AJC Dispatch

Spotlight

This week, AJC released an unprecedented survey of American Jews about antisemitism in America. The alarming results received broad coverage on the news and opinion pages of the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, CNN, and Fox News. On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, Avi Mayer, AJC Managing Director of Global Communications, broke down the numbers for our listeners. And in remembrance of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the 11 worshipers from three congregations who lost their lives one year ago, Jeff Finkelstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, discussed how the community has coped.

Must-reads

#ShowUpForShabbat This Weekend
AJC / 3-minute video
Following the murder of 11 innocent Jews from three congregations inside Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Or L’ Simcha synagogue building last October, people of all faiths rallied around AJC’s #ShowUpForShabbat initiative. Millions packed synagogues in what became the largest-ever expression of solidarity with the American Jewish community. On the one-year anniversary, AJC is again calling on all people of good conscience to #ShowUpForShabbat. More than 250 synagogues have signed up to participate. Read more

Behind the Numbers: Antisemitism is 'Everywhere,' Say AJC Leaders
AJC Global Voice / 2-minute read
Most American Jews feel that hatred against them is on the rise, according to a comprehensive survey of American Jewish views and experiences of antisemitism released by AJC on Wednesday. 88% of American Jews say antisemitism is a problem in America today and 84% say it has increased over the past five years. More than 42% of American Jews say they are less secure than a year ago. But much of the most palpable and disturbing evidence of antisemitism can be found in the stories that AJC and members of its community have encountered on the ground in recent years. From verbal and physical attacks in the streets of New York and graffiti scrawled on the wall of a Los Angeles synagogue to Holocaust denial and anti-Israel lesson plans in Florida and California schools, antisemitism has surfaced in many forms. Read more

David Harris: American Presidents Misread Turkey President
ONET / 2-minute read
AJC CEO David Harris points out that those who repeatedly call for the creation of a Palestinian state remain silent about the Kurdish state. Why? Aren’t Kurds a distinct people with their own history, language, and identity? Harris tells Poland’s most visited online news site that the last three U.S. presidents have misread the intentions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and in Washington, "wishful thinking often replaces analytical thinking." Read more

Tragedies Deepen Jewish-Muslim Bonds to Fight Hate Crimes
The Associated Press / 1-minute read
Jewish and Muslim leaders are trying to transcend tensions and forge new alliances as synagogues, mosques, community centers, and individuals face similar threats here and across the United States. Alarmed by a rise in hateful rhetoric and threats since 2016, members of both religious communities who have clashed in the past over Israel and Middle East politics now are joining forces to advocate together on domestic issues. A prime example is the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council established by AJC and the Islamic Society of North America. In this article, AJC Director of U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations Ari Gordon points out that attacks on synagogues and mosques are “definitely linked.” Read more

Gantz Tasked With Forming Government After Netanyahu Couldn’t
Haaretz / 1-minute read
Former IDF chief and head of Israel’s centrist Blue and White party Benny Gantz has been tasked with forming Israel’s next coalition government. Gantz’s nomination marks the first time since 2008 that someone other than Benjamin Netanyahu will try to build a ruling coalition. Gantz was given 28 days to complete the task assigned by President Reuven Rivlin. If, like Netanyahu, he’s unable to do so, Israel could have its third election in a year. Read more

Good to Know

Four Congressmen Call Out Twitter for Hosting Hamas, Hezbollah
JTA / 1-minute read
As AJC continues to press Europe to drop the artificial distinction between Hezbollah’s so-called political and military factions, four U.S. Congressmen are pressing Twitter to do the same. Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.; Tom Reed, R-N.Y.; Max Rose, D-N.Y.; and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., have called out Twitter for allowing Hezbollah, as well as Hamas, to post content on the social media platform. They have asked for it to be removed by November 1. Read more

Trump Lifts Sanctions on Turkey, Touts Ceasefire As Permanent
The Washington Post / 1-minute read
Just one day after Russia and Turkey agreed to a plan that would push Syrian Kurdish fighters from an area just south of Turkey’s border, President Trump lifted sanctions against Turkey, saying that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would abide by what Trump called a “permanent” cease-fire. Trump said his decision two weeks ago to withdraw troops from the region reflects a “different course” in the Middle East. Last week, AJC became the first national Jewish organization in the U.S. to hold a solidarity event for the Kurds in Syria, featuring journalists, diplomats and members of the Kurdish community. Read more

Antisemitic Belgian Carnival Continues to Arouse Anger
The Times of Israel / 1-minute read
Ahead of the 2020 Aalst carnival, Belgium parade organizers have published 150 caricatures mocking Jews. The caricatures, some featuring Orthodox Jews with red, hooked noses and golden teeth, were printed on ribbons intended for participants in the annual event. This past March, the carnival sparked outrage from Jewish groups by including a float with giant Orthodox Jewish characters, one of them with a rat on his shoulder, clutching money. Organizers said the float was intended to call attention to the rising cost of living. In the 2013 parade, participants dressed as Nazi SS officers walked alongside a float resembling a Nazi railway wagon used to transport Jews to death camps. Read more

Neo-Nazis Attack Budapest Jewish Center
Vice / 2-minute read
A mob of about 50 Neo-Nazis wearing military uniforms attacked a Jewish community center in Budapest, Hungary this week, covering the walls with fascist slogans and burning a flag. The incident was just the latest in a series of attacks on the center, which houses NGOs representing the LGBTQ community, Roma, and refugees. The center receives funding from George Soros, a Hungarian-born Jewish billionaire who finances many left-leaning and liberal causes. Since 2015, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban has targeted Soros with billboards and other propaganda that traffic antisemitic tropes. Read more

Tidings

On First Trip to Israel, Branson to Meet With Space Industry (The Times of Israel)
In a Deeply Split Israeli City, Both Sides Urge Unity (The New York Times)
Bow Wow Wow Yippie Yo Oy Vey: Snoop Dogg Promotes Israeli Cannabis (The Forward)

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

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