Page 38 - Jewish News_may2021

38 May 2021 COMMENTARY

Combating antisemitism: We need swivel-headed Jews

By David Harris, CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC), February 3, 2021
or the last two decades, Amer- has also flexed its muscles, particular- of antisemitism? Of course it is, and of the Arab media.
ican Jewish Committee (AJC) ly in some strongholds in Western and has been acknowledged as such by the By all means, we must shout from
Fhas been blowing the whistle on Eastern Europe (and created interna- UN Secretary-General, French Presi- the rooftops our utter revulsion when
the rising tide of antisemitism world- tional networks with like-minded indi- dent and other astute leaders. Congresswoman Greene spouts her
wide. viduals and groups). Think groups and And when was the last time, for wacko theories, is assigned a seat on
When asked the source, our answer parties like AFD in Germany, Jobbik example, that anyone saw a protest the House Education Committee, en-
has always been the same, depending in Hungary, National Rally in France, by these self-professed human rights joys inexplicable support in her district
on the specific circumstances: Look in Nordic Resistance in Scandinavia, campaigners of the far left about mass and is reportedly attracting significant
one of three basic directions – far left, Golden Dawn in Greece, etc. In some murder in Syria; the Venezuelan gov- financial support.
far right and jihadists. Too many in our cases, they have even vied for (and ernment’s wholesale destruction of a Jewish dismay also needs to be
hyper-partisan world, however, would won) seats in regional and national country; North Korean concentration manifested when members of Con-
prefer to shy away from this trifocal parliaments. camps; or Iran’s serial violations of the gress, from the other end of the spec-
analysis. For them, it doesn’t neces- Grave as these challenges are, the rights of women, gays and religious trum and a different party, level toxic
sarily sit well politically, the facts be dangers for Jews, alas, don’t end here. minorities? dual-loyalty charges against Ameri-
damned. Nor, therefore, can our concern and fo- Their blatant selectivity speaks cans who support the U.S.-Israel rela-
But, true to AJC’s mission, we cus. volumes, even as they shout that to ask tionship, suggest that Israel is guilty of,
don’t have a particular ax to grind or, if For one thing, the far left also pos- such questions is only an attempted yes, blood libels, and support groups
you will, a “preferred” enemy to con- es daunting challenges, especially in distraction – “whataboutism” – when calling for Israel’s disappearance.
front. We’re a Jewish front-line, non- the academic, cultural and intellectual it’s actually an exposure of their hy- And add the small handful of fellow
partisan agency that doesn’t get to pick spheres, not to mention the political pocrisy. legislators who support them, as well
and choose our threats because they world, including now in the U.S. Con- But bifocal lenses aren’t sufficient, as those in Congress who endorsed
might suit a partisan outlook. gress. either. Trifocals are needed. their re-election last year and even,
Whether it’s the march in Charlot- Many in this arena seem to have Consider: Every fatal attack shockingly, contributed to their cam-
tesville and the chants of “Blood and a problem with one country on earth against Jews in Europe in recent years, paigns.
soil” and “Jews will not replace us,” (and its supporters) and it just happens except for Halle, Germany, has been In other words, those who genuine-
or the 11 victims of the shooting at the to be the only Jewish-majority nation carried out by Islamist extremists. ly care about antisemitism must open
Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, or the fatal- around, with a Jewish population of From the kosher supermarket in their eyes wide and be swivel-headed
ity at the synagogue in Poway, or the nearly seven million people. Paris to a Jewish school in Toulouse, and not allow partisan political think-
“Camp Auschwitz” neo-Nazis at the No other nation awakens the far from the Jewish Museum in Brussels ing to narrow the field of vision and
Capitol on January 6 or, most recently, left’s misguided passion in the way that to the synagogue in Copenhagen, from sense of outrage.
the crazed Republican Congresswom- Israel does. Only democratic Israel is the murders of Ilan Halimi and Sarah
an Marjorie Taylor Greene, who’s an constantly in their crosshairs. They cel- Halimi in Paris to the Israelis (and Bul- The AJC West Coast
embarrassment to her party and the ebrate self-determination for the Pales- garian) killed in Burgas, they were all Florida office,
nation, or the dark web that supports tinians, but would deny Jews the right perpetrated by jihadists.
the radical right, we know the threat to live and defend themselves in their Add to that the genocidal ambi- located in Sarasota,
from the far right is real, deadly and own ancestral homeland. tions of Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas,
urgent. Is this obsessive, relentless attempt incendiary Salafist teachings in some can be reached at
And as dangerous as it is here in to challenge the Jewish people’s na- madrassas around the world, and the 941.365.4955.
America, in recent years the far right tional aspirations not a dangerous form ubiquitous antisemitism in segments

Make someone

feel special

Have you ever been asked on their birthday

questions about Israel by making a donation
or antisemitism that in their name.

you can’t answer?

CRConnect, a program of
CR
t
onnec
C
the Heller CRC, addresses
these difficult questions
such as Palestinian vs. Israeli

sovereignty, Israel as a

“superpower,” the “Apartheid”
claim, peace in the region

and much more.

Read our monthly article and then visit
JFEDSRQ.org/CRConnect JFEDSRQ.org/CRConnect
to see the questions and learn the answers.
Call Bonnie at Or visit jfedsrq.org/tribute

941.343.2115 to donate
For more information, please visit
JFEDSRQ.ORG/hellercrc