Page 34 - Jewish News_March-2020

34A March 2020 COMMENTARY

How to respond to the anti-Semitic attack in Monsey

By Nita Lowey and David Harris, December 30, 2019

n the wake of the horrific knife at- But that progress also poses a threat to Fourth, despite the efforts of many their windows. The message was clear:
tack on Saturday during a Hanuk- those who are bewildered or angered elected officials and law-enforcement Anti-Semitism and racism had no place

Ikah celebration in Monsey, New by these social changes and who prefer agencies to keep us safe, more needs there.
York, and following a recent spate mutual rancor to mutual respect. to be done – including enhanced infor- In a survey of American Jews by
of other anti-Semitic assaults in New There’s also the “copycat” phe- mation-gathering, tougher prosecution the American Jewish Committee, re-
York City and elsewhere in the United nomenon – when someone else’s and sentencing and increased public leased in October, 31 percent of re-
States, we must ask and answer two key hateful actions, and the publicity they education – to respond to anti-Semitic spondents said that they had taken
questions: “Why now?” and “What can engender, spur others who seek noto- attacks in our communities. steps to hide their Jewish identity in
be done to stop such incidents?” riety and attention. This includes of- One model for community engage- public, while 25 percent said they now
Let’s start with “Why now?” fenses like scrawling swastikas or ugly ment is what happened in Billings, Mon- avoided Jewish sites. And this survey
Why, when American Jews have felt slogans on synagogue walls; assaulting tana, in 1993, after a year of racist and was conducted before the recent at-
unmatched levels of inclusion and people on the street in Brooklyn and anti-Semitic incitements that culminat- tacks in Jersey City and Monsey.
equality, and when, unlike in previous Manhattan who are “identifiably” Jew- ed with the throwing of a brick through This is unacceptable. It is not our

generations, Jews can be found in ev- ish; and murdering them, as with the the bedroom window of a young child America. We call on all Americans of
ery sphere of American society, is anti- synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh last in a Jewish home that had a menorah good will to ask ourselves how each of
Semitism making a comeback? year and in Poway, California, in April, on display. The reaction of Billings was us can defend our inclusive vision for
It is important to remember that and the kosher supermarket shooting swift and decisive. Under the leader- this country.
anti-Semitism has been called the this month in Jersey City, New Jersey. ship of the police chief and a newspa- Nita Lowey is a United States congress-
world’s oldest social disease. It dates Which brings us to the second of per editor, paper cutouts of a menorah woman whose district includes Mon-
back millenniums. It has taken many our two questions: How to respond? were made widely available. Thousands sey. David Harris is the chief executive
forms – religious and racial, political First, we need to recognize the of households in Billings put them in of American Jewish Committee.
and social. Its durability and ability problem for what it is: an epidemic. We
to reinvent itself should never be un- are no longer talking about isolated, oc-
derestimated. Even here in the United casional actions – bad enough as those Every woman
States, it never entirely vanished. are – but a regular phenomenon. Like
The resurgence of anti-Semitism an epidemic, it must be treated com- matters here.
could be a result, in part, of the van- prehensively, addressing root causes.
ishing legacy of the Holocaust. Re- Second, we must acknowledge that
cent surveys reveal abysmal levels of there are multiple ideological sources The Women’s Giving Circle [ “Ma’agal
knowledge among young people about feeding this paroxysm of hate; it is not Nashim”] is a giving circle that empowers
what happened to the Jewish people in a result of a single political outlook. women as funders, decision makers and
the Second World War. There is far too Some critics wish to exploit the issue agents of change. Each member contributes
little understanding about the slippery to undermine their political opponents. $518, and each has an equal voice in
slope from the Nazi dehumanization of That is no way to deal with anti-Sem- directing our funds. The giving circle model
the Jews in 1933 to the Final Solution itism. There is no one-size-fits-all multiplies individual actions, creating a

nine years later. profile for the perpetrators of these tremendous collective impact.
Social media may also be playing attacks.
a role. In the past, anti-Semites lived in Third, we cannot allow this situa- In the last five years, we have distributed
small ideological circles with limited tion to become the “new normal,” as if more than $236,632 in grants to

reach. Now the internet amplifies the attacks on Americans because of their nonprofits in Israel that help women and

voices and influence of these otherwise religious or ethnic identities are now children of all backgrounds live safer,
marginal groups. an expected part of our everyday lives. healthier and more meaningful lives.
Another factor could be the declin- No, they are not. These attacks violate

ing confidence in liberal democracy everything that Americans should hold Our Mission
and its core value of pluralism. Our na- dear. An attack on any American group
tion has made considerable progress in is a threat to the pluralistic fabric of our To enhance the lives of Jewish women and children
who are in need of help and live in Israel.
the social inclusion of minority groups. nation.
Read the current and previous
editions of The Jewish News

Contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 online at www.jfedsrq.org.
or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org

FLOORING STORE Big moments
Big
Big
VOTED #1
moments

FOR OVER 20 YEARS! DESERVE BIG MAZELS

Featuring:
• Lifetime Guaranteed
Installation
• Moving the Furniture
GREEN
SMALL
• Removal & Recycling AWARD 2018
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
OF THE YEAR
OF THE YEAR
AWARD 2018
of Old Carpet LONGBOAT KEY LONGBOAT KEY
CHAMBER
CHAMBER

G. Fried Sarasota | 941-584-8158
5990 South Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34231 Commemorate life’s big moments
M-F 9:30am-6pm | Sat 9:30am-5pm | Sun 12-4pm with a Federation Tribute!

G. Fried Tampa | 813-642-7100
231 Brandon Town Center Dr | Brandon, FL 33511
M-F 9:30am-7pm | Sat 9:30am-5pm | Sun 12-4pm

Your Source For Fine Flooring Since 1930 Call Bobbi at Or visit jfedsrq.org/tribute
Or visit jfedsrq.org/tribute
Call Paula at
GFriedFA.com 941.552.6304 to donate
to donate
941.552.6304

Check out our programs for all ages at jfedsrq.org/our-vibrant-community Stay informed throughout the month. Sign up for the Jewish Federation’s Enewsletter at www.jfedsrq.org.