Standing Together against Anti-Semitism

  

Dear friends, 

 

In the wake of last Saturday's attack in Monsey, as well as the attacks over the last 14 months in Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City and the near daily, violent incidents targeting Jews in New York City, Jews across the country are increasingly asking, Am I safe engaging in Jewish life?  Am I safe on the street, in the subway, in the grocery store, in synagogue?

Clyde Haberman, a veteran New York Times reporter, tweeted on Sunday: "Two years ago, maybe even a year ago, I was prepared to chalk off the rise of anti-Semitism in this country as an unfortunate blip. No longer.  This cancer, on both the right and the left, must be stopped before Philip Roth's 'The Plot Against America' becomes reality."

On Monday night, with seven hours' notice, over 400 came together in West Hartford at a rally organized by the Federation to underscore, along with key regional leaders, that we have the capacity and the will to confront and overcome this resurgent virus of hate - and to do so with unabashed pride, confidence and determination.

Government officials and law enforcement professionals at the rally and at an emergency meeting on Thursday emphasized that they are working diligently to address security needs and combat anti-Semitism.  Security funding at the state and federal level is being significantly expanded.  New education and community engagement initiatives are also being considered. 

 

The Federation will soon introduce a new, community wide effort to elevate the security of local Jewish institutions, provide comprehensive security training to the Jewish community, enhance law enforcement relations and intelligence sharing, organize crisis communication and help secure necessary funding for further security upgrades.   

We were also joined on Monday night by diverse religious leaders, good friends who recognize that anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem and doesn't just affect the Jewish community.  Combating extremism and ensuring that our community remains safe, inclusive and welcoming for all its residents must involve all faith communities.  

There is no single all-encompassing response to anti-Semitism.  Better intelligence, more expansive police coverage, enhanced institutional security, expanded anti-bias programming and continued support from the broader community are all critical.

Writing in The Atlantic this week about the recent attacks, Deborah Lipstadt concludes with the following:

Jews have taken and are taking anti-Semitism very seriously. Non-Jews must do the same.  You must do so, not solely for the sake of the well-being of your Jewish neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens. (Though that would be laudable.) You must do so for the sake of the well-being of the societies in which you live. No healthy democracy can afford to tolerate anti-Semitism in its midst. It is one of the long-term signs of rot in that democracy. If you care about democracy, you should care about the Jews among you, and the anti-Semites too.

The measure of a community is not whether incidents of bigotry and bias occur.  The measure of a community is how it responds. We have much work to do, but on Monday night our leaders, our allies and our community stood united and resolute in responding to the growing virus of anti-Semitism in America.

Media coverage of the rally can be found at the links below.  

 

Fox 61

 

Hartford Courant

 

We-Ha.com 

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

  

David Waren 

President and CEO

Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford