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Antisemitism

Reps. Mondaire Jones and Ted Deutch Urge Biden Administration to Protect Safety of Religious Minorities and LGBTQI+ Community in Ukraine

March 18, 2022 by InsidePress

Today, Congressmen Mondaire Jones (D-NY) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) led 70 of their House colleagues in a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken urging them to do everything in their power to protect the rights and safety of Ukrainians who may be particularly vulnerable. Specifically, the lawmakers are calling on the Biden Administration to dedicate sufficient resources and attention to Ukrainian members of marginalized groups that have historically faced violence and persecution under Russian rule and occupation, including Jews and LGBTQI+ people.

“As you know, Ukrainian Jews experienced horrific waves of violence and persecution under Russian and Soviet rule and Nazi German occupation in the 20th century,” the lawmakers wrote. “In recent months, Russia’s aggressive rhetoric raised fears among members of Ukraine’s Jewish community who still have memories of the antisemitic violence of the last century.  On February 23, Vladimir Putin evoked the term “denazification” to explain his invasion of Ukraine–a nation led by a Jewish President–stating that the purpose of Russian military operations is to protect people facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by Ukrainian leadership.  As the Anti-Defamation League points out, Russia has instrumentalized antisemitism to influence domestic and foreign public opinion in its conflict with Ukraine.  This politicization of antisemitism can severely harm Jewish communities. Moreover, the dishonest use of the language of “denazification” as pretext, and the shocking March 1 attack on the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial, indicate that, in reality, Russia’s invasion poses significant risk to Ukrainian Jews.”

In their letter, the lawmakers ask the Biden Administration to: 

  • Ensure close and continued dialogue with organizations that serve Ukrainian members of marginalized groups, including religious minorities and LGBTQI+ people;
  • Fund and support shelters to serve vulnerable populations that face particular risk at the hands of Russian forces; 
  • Ensure U.S. Embassies in Eastern Europe are equipped to provide immediate assistance to those fleeing the Russian war in Ukraine; and
  • Provide assistance for transgender Ukrainian individuals whose visible gender does not match their documents as they cross checkpoints and international boundaries. 

“Additionally, we have received reports that highlight the extreme risks LGBTQI+ Ukrainians face at the hands of Russian forces,” the lawmakers continued. “As you know, LGBTQI+ people widely face discrimination and persecution in Russia. In Chechnya, reports have documented what has been described as a large-scale ‘anti-gay purge’ by Russian security forces.  When the killings of gay men began in Chechnya in 2017, the Trump Administration was slow to respond and failed to work with organizations that resettle LGBTQI+ people who faced danger. We cannot repeat the previous administration’s mistakes. Russia’s military presence in Ukraine endangers the lives of LGBTQI+ Ukrainians and reverses the progress that country has made toward equality.”

As Representatives for two of the largest Jewish communities in the country, Reps. Jones and Deutch have been strong advocates for the global Jewish community and have been leaders in the fight against antisemitism. Most recently, Rep. Jones co-led a letter, signed by Rep. Deutch, calling on House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro to increase funding for FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program after the horrific antisemitic attack on Congregation Beth Shalom in Colleyville, Texas. Rep. Deutch leads the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, on which Rep. Jones also serves, and sits on the Interparliamentary Task Force on Online Antisemitism.

As the first openly gay, Black member of Congress and Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Rep. Jones has also fought to affirm LGBTQI+ justice, from voting to pass the Equality Act in the House, including his own bill, the Juror-Nondiscrimination Act, to co-leading the Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth Act. And as a Vice Chair of the Equality Caucus, Chair of the LGBTQ Aging Issues Task Force, and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Deutch has been a consistent advocate for the LGBTQI+ community and global human rights.

The letter can be found here and below.

Dear President Biden and Secretary Blinken,

We write to express our deep concern for the safety of the Ukrainian people following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. At this critical time, we thank you for your strong leadership in uniting the United States and our allies against Vladimir Putin’s unjust war. As we take action to aid Ukraine in its defense, we ask that you do all you can to protect the rights and safety of Ukrainians who may be particularly vulnerable. Specifically, we urge you to dedicate sufficient resources and attention to Ukrainian members of marginalized groups that have historically faced violence and persecution under Russian rule and occupation. 

