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WJC and ADL call on tech companies to enforce policies banning antisemitic and hate products

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder: “Online marketplaces have failed miserably at providing proactive oversight of the products that third-party sellers sell on their platforms. There can be no excuse for anyone to profiteer from merchandise that advocates the killing of Jews or any other group, or that mocks the Holocaust.” Read More... 

World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of Sheldon Adelson, ז"ל

Commenting on the death of the celebrated philanthropist and businessman, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “Sheldon Adelson was a towering figure in the Jewish world whose profound love for Israel found expression in his innumerable acts of tzdekah.” Read More... 

WJC President Ronald Lauder speaks on passing of Sheldon Adelson | Jpost

Speaking with Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan, Lauder said that his task as president of the World Jewish Congress is working with the Jews living in the Diaspora and uniting the Jews of the Diaspora and Israel. “Sheldon said to me,” said Lauder, ‘I’ll take care of Israel. You take care of the Diaspora.’” Read More... 

WJC to kick off #WeRemember Campaign on 20 January

To participate in the campaign, write “We Remember” on a sheet of paper, take a photo holding the sign and share your photo on social media. Now, more than ever, we must join together to remember the past, and build a better future for all. Read More... 

President Lauder calls for hope at UAE-Israel Conference 

During his remarks, Lauder said that his involvement in building a Jewish school in Dubai and the sight of so many Israelis visiting the Emirates in recent weeks are encouraging signs of normalcy and inclusiveness. Read More... 

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer describes painful associations ‘Camp Auschwitz’ T-shirt

Reflecting on the antisemitic symbols appearing at last week’s deadly Capitol riot, Blitzer, whose parents survived the Holocaust, remarked, "I’m happy that they’re not seeing what’s going on now in the United States." Watch Now... 

WJC applauds upgrade of State Department’s Antisemitism Envoy to rank of ambassador 

In elevating the special envoy to the ambassador-level, the United States enhances the efficacy of its chief diplomat countering the world’s oldest hatred—antisemitism. Read More... 

OpEd: Germany has succeeded in setting a milestone

Following the EU Council’s adoption of a declaration universalizing the fight against antisemitism, WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern writes, "Skeptics may object that too many of the measures are non-binding and hence perhaps difficult to enforce, but their ramifications will indeed be felt." Read More... 

European Commission releases handbook for practical use of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism

The handbook discusses how the working definition of antisemitism has been applied across the EU and in the United Kingdom by governments and members of civil society and provides examples of good practices of implementation. Read More... 

Amid the rampage at the U.S. Capitol, a sweatshirt stirs troubling memories | New York Times 

Of all the upsetting images broadcast around the world as a violent mob overran the United States Capitol in Washington, the one that particularly distressed Holocaust Survivor Dr. Eva Umlauf was one of a bearded man wearing a black hoodie emblazoned with “Camp Auschwitz.” Read More... 

Confederate flag found tied to front door of NYC Holocaust museum | JTA

The NYPD did not confirm whether the flag was being investigated as a bias crime, but told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it was being investigated by the NYPD detective division, and called the act “atrocious.” Read More... 

Israel hits 2 million vaccinated with 1st dose | Times of Israel 

Israel kicked off its vaccine drive last month and on Sunday began administering second doses. It is currently first in the world in the number of people vaccinated per capita, according to the Oxford University-based Our World In Data. Read More... 

Experts skeptical of ministry plan to vaccinate world’s Holocaust survivors | The Forward

WJC Associate Executive Vice President Menachem Rosensaft said that while the project sounds “wonderful” in principle, he didn’t know how it could “be achieved practically,” adding that “any such initiative must be coordinated and run via the Claims Conference.” Read More... 

Israel, Slovakia to sign extensive defense export agreement | Jpost 

Among the technology that will be transferred are 17 radar systems produced by Israel Aerospace Industries that detects airborne threats and enables systems to neutralize the threat. Read More... 

Germany returns Nazi-looted artwork to rightful heirs | Deutsche Welle

Culture Minister Monika Grütters said "[w]e cannot make up for this severe suffering, but we are trying with the appraisal of Nazi art looting to make a contribution to historical justice and fulfill our moral responsibility.” Read More... 

IAEA chief: Iran moving rapidly to enrich uranium, mere ‘weeks’ to save deal | Times of Israel

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that Tehran was advancing  towards enriching uranium to 20% “quite rapidly,” adding that the IAEA has assessed Iran will be able to produce some 10 kilograms a month. Read More... 

UN counter-terrorism chief urges continued vigilance against ‘real’ ongoing threat

Despite important strikes against terrorism over the past two decades, including bringing perpetrators to justice and disrupting additional attacks, countries cannot afford to let down their guard, UN Under Secretary General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov said during a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday. Read More... 

French Jews, political leaders mark 6 years since Hyper Cacher killings | JTA

On Sunday, multiple politicians, including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, attended a ceremony in front of Hyper Cacher organized by the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities. Four candles were lit in memory of the victims: Yoav Hattab, Yohan Cohen, Philippe Braham and François-Michel Saada. Read More... 

UAE approves visa exemption agreement with Israel | Times of Israel

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said, “The ratification of the agreement is a central part of the full and rapid realization of the many agreements that are being formed with the Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.” The deal will go into effect in 30 days. Read More... 

UAE reunites two Jewish families in Abu Dhabi | Gulf News

One of the families reunited, who had to endure a 21-year separation, consisted of 15 individuals that included the grandfather, grandmother and an uncle, who travelled from Yemen and London. Read More... 

13 January 1898 | Émile Zola accuses French government of covering up mistaken conviction of Dreyfus  

During his 4,000-word open letter to President of France Félix Faureon on the front page of Aurore, Zola maintained that the French government had covered up its mistaken conviction of Dreyfus, had made judicial errors, and had, motivated by antisemitism, illegally jailed Dreyfus. Read More... 

13 January 1953 | Six Jewish doctors arrested, jumpstarting ‘Doctor’s Plot'

The innocent men were arrested at Stalin's personal instruction and tortured. The trial was intended to initiate the transport of almost all of the Soviet Union's two million Jews— the majority of whom were survivors of the Holocaust—to gulags. Read More...