AJC Dispatch

Spotlight

This week on AJC Passport, Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC's Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, recounts her most recent trip to Buenos Aires to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association building—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust. We also talk to Ron Kampeas, Washington bureau chief for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, about the latest Israel-related legislation on Capitol Hill and President Trump’s feud with four members of Congress.

Must-reads

House Overwhelmingly Passes Resolution Condemning Global Boycott Targeting Israel
Washington Post / 3-minute read
The House on Tuesday approved a bipartisan resolution condemning the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign. On the same day, the House also passed the U.S. Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, which includes an annual $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million in U.S.-Israel missile-defense initiatives, and the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act, which will sanction supporters of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or any of their affiliates. On Twitter, AJC highlighted the bipartisan nature of all three votes: "Today, in a resounding show of support for Israel, 398 members of the House overwhelmingly-and on a bipartisan basis-opposed the antisemitic global BDS campaign." Read more

Israel Hosts Arab Media Delegation, Including Saudi Blogger Attacked by Palestinians
Times of Israel / 2-minute read
Israel’s Foreign Ministry hosted an unprecedented delegation of six Arab journalists in Israel this week, including from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, countries that don’t have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state. The journalists met with foreign ministry officials, members of the Knesset, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They also toured Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Tel Aviv, and holy sites. The ministry says the purpose of the visit was to expose the journalists to the “Israeli positions” on diplomatic and geopolitical issues. During a tour of Jerusalem’s Old City, one of the Saudi bloggers was harassed and assaulted by Palestinians. Read more

Theresa May Appoints John Mann as Advisor on Antisemitism
The Guardian / 4-minute read
Before outgoing UK Prime Minister Theresa May departed from Downing Street this week, she took care of a few final chores, including the appointment of an independent advisor on antisemitism. She tapped Member of Parliament John Mann, a member of the UK Labour Party and a critic of its leader Jeremy Corbyn. May also attacked Labour’s record in dealing with the issue of anti-Jewish hatred within the party. “Antisemitism is racism. It has absolutely no place in our society and we must fight its bitter scourge wherever it rears its head,” she said. This week, Corbyn admitted that his party did indeed have a problem with antisemitism and updated the party’s website with guidelines about racism. AJC CEO David Harris tweeted praise for Mann: “He’s fearless, passionate & eloquent. When it comes to confronting this age old hatred, he pulls no punches. None.” Listen to Mann’s AJC Passport podcast interview on the deeply rooted antisemitic views of certain fellow members of the UK's Labour party. Read more

Good to Know

AJC’s First Female President Takes on Israel-Diaspora Gap
Times of Israel / 5-minute read
During an interview with the Times of Israel, Harriet Schleifer, AJC’s first-ever female president, said the rise of antisemitism at home and abroad cannot be tolerated. Helping Israeli and American Jews better understand each other is also at the top of her agenda. “I believe most Israelis don’t understand the expression of Judaism in this country ... We need to understand what makes Israelis tick, what pushes their buttons and what their priorities are. Until we sit down and really understand each other more deeply, we’re going to have people who may become disinterested about Israel. That is a huge fear for me.” Harriet Schleifer spoke to AJC Passport shortly after she became President in June. Read more

5 Jewish Things to Know About Boris Johnson
JTA / 2-minute read
British Jews aren’t sure what to expect from newly elected UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A longtime supporter of Brexit who is determined to get the UK out of the European Union, Johnson could increase the chances of antisemitic Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn succeeding him – a prospect that worries a lot of Jews. But with that in mind, Johnson might think twice. As the great grandson of a Moscow-born Jew, Johnson has said he feels the most Jewish when he detects antisemitism. “I feel Jewish when I feel the Jewish people are threatened or under attack, that’s when it sort of comes out,” Johnson said in a 2007 interview. “When I suddenly get a whiff of anti-Semitism, it’s then that you feel angry and protective.” AJC congratulated Johnson on his victory: "We look forward to working with you to ensure the transatlantic alliance remains robust, combat antisemitism in all its forms, and strengthen U.S.-UK-Israeli relations." Read more

Americans Don’t Know Much About Jews, but Love Us Anyway
JTA / 2-minute read
Data published by the Pew Research Center this week revealed that U.S. Jews know more about religion than their non-Jewish neighbors. Meanwhile, Americans who are not Jewish know very little about Judaism, but like Jews more than any other religious group. (Naturally, the more they know, the more they like us.) Of the 32 questions on religion, ranging from knowledge of the Bible and Christianity to knowledge of Judaism and other religions, 10 related to Judaism in some way: four asked directly about Jewish history, practice, and texts; five were about the Hebrew Bible; and one was about the size of America’s Jewish population. Take this abbreviated quiz and test your religious literacy. AJC has a long and successful history of building strong relationships with other religious groups. Read more

Tidings

Sandy Koufax Statue Coming to Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Times)

Hitler Looted the Art, Then They Looted Hitler (The New York Times)

The Forward Names Jodi Rudoren, New York Times Veteran, Its New Editor-in-Chief (The Forward)

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

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