The recently adopted U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership confirms the United States’ and Ukraine’s shared dedication to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as “fighting racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and discrimination, including against Roma and members of the LGBTQI+ communities.”  Now that Russia has launched an unjust war against Ukraine, it is critical to uphold these principles and work with our partners to protect the rights and safety of marginalized Ukrainians. Among the most vulnerable are historically persecuted religious minorities and LGBTQI+ people. 

As you know, Ukrainian Jews experienced horrific waves of violence and persecution under Russian and Soviet rule and Nazi German occupation in the 20th century. In recent months, Russia’s aggressive rhetoric raised fears among members of Ukraine’s Jewish community who still have memories of the antisemitic violence of the last century.  On February 23, Vladimir Putin evoked the term “denazification” to explain his invasion of Ukraine–a nation led by a Jewish President–stating that the purpose of Russian military operations is to protect people facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by Ukrainian leadership.  As the Anti-Defamation League points out, Russia has instrumentalized antisemitism to influence domestic and foreign public opinion in its conflict with Ukraine.  This politicization of antisemitism can severely harm Jewish communities. Moreover, the dishonest use of the language of “denazification” as pretext, and the shocking March 1 attack on the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial, indicate that, in reality, Russia’s invasion poses significant risk to Ukrainian Jews.

Additionally, we have received reports that highlight the extreme risks LGBTQI+ Ukrainians face at the hands of Russian forces. As you know, LGBTQI+ people widely face discrimination and persecution in Russia. In Chechnya, reports have documented what has been described as a large-scale “anti-gay purge” by Russian security forces.  When the killings of gay men began in Chechnya in 2017, the Trump Administration was slow to respond and failed to work with organizations that resettle LGBTQI+ people who faced danger. We cannot repeat the previous administration’s mistakes. Russia’s military presence in Ukraine endangers the lives of LGBTQI+ Ukrainians and reverses the progress that country has made toward equality.

For these reasons, we urge you to:

  • Ensure close and continued dialogue with organizations that serve Ukrainian members of marginalized groups, including religious minorities and LGBTQI+ people;
  • Fund and support shelters to serve vulnerable populations that face particular risk at the hands of Russian forces; 
  • Ensure U.S. Embassies in Eastern Europe are equipped to provide immediate assistance to those fleeing the Russian war in Ukraine; and
  • Provide assistance for transgender Ukrainian individuals whose visible gender does not match their documents as they cross checkpoints and international boundaries. 

Russian forces have demonstrated a lack of respect for international law and human rights during military operations in recent years. As Russia continues its unjust attack on Ukraine, we urge you to do all you can to protect Ukrainians who are especially at-risk in this conflict.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this urgent matter. 

 

Editor’s Note: This post is info received from the Office of Congressman Mondaire Jones.

Filed Under: International Tagged With: Antisemitism, LGBTQI+, Ukraine

Nearly 800 Attended Community-Wide Program to Learn About Initiatives to Combat Antisemitism and Hate

January 18, 2020 by The Inside Press

(l-r) Mark Weitzman; Audrey Stein, Regional Director, UJA-Federation; Hindy Poupko, Elliot Forchheimer, CEO, Westchester Jewish Council; Westchester DA, Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.

WHITE PLAINS, NY (January 10, 2019) Nearly 800 members of the Westchester community attended “Anti-Semitism: What We Face and How We Fight It,” a discussion about the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and abroad, and Westchester’s efforts to combat hatred. The event, presented by UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester, in collaboration with Westchester Jewish Council, took place on Wednesday, January 8, at Temple Israel Center in White Plains.

(l-r) Mark Weitzman; Lisa Roberts, President (Mahopac), Westchester Jewish Council; Hindy Poupko; Arlene Kleinberg (New Rochelle), Cindy Golub (Mamaroneck), Westchester DA, Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.

Cindy Golub of Mamaroneck, UJA Regional Chair, welcomed the attendees, and Arlene Kleinberg of New Rochelle, UJA Westchester Annual Campaign Chair, introduced the evening’s guest speakers. The program featured three experts who provided insight into the rise of anti-Semitism and what is being done to address the challenge.

