ADL condemns NY Jewish progressive group as ‘out of touch’ – thejewishchronicle.net
Posted By admin on August 1, 2022
(New York Jewish Week) A brand-new Jewish entrant to a crowded New York congressional race got a big amplification this week when the leader of the Anti-Defamation League, a national non-partisan civil rights advocacy group, shared his Twitter thread condemning a local progressive Jewish activist group.
Brian Robinson, a Jewish businessman who is one of 17 Democrats vying to represent New Yorks newly drawn District 10, put up a 16-post long Twitter thread that called Jews For Racial and Economic Justice and its political arm, The Jewish Vote, a far-left scam.
We need to have an honest conversation about JFREJ, Robinson began, with a tweet that reached his 4,500 followers.
Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top storiesFree Sign Up
We have allowed this pro-dystopian organization to LARP on behalf of the mainstream Jewish community for far too long, Robinson went on, using a term referring to role-playing. During primary time, JFREJ suddenly pretends to be liberal and pro-Jewish when they are consistently against both mainstream Jewish values and interests.
The following day, the ADLs CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt who has close to 350,000 followers on Twitter retweeted Robinsons thread, leading many who saw it to wonder whether Greenblatt was endorsing what Robinson had said.
The answer was yes but not every word.
Greenblatts retweet, which was of the first message only, reflected agreement with the larger view that a group calling itself The Jewish Vote isnt representative in any way of the majority of the Jewish community, an ADL spokesperson confirmed to the New York Jewish Week on Friday.
We need to have an honest conversation about JFREJ, their support for BDS, and how out of touch they are with the majority of the Jewish community, the spokesperson said.
But, the spokesperson added, It was not meant to imply agreement with all aspects of the thread and, to be clear, we reject any attacks on the Jewish identity of people we have disagreements with.
The ADL has traditionally monitored and responded to antisemitism and hate speech. Greenblatts retweet and the ADLs statement is in line with the ADL leaders recent speech equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
JFREJs communications director, Sophie Ellman-Golan, noted that the ADLs statement was inaccurate because JFREJ does not have a position on BDS, the movement to boycott Israel.
Our members hold a range of views, she said. We have members who are fully on board with BDS, we have members who are not on board, and we have members everywhere in between.
She said Greenblatt had appeared to condone criticism impugning JFREJs members as not really Jewish and that his decision to do so had consequences for the groups members.
The ADL is a bigger organization than JFREJ, Ellman-Golan said. Theres power in that. Its all nice and well to say in a statement that you reject attacks on Jewish identity, but instead they have used the ADL to legitimize attacks on us.
Publicly, the group responded to the thread in a light-hearted manner, with a cat picture and a sunny statement whose audience was implied.
At JFREJ, we affirm that all Jews are Jewish! We draw meaning & power from a plurality of relationships to Judaism. Most of us find the juiciest inspiration at intersections of a few: historical, cultural, religious, political, familial, the group tweeted. Its nice! More people should try it.
But privately, members and other critics of the retweet were facing harsh personal attacks. After critiquing Greenblatts retweet this week, Harry Reis, the former policy director of the New Israel fund who previously worked Greenblatts special assistant at the ADL, was publicly called a member of the Judenrat left as well as a kapo on Twitter, referring to Jews who collaborated with Nazis during World War II.
Another member who asked for anonymity because of harassment said she locked her account after receiving threatening messages that called her a self-hating kapo.
I think theres an effort overall to say who are the real Jews and who are the not real Jews, that the only people who count are the people who agree with us, Ellman-Golan said. Thats really distressing and sad.
In some ways, JFREJs outlook does map to that of the broader Jewish community, including in New York City. According to a survey from the Jewish Electorate Institute, a non-partisan think tank dedicated to understanding American Jewry, 70% of American Jewish voters lean Democratic and favor issues such as climate change, voting rights, jobs and health care all issues that are part of JFREJs activism.
On Israel, multiple recent surveys have have found that youngerU.S. Jews are less emotionally attached to Israel than older ones and that Jews overall increasingly agree with harsh criticism of Israel.
The Jewish Vote, which JFREJ launched in 2018 to get involved directly in electoral polits, endorses progressive candidates in New York. It has backed City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is Jewish, and former mayoral candidate Maya Wiley. In the current District 10 congressional race, the Jewish Vote endorsed Yuh-Line Niou, a progressive who has supported the BDS movement throughout her campaign.
Ellman-Golan said JFREJ which launched in 1990 and claims 6,000 members, 4,500 of them in the city and the Jewish Vote dont pretend to be the home for all American and New York Jews. Rather, they are the home for the New York Jewish Left, Ellman-Golan said, adding, More and more Jews are moving into agreement in our direction.
