The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) announced that more than 300,000 individuals have now joined CAM’s coalition, pledging their support in the fight against anti-Semitism. Since its launch in February 2019, in addition to 300,000 grassroots individuals, more than 295 organizations have also joined CAM to confront anti-Semitism on all sides of the ideological spectrum. Read Here
This week, an Anne Frank memorial in Idaho – as well as a Jewish Cemetery and Holocaust monument in northern Greece – were desecrated by vandals. Jewish passengers on a train in Belgium faced a bomb threat, while Americans observed the first anniversary of the Jersey City Kosher Market murders.
As Jewish communities around the world begin celebrating Hanukkah, our movement finds inspiration for hope. CAM has long highlighted the work of our partner IMPACT-se on the issue of anti-Semitic teachings in Palestinian schools – and now Norway has announced it will suspend aid to the Palestinian Authority over anti-Semitic textbooks. Meanwhile, Morocco announced a historic normalization agreement with Israel.
As the Covid-19 vaccines begins distribution, we hope to also succeed against the cultural virus of Jew-hatred. Hanukkah is a holiday of miracles, rededication, and triumph over those who sought the cultural and religious elimination of the Jewish people. Just as the Maccabees did in ancient Israel, our task is to mobilize a new generation in victory over the scourge of contemporary anti-Semitism. May the lights of Hanukkah illuminate the year ahead for all of our 300,000 grassroots supporters, our 300 coalition partners, and for all people of conscience around the entire world.
THIS WEEK’S CONTENT
SPECIAL FEATURE
COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM MOVEMENT REACHES 300,000 MEMBERS MILESTONE AS ACTIVITIES CONTINUE TO EXPAND
By CAM
NOW IS THE TIME TO DEFEAT ANTI-SEMITISM ONCE AND FOR ALL
By Misha Galperin, Senior Advisor to the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement
Senior Advisor to the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement wrote a recent op-ed in the Algemeiner proscribing how members of society must band together to defeat anti-Semitism in our times. “All that is required is the willingness and fortitude of good people to join the fight. Let that time be now,” Galperin writes. Read Here
BRUCE BUCK, CHAIRMAN OF CHELSEA FC, SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR SPORTS CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD
By CAM
Bruce Buck is the Chairman of Chelsea Football Club, a British football club, with millions of fans around the world. Chairman Bruce Buck and Club Owner Roman Abramovich have made fighting anti-Semitism a priority. The club launched “Say No to Antisemitism” in order to educate its players, supporters, and football fans generally about the dangers of prejudice and hatred. CAM spoke to Bruce Buck to learn more about how Chelsea’s campaign touched millions around the world. Read Here
CHELSEA FC LAUNCH EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITION ABOUT JEWISH ATHLETES DURING HOLOCAUST
By CAM
Chelsea Football Club, in partnership British-Israli street artist Solomon Souza, launched an exhibition called “49 Flames – Jewish Athletes and the Holocaust”. The club commissioned the exhibition “to create a commemorative mural of Jewish football players who perished during the Holocaust.” “49 Flames,” refers to the number of Jewish Olympic medalists who were killed during the Holocaust, bringing to life the little-know history of Jewish athletes who perished. Read Here
WATCH: ONE ISRAELI SONG UNITED MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Israeli singer Yair Levi composed a song for his sick grandmother when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. His song, “El Na Refa Na La,” from the biblical verse meaning “Please G-d Heal Her,” was released to the world and captured the hearts of Christian communities everywhere. The song went viral around the world, helping to bring communities of all faiths and background together during this difficult time. Watch this inspiring video below. Read Here
A HANUKKAH COMIC: NEVER AGAIN? FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN ANTI-SEMITISM
By Andrew Galitzer
Andrew Galitzer, a young Jewish artist from South Florida, channeled his talent to create weekly comics that educate people of all ages on the weekly Torah portion and holidays. Like many, he is deeply concerned about the increase in anti-Semetic attacks around the world. After researching the tremendous impact anti-Semetic cartoons have had throughout history, he decided to make a cartoon that encourages people to stand up for Jews. Read Here
UNITED STATES
ANNE FRANK MEMORIAL IN BOISE, IDAHO, VANDALIZED WITH SWASTIKA STICKERS
By Ben Sales