Westchester District Attorney, Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. opened the program and shared insights into the work that his office does to create a safer and more secure community. The Westchester Intelligence Center, a unit of the DA’s office, ensures hate crimes are prosecuted appropriately and justice is served. Mark Weitzman, Director of Government Affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center provided historical context about anti-Semitism, reminding the audience that anti-Semitism is not new – we are simply seeing the growth of what has always been present.

(l-r) Laurie Girsky (Mamaroneck), Chair, UJA Women; Tris Berger (Scarsdale), Chair, Westchester Women; Arlene Kleinberg (New Rochelle), Cindy Golub (Mamaroneck)

Hindy Poupko, Deputy Chief Planning Officer at UJA-Federation of New York concluded the formal remarks with an overview of the many initiatives that UJA-Federation is undertaking to combat anti-Semitism including making a major investment in security. “We are embarking on a new, multi-million-dollar effort to engage in a wholesale upgrade of our community security infrastructure”, said Poupko. This includes the hiring of former NYPD director of intelligence analysis, Mitchell Silber, as UJA’s new Community Security Director to lead a team of five locally based security directors. In addition, a new position will support the specific security needs of Jewish day and residential camps.

Beyond enhancing security, UJA is strengthening community relations efforts with non-Jewish groups, advocating for critical government support, helping organizations access government security funding and empowering college students with tools to engage in healthy discourse about Israel on campus.

The program concluded with the speakers responding to questions submitted by the audience.

Nearly 800 people attended “Anti-Semitism: What We Face and How We Fight” presented by UJA-Federation of New York in collaboration with Westchester Jewish Council.

 

About UJA-Federation of New York

For more than 100 years, UJA-Federation has brought New Yorkers together to solve some of the most pressing problems facing our community. Through UJA, more than 50,000 donors impact the issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape our Jewish future. Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA extends its reach from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching the lives of 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

 

News courtesy of the UJA-Federation of New York

 

Filed Under: Not for Profit News Tagged With: Anthony Scarpino, Antisemitism, fighting antisemitism, initiatives, security, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Temple Israel Center, UJA Federation of New York, Westchester, Westchester Jewish Council

Anti-Semitism and Sports Global Symposium: Sept. 25 at Fordham University

September 18, 2019 by The Inside Press

‘The Realities of Anti-Semitism’ in sports and in society at large, and all its challenges, will be addressed via the viewpoints anticipated by 15 esteemed speakers at a September 25th Global Symposium sponsored by Fordham University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies in conjuction with Final Whistle on Hate. The summit aims to bring about understanding and change. For a full agenda, list of speakers, and to
purchase tickets: https://www.fordham.edu/info/29262/global_symposium_on_sports_and_society_anti-semitism_and_sports

 

 Click here to go directly to the event page.

TICKETS:
$95 (FULL DAY)
Reduced pricing available for high school
and college students,
Fordham staff, faculty, students: free of charge.

– Registration required 

Filed Under: Not for Profit News Tagged With: Anti-Semitism, Anti-Semitism and Sports, Antisemitism, Final Whistle on Hate, Fordham University, Global Symposium, Summit

NAME IT TO FIGHT IT! IT’S ANTISEMITISM!

September 17, 2019 by The Inside Press

Editor’s Note: A vital bipartisan/nonpartisan gathering (it’s for anyone of any political persuasion!) who wishes to convey their acknowledgment and protest against the spike in antisemitism that we are witnessing from NYC to London. Enough is enough.

IN RESPONSE TO WAVE OF VIOLENT ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS 13 JEWISH ADVOCACY GROUPS FORM COALITION, LAUNCH PROTESTS IN NEW YORK AND LONDON

New York, NY – In response to a string of violent attacks targeting the Jewish Community, Women Fight Antisemitism announces partnership with 12 Jewish Advocacy groups to combat Antisemitism beginning with protests in both New York and London on September 22, 2019

NYC Location: Mayor’s Office at NYC City Hall, 249-243 Broadway NYC 10007 Date/Time: September 22, 2019,12:00PM – 2:00PM (EST)
Event Page: ​https://womenfightantisemitism.org/events
Facebook URL: ​https://facebook.com/events/404143820453764
Directions Link: ​https://goo.gl/maps/G1NgFFx9G6D9H4Js7

UK Location: Golders Green, London, UK
Date/Time: September 22, 2019 5:00PM (UTC)
Facebook URL: ​https://facebook.com/events/369891873901814