Polls show Robinson, the candidate who kicked off the kerfuffle, garnering 1% off the District 10 vote. On Wednesday, he picked up an endorsement from the Orthodox Jewish firebrand Heshy Tischler, a Republican. The primary is Aug. 23. PJC
See the original post here:
ADL condemns NY Jewish progressive group as 'out of touch' - thejewishchronicle.net
- Hate crimes: Spike in antisemitic incidents prompts new security ... - March 31st, 2023
- Antisemitic incidents rose 36% last year to highest number ... - March 25th, 2023
- ADL tracked 3,697 cases of antisemitic harassment, vandalism ... - March 25th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League reports dramatic rise in antisemitism ... - March 25th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League reports all-time high white supremacist ... - March 20th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League Forms Entertainment Leadership Council ... - March 10th, 2023
- Kanye Wests Rants Tied to 30 Nationwide Antisemitic Incidents: Anti ... - February 17th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League responds to Aurora city council candidate's ... - February 11th, 2023
- US Second Gentleman Calls for Bold Collective Action to Curb Antisemitism - Voice of America - VOA News - February 11th, 2023
- ADL reports increase in hate and extremism in online games, gaming industry responds - FOX13 Memphis - January 12th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League to Adidas: Sever ties with Ye's Yeezy - November 23rd, 2022
- Andrew Torba: Five Things to Know | ADL - November 23rd, 2022
- Kyrie Irving doesn't speak Tuesday amid social media post fallout - NBA.com - November 2nd, 2022
- ADL Audit Finds Antisemitic Incidents in United States Reached All-Time ... - October 25th, 2022
- Adidas facing pressure to cut ties with Ye over antisemitic comments - NPR - October 25th, 2022
- Stanford apologizes for admissions limits on Jewish students in the 1950s and pledges action on steps to enhance Jewish life on campus - Stanford... - October 12th, 2022
- Leadership Development: Overcoming the Myth of Separateness - Stanford Social Innovation Review - October 12th, 2022
- Coming up on Connections: Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - WXXI News - October 12th, 2022
- FROM THE ARCHIVE: Security has been on local Jews' minds for a long time J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 12th, 2022
- The Good Fight Forum on Confronting Antisemitism - jewishboston.com - October 10th, 2022
- Anti-Defamation League to Review Its K-12 Materials After Critical Race ... - October 4th, 2022
- The Oath Keepers' Capitol riot trial, explained - The San Diego Union-Tribune - October 4th, 2022
- Ahead Of Midterms, Feinstein, Murphy, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Keep Voters and Election Workers Safe from Guns at Polls - Senator Dianne... - October 4th, 2022
- My side of the story: Thankful we are better than this - Wyoming Tribune - October 4th, 2022
- The 'OK' Hand Gesture Is Now Listed As A Symbol Of Hate : NPR - NPR.org - September 27th, 2022
- Virtual reality is educating new generations about the Holocaust - Connecticut Public - September 27th, 2022
- ADL and National Urban League Launch Community Solidarity & Safety Coalition - National Urban League - September 19th, 2022
- New COVID-19 vaccine will help reduce infection from specific variants - 90.5 WESA - September 19th, 2022
- Remarks by President Biden at the United We Stand Summit - The White House - September 19th, 2022
- Anti-Defamation League promotes author who compared Israeli policy to Nazi actions during the Holocaust - Fox News - September 19th, 2022
- A journalist's prescient take on rise of antisemitism in U.S. J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 19th, 2022
- Women Business Collaborative Announces the Appointment of Robin Schwartz as Senior Director of Development - PR Newswire - September 4th, 2022
- ADL urges Newsom to sign hate bill opposed by tech companies J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 4th, 2022
- Investigation underway after reports of antisemitic banners hung on bike overpass at UC Davis - KCRA Sacramento - August 30th, 2022
- Extremist hate group continues to deliver anti-Semitic flyers to American Jews - The New York State Senate - August 22nd, 2022
- What CNNs Dana Bash learned reporting on the rise in antisemitism - Forward - August 22nd, 2022
- OK symbol: "OK" hand gesture added to Anti-Defamation League's list of ... - August 16th, 2022
- Antisemitic Boston Mapping Project now hosted on ... - masslive - August 16th, 2022
- ADL event on CA hate bill affirms Hindu-Jewish solidarity on swastikas J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 16th, 2022