A statue of Anne Frank in Boise, Idaho, was vandalized with stickers bearing swastikas and the message “We are everywhere.” The Boise Police Department found and removed nine of the stickers from the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. One of the stickers was placed over the diary held by the sculpture. Read Here
ARIZONA MAN SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN NEO-NAZI PLOT TARGETING JOURNALISTS
By LAUREL WAMSLEY
Johnny Roman Garza, 21, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for his role in a Neo-Nazi group’s plot to threaten and intimidate journalists. Garza admitted in September to conspiring with three other members of the Neo-Nazi group the Atomwaffen Division to identify journalists and others whose work exposed anti-Semitism. Read Here
WORLD NEWS
United Kingdom
POLICE INVESTIGATING STABBING OF TWO WOMEN IN BURNLEY AFTER ANTI-SEMITIC RHETORIC REPORTEDLY SHOUTED AT THE SCENE
By Campaign Against Antisemitism
Two women were stabbed inside a Marks & Spencer department store in Burnley amid claims that anti-Semitic rhetoric was shouted at the scene. A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Courageous shoppers and staff restrained the suspect as he shouted anti-Semitic comments. Read Here
ISLAMIC EXTREMIST JAILED FOR TERROR OFFENCES HAD WAGED CAMPAIGN OF HATE AGAINST LONDON’S JEWISH COMMUNITY
By Lee Harpin
An Islamic extremist jailed for more than eight years at the Old Bailey last month after sharing terrorist material had waged a four year long campaign of hate against London’s Jewish community. A new report from the Community Security Trust (CST) detailed the full extent of Shehroz Iqbal’s anti-Semitic activities ahead of his sentencing. Read Here
GERMANY
HALLE SYNAGOGUE SHOOTER DENIES THE HOLOCAUST IN CLOSING STATEMENT OF HIS TRIAL
By JTA
The perpetrator of a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Halle, Germany denied the Holocaust during his closing statement in court. The attacker said he carried out the attack because he believed “Jews were ruining Germany.” Read Here
MEDIEVAL ANTI-SEMITIC CARVINGS ON GERMAN CHURCHES SHOULD BE EXPLAINED, NOT REMOVED, EXPERT PANEL RECOMMENDS
By Ben Cohen
Gruesome anti-Semitic statues and carvings on churches in the German state of Bavaria dating from the medieval period should not be removed, but “visibly and easily” explained by accompanying information, a panel of Jewish representatives, church officials and members of the government examining the problem concluded. Read Here
THE MIDDLE EAST
SENIOR SAUDI ROYAL LAUNCHES BLISTERING TIRADE AGAINST COLONISING ISRAELIS
By Mathilde Frost
A senior member of the Saudi royal family launched a public tirade against Israel in a signal that hopes for a normalisation deal between the two countries may be premature. Prince Turki al-Faisal said that despite Israel’s claims it seeks friendship with Saudi Arabia, all its “governments are the last of the western colonising powers of the Middle East.” Read Here
PALESTINIAN TV SHOW FEATURES SONG EXPLICILTY CALLING FOR MURDER OF ISRAELIS
By JNS
A song inciting Palestinians to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis was aired in recent weeks on official Palestinian Authority TV. For example, “I’m Coming Towards You, My Enemy” calls for murder and promises Israelis—“my enemy”—that they will be attacked with rifles, cleavers and knives. Read Here
THE ANTI-SEMITIC FORGERY THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION IS “AN IMPORTANT BOOK,” SAYS PA TV
By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
OTHER WORLD NEWS
GREEK POLICE ARREST ANTI-SEMITIC VANDAL WHO DEFACED JEWISH CEMETARY AND HOLOCAUST MONUMENT
By Algemeiner
Greek police announced that a man accused of defacing a Jewish cemetery and a monument to the Holocaust with the words “Jesus Christ Conquers” had been arrested. The vandalism occurred in the city of Larissa in northern Greece. Witnesses said that a middle-aged man brandishing a sign with Christian religious symbols spray-painted the slogan in black upon the wall of the cemetery as well as the Holocaust monument. Read Here
4 PASSENGERS THREATEN TO BLOW UP BELGIAN TRAIN UNLESS ‘CANCER JEWS’ GET OFF
By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ
Police in Belgium are looking for four men who used a train’s public address system to threaten a bombing of the vehicle near Antwerp unless Jewish passengers step off. The passengers took control of the public address system and said in Flemish, “Attention, attention. The cancer Jews need to leave the train now or we’ll blow you all up,” witnesses said. Read Here
ON CAMPUS
U OF T LAUNCHES WORKING GROUP TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM ON CAMPUS
By U of T News
The University of Toronto launched an Anti-Semitism Working Group to examine and address anti-Semitism on campus – and to ensure the university is an inclusive and welcoming place for Jewish members of its community. Read Here
