Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 5, 2021

For Jews around the world, the last few weeks have been chilling. A surge of anti-Semitism, including physical attacks against Jews, has swept the United States, Canada, and Europe. In Los Angeles, diners at a kosher restaurant were spat upon, while an explosive device was thrown at Jews in Manhattans Diamond District. A swastika was carved into the doorway of a synagogue in Salt Lake City, while a brick shattered the window of a kosher pizzeria on the Upper East Side.

Anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism, and violence in the U.S. are exploding, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). There is also a flood of anti-Semitic hate on social media and on thousands of websites. On Twitter, #hitlerwasright was posted 17,000 times, while the hashtag #Covid1948, which likens Israels independence with the pandemic, was shared 175 times per minute.

These times recall past eras, with a similar tension and fear. Jews are afraid to wear kippot in public or take their children outside on Shabbat. Alarmingly, many of the voices that were quick to denounce racism and bigotry in the United States have been notably silent when Jews are the victims.

The Jewish community, however, has responded swiftly and firmly. May 27 was a national day of action to fight against anti-Semitism, sponsored by ADL, The American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federations of North America, Hadassah, the Orthodox Union, Reconstructing Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Union for Reform Judaism, and others, and in which our own Jewish Community Relations Council took part. Events like these show the public our strength in the face of hate, and serve as an inspiration that Jews of all walks are one people who stand together in unity.

We can also take encouragement from President Bidens public support of the Jewish community and strong statement against anti-Semitism: The recent attacks on the Jewish community are despicable, and they must stop. I condemn this hateful behavior at home and abroadits up to all of us to give hate no safe harbor.

Added Vice President Harris on Twitter, The surge in anti-Semitic attacks against the Jewish community in the U.S. and around the world is despicableit must be called out, condemned and stopped. As a country, we must stand united against hate of any kind.

Though we may be targeted, we must continue to stand strong together now and not let the threat of violence keep us locked up in our homes or force us to hide our Jewish identities. It is how we have survived this long and how will survive now.

Read more:

We must stand united in the fight against anti-Semitism - Jewish Community Voice

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