The growing Coalition and ​NAME IT TO FIGHT IT! IT’S ANTISEMITISM! are being launched in response to an unprecedented wave of violence perpetrated against the Jewish Community. These are savage and unprovoked brutal attacks targeted at one community and one community only: Jews. The media networks and the mayors of major cities such as New York City and London are entirely responsible for naming and fighting these attacks. When the majority of people in Park Slope, just one neighborhood from Crown Heights, are not informed by the mayor and major news networks that visibly Jewish Americans are getting bricks thrown at them by Antisemites, we must hold the mayors and the major news networks of these cities accountable. This is a major issue. It must be given major attention.

1. WoMen Fight AntiSemitism​ ​is a nonpartisan group welcoming all genders and races to fight for equality and against AntiSemitism ​http://womenfightantisemitism.org
Nissan Jacobs,​ ​info@womenfightantisemitism.org

2. Yad Yamin – New York​ ​is a grassroots Zionist movement that is dedicated to exposing, addressing and confronting anti-Semitic activity in NYC. ​https://facebook.com/Yad-Yamin-New-York Karen Lichtbraun, ​klb910@gmail.com 3. Eye On Antisemitism​ (UK) monitoring anti-Semitism online and social media since 2008 http://eyeonantisemitism.co.uk
Ambrosine Shitrit, eyeonantisemitism@gmail.com

4. Campaign4Truth​ (UK) promotes understanding & context of the Jewish Diaspora, Israel and the Middle East. ​https://facebook.com/pg/campaign4T
Sharon Klaff, campaign4t@gmail.com

5. Combat Anti-Semitism​ is a non-partisan, international, grassroots movement of individuals and organizations, across all religions and creeds, united to combat the global rise of anti-Semitism. ​https://combatantisemitism.org
Emma Enig, emmaenig@gmail.com

6. Americans Against Antisemitism​, established by former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, is a grassroots coalition that mobilizes supporters to take social action against antisemites.​ ​https://americansaa.org
Israel Bitton, HikindPR@gmail.com

7. Stop Antisemitism​ is a part of a non-profit foundation that works to hold antisemites accountable and to create consequences for their bigoted actions by exposing the threat that they present to all Americans and showing how their ideologies conflict with American values, morals, and principles. ​https://stopantisemitism.org
Liora Rez, ​Liora@stopantisemitism.org

8. National​ ​Conference of Jewish Affairs​ (NJCA)​, Rabbi Aryeh Spero is author of “PUSH BACK: Reclaiming OurAmerican Judeo-Christian Spirit” and is president of Caucus For America.

9. ZOA​ was f​ounded in 1897, the Zionist Organization of America (“ZOA”) is the oldest pro-Israel organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1897, the Zionist Organization of America has been fighting for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Under the leadership of such illustrious presidents as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, and current National President Morton A. Klein, the ZOA has been on the front lines of Jewish activism.
https://zoa.org

Filed Under: Just Between Us Tagged With: Americans Against Antisemitism, Antisemitism, Campaign4Truth, City Hall, Combat Anti-Semitism, Combat Antisemitism, Golders Green, London, Name it to Fight it, New York City, Stop Antisemitism, Women Fight Antisemitism, Yad Yamin, Zionist Organization of America

Getting to Know Harriet Schleifer: A Soulful and Courageous New President for the American Jewish Committee

August 24, 2019 by Grace Bennett

I knew I was going to like Harriet Schleifer–the newly appointed 66-year-old president of the venerable American Jewish Committee (AJC)–upon noticing a large coffee table book about singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. She immediately commented on the impact of Cohen’s singing and his songs in her life, “the sensory experiences,” and shared impressions of the current exhibit (‘A Crack in Everything’ at the Jewish Museum in New York City (she loved it). “I discovered him as a teenager,” said Schleifer. “That voice. He was so soulful…”

Schleifer described the AJC mission as vital during this painful period of history in which we are witnessing a surge in antisemitism here and around the globe. From 2017 to 2018, the number of antisemitic incidents was up 74% in France and 16% in the UK. In 2018, 58% of all religious bias hate crimes in the U.S. targeted Jews.  AJC Paris worked closely with the French government on developing a plan to combat antisemitism. One outcome was the creation of a senior government position-the Interministerial Delegate to Combat Racism and Antisemitism.

To get a sense of what drives Schleifer, we also delved into her multiple other roles over the years such as a Student Advocacy attorney in Elmsford, her assorted philanthropic efforts and leadership roles, and her ultimate challenges (and rewards, too) as a mom to a special-needs son. More on that, later.

Harriet Schleifer at home. Photo By Grace Bennett

We shared our stories of tragedy… being children of survivors. Schleifer’s parents survived Hasag, a forced labor camp. Her parent’s families were sent to their deaths in Treblinka; many in my own family perished in Auschwitz. The near two-hour interview took place in the living room of Schleifer’s beautiful and spacious home in Chappaqua. Schleifer is an empty nester living with her husband, Len, the love of her life who she met in junior high school, and the co-founder of a Tarrytown-based bio tech company. She speaks lovingly of Len and of her two sons, a 38-year-old federal prosecutor in California, and of a 33-year old son with developmental disabilities.

I asked Schleifer for her interpretation of how the upward spike has happened, what it means here in the States, and where do we go from here.

She noted wistfully that the AJC had tracked a particularly alarming surge in France 17 years ago. “We asked the French government if they were aware. The French are tolerant and don’t like to identify by demographics so whenever any hate crimes or bias crimes they had no stats going back that many years–there are no IDs of perpetrators or victims. There is now an organization, The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, that is focused on antisemitism and has issued ground-breaking surveys of Jews in European countries.

“This is very important information: we’re seeing a spike of acceptance to racist words and actions that we haven’t seen before. It’s becoming more common; people are desensitized. It’s a slippery slope. We need to be vigilant. And definitely define when a hate crime is also antisemitism.”

She emphasized that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism has been adopted by several countries in Europe and in Canada. “We need to understand what antisemitism looks like so we can use that information as a tool to train anyone (such as police or teachers); we each have a civic responsibility to stand up to it.”

Meanwhile, the AJC views itself as “fiercely bi partisan” as they work on “securing the safety and well-being of Jews around the world, the security of Israel, and to enhance and ensure democratic values for all globally.” Schleifer also said the AJC’s work is influenced by Elie Wiesel, who had said, “What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor but the silence of the bystander.”

Antisemitic Tropes: “Back in Vogue”

I asked Schleifer to define the ‘slippery slope’ she mentioned; in true bipartisan fashion, she brought up antisemitic offenses across the political spectrum. She suggested that both extremes have employed the antisemitic trope that raises the specter of Jews as possessed of great power and controlling institutions. “It is back in vogue,” she said, whether it was being used in the language of the ‘Unite the Right’ marchers in Charlottesville or in other arenas.

“Jews will not replace us” is a fascist Nazi trope, and there were many who chanted it,” said Schleifer.

The use of terms like ‘Benjamins’–even though it came from a hip-hop song–it still recalls an old trope…There is a lack of education. But words are important. You may also not realize that you are using a term that is offensive to another culture.  So, let’s sit down and learn from each other!… And that includes people of all stripes!”

New Black/Jewish Caucus — AJC’s Role

From here, Schleifer expressed her pride in the AJC’s instrumental role in aiding and encouraging a Black Jewish caucus in Congress that was launched by four Congressional reps and has already expanded. AJC hopes this will launch into a reconnection to the concerns we shared during the civil rights movement. For whatever reason over time, these ties have dissipated. We want to encourage people coming together to recognize what they have in common.”

Schleifer said she will be rooting for the Caucus. “The announcement was made at our AJC Global Forum in June in DC. We take great pride in being there at the outset. It’s very important to me. Our Atlanta office is taking the lead, with their wonderful history of Black-Jewish relationships.”

On Bridge Building

Another AJC initiative bringing people together, said Schleifer, is a Muslim Jewish Advisory Council launched in 2016. “It is a semi-autonomous group comprised of very impressive business, civil and religious leaders who have seen their efforts result in the passage of anti-hate legislation. But we work very closely to support and facilitate it.”

The AJC, contends Schleifer, is all about “inter-religious bridge building, not only domestically, but also internationally.” She said that the AJC is not only bi partisan, but non-partisan. “We work both sides of the aisle. There’s no room for partisanship. We work toward values that everyone should be on board with. We write Amicus briefs. We submitted one against political gerrymandering and another, in favor of immigration reform.”

It was time to ask: Who is Harriet Schleifer? Over the interview’s course, her intense connection to her Jewish roots were visible–from both the lovely Judaica art in her home and the Magen David pendant she says she has worn proudly in nearly the 35 countries she has traveled to representing the AJC.

We began with a conversation about the Holocaust, and frankly, we both held back tears as we exchanged information.

“I was made aware from the time I had any receptive language, during my toddler years, what my parents went through. My father worked very long hours doing jobs he had to teach himself. In his later years, he spoke to my sister and me. My mother never held back. I learned that she had a fiancé who got killed, then a husband who got killed, and then she married my dad. I learned most of my mother’s family was sent to Treblinka save for one brother. The last time she saw her mother, they squeezed hands on the selection line and went in different directions…

“These are very traumatic things to hear as a baby. My father was the sole survivor of his family. His two-year older brother and father were all on a line together; they sent his father and brother in the other direction.”

Growing up with this history, first in the Bronx and then in Rego Park, Queens, Schleifer gradually gained a sense of responsibility that she would need to tell this story to future generations. “Why should all those people have died in vain? They cannot. It is up to us. If you feel the responsibility, you must also act on it.  Everything I do is with an eye to Jewish values and culture and history.”

Her advocacy and activism within the AJC, in the meantime, requires patience, persistence and considerable courage to reach far across political positions and world views. In ‘Project Interchange,’ for example, AJC brings non-Jews in academia, media, religious, civic and diplomatic life to authentically experience reality on the ground.  Delegates meet with Israeli Arabs and usually travel to Ramallah to meet with PA representatives and other key Palestinians in the West Bank.

The Emerging Leader

Schleifer’s advocacy for Jewish communities gradually grew and then surged after moving to Chappaqua in 1988. She joined Bet Torah Synagogue and ultimately became its President. Her ascent to the AJC presidency followed active involvement with the Jewish organizations ORT, UJA, and, also, the Westchester Jewish Council.  “One day, a Chappaqua resident and then another asked me if I knew anything about AJC. I’d never hear of it. A couple years went by and I was asked to help sponsor a Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center. “That appealed to me, and it’s now in its 17th year!” AJC was, fortuitously for Schleifer, a co-sponsor.

At the time, Schleifer was working as an attorney for Student Advocacy. “A lot of my clients were Latino, and so I got involved in the interfaith work of AJC–Hispanic Heritage Day–and other committees. This led to becoming president of the Westchester office in White Plains, and then joining its national board of governors, bringing Schleifer eventually to her present position.  AJC, headquartered in NYC, has 22 regional offices in the U.S., 12 international posts and 37 international partnerships with Jewish communities around the world, and hundreds of thousands of supporters and followers globally.

Her earlier volunteerism with ORT and UJA came more naturally, as her “heart was pulled toward human services.” Schleifer’s father’s brother was trained by ORT in Poland. “Those personal relationships speak to me. Then, after that, I had a child born with significant special needs, who at 33 happily resides at the Chapel Haven Schleifer Center community in New Haven.

“I don’t think it was coincidental.  I always had an eye for those who needed a voice or who needed to be brought in–and then I had my child. My natural bent has been to help.” Eventually, however, something felt ‘missing.’  The introduction to AJC offered new horizons for Schleifer “that continue to excite me every single day.”

“I still appreciate and contribute to the human service organizations, that will never go away, but the thrust of my energy now is on bridge building. I feel that’s where I can be most effective… and on “moving the needle to changing hearts and minds.”

Schleifer is certainly well educated for the task. She is a Cornell University graduate, holds two graduate degrees in higher education from the University of Virginia and a law degree from St. John’s University in New York City. And, she is clear that she has solid support at home.

Schleifer met her husband when they were in junior high school. “We started dating when I was 16 and he was 17. I followed him to Cornell. She described Len as “simpatico. Over the years, having a special needs son introduced stress, and it was hard.

But we are like minded and we support our son in every which way.”  Their immense partnership and bond, she said, makes her activism possible.

