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Dear AJC Friend, Shabbat Shalom. Welcome to the latest edition of AJC Dispatch, bringing you everything you need to know about Israel and the Jewish world from the past week.

If you like what you see, forward it to your friends! They can sign up at AJC.org/Dispatch.

This week, as the Biden team tried to resume nuclear talks with Iran, the U.S. affirmed it would seek justice for Israel if it rejoins the UN Human Rights Council. Meanwhile, AJC taught state attorneys general how to fight antisemitism as the NBC TV network demonstrated it could use a lesson or two on how to avoid it.

Top Stories

NBC’s No Good, Very Bad Week

AJC Global Voice | 3-minute read

NBC owes its Jewish audience a lot of apologies. This month, the television network aired three instances of classic antisemitic tropes, negative Jewish stereotypes, and disinformation, including an SNL joke that falsely accused Israel of vaccinating only its Jewish citizens. AJC immediately wrote a letter to NBC, demanding a retraction and apology. It also urged fans to petition the network. So far, more than 15,000 people have added their names. READ MORE

AJC responds: In an interview on i24 News, AJC Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer said: “joking about Jews protecting only themselves from a pandemic is reminiscent of the rhetoric during the Black Death.” (View on Twitter)

Iran Nuclear Talks: 2021 is not 2015

The Times of Israel | 5-minute read

The Biden administration has signaled its intention to undo the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. But AJC CEO David Harris writes in The Times of Israel that 2021 is not 2015. The U.S. should seize this opportunity to learn from the past six years. “The stakes in dealing with Iran couldn’t be higher,” Harris writes, “and getting it right is a matter of the highest national interest.” READ MORE

More News

Attorneys General Fight Hate Crimes While Facing Hate

Axios | 2-minute read

The National Association of Attorneys General has launched an initiative to reverse the rising levels of hate crimes by changing laws locally and nationally, as many of its members face prejudice themselves. This week, AJC U.S. Director of Combating Antisemitism Holly Huffnagle, AJC Chief Field Operations Officer Melanie Pell, and AJC Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer addressed the attorneys general on rising antisemitism in America and how to fight back. READ MORE

AJC responds: “American Jews are fortunate to have steadfast allies in America’s attorneys general. Thank you all!” (View on Twitter)

AJC action: AJC also hosted a briefing for members of the House and Senate Bipartisan Taskforces for Combating Antisemitism, in which international experts shared tools and best practices in the global fight against antisemitism, most notably the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. (View on Twitter)

U.S. Aims to Return to UN Rights Body, Shield Israel

Reuters | 1-minute read

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday that the U.S. would seek re-election to the body where it will press to eliminate a "disproportionate focus" on Israel. READ MORE

AJC responds: “In an important inaugural address to the UN Human Rights Council, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vows to call out abusers, pursue justice, and fight discrimination, while setting higher standards for membership and eliminating, at long last, the anti-Israel Agenda Item 7. More governments should follow this example.” (View on Twitter)

What’s happening next week? (And what you may have missed this week!)

Advocacy Anywhere is AJC’s online platform bringing you top-quality content during the pandemic. View the Advocacy Anywhere page for information on past and future programs:

Monday at 2 p.m. ET: With 16.6 million votes cast in the last national election, Latinos played a key role in swinging results in several battleground states. Join Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and Mike Madrid, an expert on Latino voting trends, as they address the diversity and complexity of the Latino communities and their growing impact on national politics. Register
Thursday at 12 p.m. ET: Since AJC launched the Mayors United Against Antisemitism initiative together with the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) in late January, 350 American mayors have signed the statement declaring antisemitism to be incompatible with democratic values. Join USCM President and Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville, Kentucky and Mayor Francis X. Suarez of Miami, Florida for a bipartisan discussion on the impact of this powerful partnership in the fight against antisemitism and bigotry. Register

Did you miss...

In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Lillie Edwards, Professor Emerita of History and African-American Studies at Drew University, and Steven Fischler and Joel Sucher, co-producers of the 2000 documentary From Swastika to Jim Crow, discussed the little-known story of German-Jewish refugees who found new lives and careers at America’s historically Black colleges and universities. Watch

AJC’s Shabbat Table

This week, in AJC’s Shabbat Table, we examine Queen Esther’s sudden transformation from a scared young queen to a warrior for her people. We provide some tools to help us reflect on moments that have changed our perspective and empowered us to make change. We also commemorate the anniversary of the Maryland "Jew Bill," which reminds us of a time when America didn’t always give Jews equal rights. READ MORE

People of the Pod

AJC’s weekly podcast analyzing global affairs through a Jewish lens

Soraya Nadia McDonald on Being Black and Jewish; NBC’s No Good, Very Bad Week

Journalist Soraya Nadia McDonald joins us for a conversation about confronting antisemitism and other prejudice as a Black Jewish woman. “Frankly, it’s sort of always exhausting to have to always assert your right to be in a space,” said McDonald, the award-winning Culture Critic for The Undefeated, ESPN’s platform for exploring the intersection of sports, race, and culture. LISTEN NOW

Tidings

Merrick Garland Gets Emotional About Antisemitism (The Hill)
Is Britney the Esther of Our Time? (The Forward)
The Last Nazi War Criminal? (The New York Times)

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