- Leaked audio sheds light on "election integrity" events tied to Trump, RNC - NPR - August 6th, 2022
- ADL: Twitter removes only 5% of reported antisemitic posts J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 6th, 2022
- Sherman & Owens Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Victims of the Munich Massacre - Congressman Brad Sherman - August 4th, 2022
- How Hitler's Favorite Passion Play Lost Its Anti-Semitism - The Atlantic - August 4th, 2022
- Anti-Defamation League Proposes 'Minecraft' Should Examine Viability Of Player Verification And Global Blocklists To Counter "Hate And... - August 4th, 2022
- Misogyny is fueling the countrys gun violence epidemic, experts say - Wisconsin Examiner - August 1st, 2022
- Dismantle the ADL: The Anti-Defamation League's record of racist counterinsurgency and espionage - Mondoweiss - August 1st, 2022
- ADL's Robert Trestan Reflects on Time in New England - jewishboston.com - August 1st, 2022
- Minecraft needs to invest in more hate moderation, ADL study finds - Input - August 1st, 2022
- There is a lot of antisemitic hate speech on social media and algorithms are partly to blame - The Conversation - July 27th, 2022
- Testing the Waters: The Cultural Politics of Normalization and the Impact of the Abraham Accords in the Gulf - Wilson Center - July 27th, 2022
- Parents on Edge Over Solana Beach Plan to Vet Donated Books with 'Debatable Topics' - Voice of San Diego - July 27th, 2022
- ADL Asks Iceland to Act on Pro-Palestine Mapping Website - NBC10 Boston - July 16th, 2022
- GOP candidate for Pa. governor Mastriano paid $5000 to the website used by the Tree of Life shooter - 90.5 WESA - July 16th, 2022
- INSTITUTE INDEX: How U.S. taxpayers subsidize the Oath Keepers - Facing South - July 16th, 2022
- Civil Rights and Youth Organizations Send Letters to Texas School Districts Urging Them to Ensure Dress Codes Are Not Discriminatory - NAACP Legal... - July 14th, 2022
- 'Credible threat' focused on Jewish community in San Antonio is lifted, suspect in custody - Texas Public Radio - July 10th, 2022
- Racist flyers in Connecticut are part of a rise in incidents of hate across New England - Connecticut Public - July 10th, 2022
- Okay Hand Gesture | ADL - Anti-Defamation League - June 26th, 2022
- Berkshire District Attorney's Office Honors This Year's Youth Advisory Board Members - Mass.gov - June 8th, 2022
- Racist and violent ideas jump from webs fringes to mainstream sites - Moneycontrol - June 2nd, 2022
- We must fight white supremacy with solidarity: Jews respond to the ADL's harmful campaign - Mondoweiss - June 2nd, 2022
- Modest Warming in U.S. Views on Israel and Palestinians - Pew Research Center - May 27th, 2022
- Anti-hate group speaks out against antisemitic incident in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills - Los Angeles Times - May 25th, 2022
- Hate crimes are on the rise. Here's what you can do to help prevent them - Colorado Public Radio - May 25th, 2022
- Vaccine scientist Hotez to give virtual talk sponsored by UB - UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo - May 25th, 2022
- SDCC cancels investiture of chancellor due to uproar over Alice Walker speech - The San Diego Union-Tribune - May 25th, 2022
- Weinberg Foundation to give $250K in grants to help Buffalo community after shooting - Maryland Daily Record - May 25th, 2022
- What is the 'great replacement theory' linked to the Buffalo shooter? - Austin American-Statesman - May 22nd, 2022
- Most Extremist Violence in the U.S. Comes From the Political Right - The New York Times - May 22nd, 2022
- Great Replacement Theory: What it means, where it came from - USA TODAY - May 22nd, 2022
- ADL addresses alleged anti-semitism during lacrosse game - News 5 Cleveland WEWS - May 22nd, 2022
- Increase in antisemitism from far right and radical left 'despicable': CEO of the Anti-Defamation League - Fox News - May 22nd, 2022
- Nicholas J. Fuentes: Five Things to Know | Anti-Defamation League - May 16th, 2022
- Is Anti-Zionism Anti-Semitism? - The New Yorker - May 16th, 2022
- The Buffalo supermarket massacre is the latest mass shooting authorities say was motivated by hate - WMTW Portland - May 16th, 2022
- Beverly Hills residents wake up to antisemitic fliers again. Police are investigating - Los Angeles Times - April 23rd, 2022
- The YouTube Rabbit Hole Is Nuanced - The New York Times - April 23rd, 2022
- Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District: A guide to the 2022 primary and candidates - 90.5 WESA - April 23rd, 2022
- ADL task force calls on administration to keep IRGC on foreign terror list - Cleveland Jewish News - April 23rd, 2022
- Tune in Sunday to 'The ADL on the Front Lines' discussion - scarsdalenews.com - March 14th, 2022
Comments