Adoption of IHRA

At this point, the conversation turned back to AJC’s distinct role “as the number one global Jewish advocacy organization. One goal today is its work to see the IHRA definition of antisemitism adopted around the world. She said the US State Department has adopted and used the definition. “There’s bipartisan acceptance. It can get complicated responding to antisemitic speech given first amendment rights of free speech, at least outside of special environments such as the classroom or the workplace. And another question: How far can you go before speech tilts to incitement of violence?  You have the right to criticize Israel but there comes a point where anti-Zionism masks anti-Semitism and that calls for a response to ensure that this form of antisemitism does not become normal.

“We see that in the BDS movement… If you bar an Israeli academic from coming, that is a total subversion of academic freedom. It turns freedom of expression upside down. Many states have passed legislation that prohibits businesses contracting with the state from boycotting Israel. So we already have protections in the commercial sphere.”

Addressing the BDS Movement on College Campuses

“BDS proponents stifling Jewish organizations and programs on campus is absolutely unproductive. AJC’s goal is to build bridges, not tear them down. There’s a lot of miseducation and lack of education that we need to address. A lot of BDS supporters haven’t even been to Israel.”

As for the gains BDS has made on college campuses, Schleifer said “younger people are too removed from what happened in Europe so they’re trying to figure out how to respond to the rise.

“But now we have to wake up… and educate young people. People talk about Israel and the occupation; the word ‘occupation’ is anathema to young people here. I’ve testified in the Knesset regarding the connection between American Jews and Israeli Jews. We are relatives who don’t know each other. Israeli priorities are security and economics. We U.S. Jews are not running into shelters with 15 seconds to take cover before a rocket hits…”

American Jews, living in relative comfort, have trouble relating to the fears Israelis live with, Schleifer explained. “We don’t understand why some Israelis have a hard time giving up settlements–not that I’m in favor, I don’t think they’re helpful at all–but we don’t really have the visceral understanding of fear of giving up land. We don’t know each other’s realities the way we think we do.”

Even among Israel’s most strident critics, Schleifer said, a trip there can profoundly change one’s perspective. “When we take non-Jews to Israel, we not only expose them to their counterparts, we also invite Arab Israelis to meet with them. We go into Ramallah.”

The AJC delegations are intended to be “an authentic look at what’s happening on the street, even if it’s critical of Israel. If you understand the reality on the ground, if you come back after an educated experience, then you can come back and talk. I don’t want to hear voices that are uni-dimensional.”

Key to AJC’s mission too is to make sure Israel is treated as a normal country along with the other 192 countries in the world. AJC regularly addresses some very real bias against Israel at the United Nations, such as with human rights votes that target Israel, and only Israel. They monitor anti-Israel bias in other institutions as well.

“When UNESCO officially refers to various historic sites in Jerusalem with only their Arabic names–that’s a problem. Because that denies the connection of Jews to the land of Israel. The fact that someone would deny the historic continuity of Jews in that part of the world and question the legitimacy of a Jewish state–that is what we advocate against. We want every country to recognize and accept the legitimacy of the Jewish state of Israel. And as our only democracy in the region.”

Schleifer cited a successful campaign encouraging U.S. mayors and governors to officially fight against anti-Semitism. The Mayor’s campaign against antisemitism, which drew more than 350 U.S. mayors and municipal leaders from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (plus more than 200 European mayors in 31 countries) signed the agreement. This campaign was entirely an AJC initiative.

The interview began to wind down with Schleifer encouraging my own interest fighting anti-Semitism:

“I have a philosophy: if you’re able, you must… If you have the time, then get involved in something that will make the world better,” she said. “If you’re able to help somebody, just do it. If I can speak out for Jews around the world… I can’t think of a better use of my time.”

After I left, I thought back to our initial discussion of the Cohen songbook. “He was receptive to different religious views,” Schleifer had noted.

In the song Hallelujah, Cohen evokes his Jewish roots.

“What would Cohen be doing if he were alive today about the spike in anti-Semitism?” I had asked.

“He was such a sensitive person. He would be writing about it, of course,” Schleifer said. “It goes to the core of decency.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: AJC, American Jewish Committee, Antisemitism, Black Jewish Caucus, Building Bridges, Courageous, Democratic values, Harriet Schleifer, IHRA, Leonard Cohen, Project Interchange, Soulful

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