the Jews, but it never ends there. To fight anti-Jewish bigotry, we must fight all types of bigotry.
The more knowledgeable all Americans become about antisemitism, the more committed and effective allies they will be in combating it. |
| This is a battle in which we all have a stake. We all must be part of the solution. |
| Today, you can take a step forward by supporting AJC’s work. |
| With thanks, |
David Harris
AJC Chief Executive Officer
Edward and Sandra Meyer Office of the CEO |
| P.S. I encourage you to view the full results of AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America Report at AJC.org/AntisemitismReport2020. |
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