CUNY PROFS PLOTTED TO EXCLUDE JEW FROM MEETING PROBE
By Carl Campanile
A group of faculty members at CUNY’s Kingsborough Community College allegedly plotted to exclude an orthodox Jewish professor from appearing at a meeting by deliberately scheduling it on a Friday night so he couldn’t attend. Professor Jeffrey Lax filed a complaint alleging anti-Semitism. Read Here
ANALYSIS & OP-EDS
BY ADOPTING IHRA, UNIVERSITIES WOULD SHOW LEADERSHIP ON TACKLING ANTI-SEMITISM
By Kate Green
EU MUST PROTECT RIGHTS OF JEWS TO CIRCUMCISION AND KOSHER MEAT, OTHERWISE DECLARATIONS AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM ARE ‘USELESS’
By Algemeiner Staff
STUDIES & STATISTICS
NEW SAUDI POLL SHOWS SHARP RISE IN SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL TIES, DESPITE CAVEATS
By David Pollock 
A new opinion poll commissioned by The Washington Institute shows that the Saudi public is divided but increasingly open to contacts with Israel. 41% Back UAE/Bahrain Peace with Israel; 37% Back Personal Contacts. Asked about September’s peace agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, 41% of the Saudi public call the agreements a “positive development.” Read Here
GERMANY COMMISSIONS STUDY TO ADDRESS RACISM IN POLICE FORCE
By DW 
German Interior Minister Horst Seeofer has commissioned a study into police work that will include examining the extent of racism in the force. The study will also explicitly focus on the “measures of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, right-wing extremism and racism” among police. Read Here
FROM OUR PARTNERS
Gene Simmons, Elon Gold to Appear at Virtual Anti-Semitism Gala
By Gerri Miller
StandWithUs, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Israel and fighting anti-Semitism, will present its annual Hanukkah “Festival of Lights” gala virtually this year, on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. PST. Gene Simmons, bassist and co-founder of KISS, and comedians Elon Gold and Jay Leno will appear at the event, which Gold will host. Read Here
Nick Cannon Takes Another Step to Atone for Anti-Semitic Remarks
By Lana Melman, CEO of Liberate Art Inc.
American comedian, rapper, and host of The Masked Singer, Nick Cannon, has taken another important step to atone for his recent anti-Semitic remarks and says, “It’s time to #EndJewHatred.” I recently interviewed Cannon about various issues relating to the Jewish community and anti-Semitism. Read Here
WATCH: GLOBAL RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM WEBINAR SERIES
By American Christian Leaders for Israel
Watch the recordings of the 4-part informative series webinars discussing the explosive growth of anti-Semitism in the U.S.A. and how Christian leaders both at the national and local level can collaborate and mobilize against it. Watch Here
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
‘HISTORIC DECISION’: ISRAEL AND MOROCCO AGREE ON FULL TIES ‘AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’
By JACOB MAGID and AP
Israel and Morocco have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations, marking the fourth Arab-Israel agreement in four months. Israel and Morocco will restore diplomatic and other relations, including the immediate opening of liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv and the eventual opening of embassies. Read Here
NORWAY: LAWMAKERS VOTE TO CUT AID TO PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY OVER ANTI-SEMITIC TEXTBOOKS
By i24News
Norwegian lawmakers have voted to cut the financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) over anti-Semitic outbursts and incitement to violence in its educational materials. The cuts will amount to some $3.4 million. Norway’s Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet, FrP) spearheaded the push for the measure. Read Here
HUMANITY
GERMANY TO WIPE NAZI TRACES FROM PHONETIC ALPHABET
By BBC News
Germany is to revamp its phonetic alphabet to remove words added by the Nazis. Before the Nazi dictatorship some Jewish names were used in the phonetic alphabet – such as “D for David” but the Nazis replaced these with words like Dora, and their use has since continued with most Germans unaware of their anti-Semitic origin. Read Here
ON FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ANTI-SEMITIC ATROCITY AT KOSHER MARKET, JERSEY CITY DECLARES ‘NO PLACE FOR HATE’
By Algemeiner Staff
Residents of Jersey City, New Jersey, paused to commemorate the first anniversary of the deadly anti-Semitic gun attack that resulted in the deaths of four people at a kosher market. Jewish and Black residents said the experience had brought them closer together, following tensions when Jewish residents began moving into the neighborhood. Read Here
The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement is a non-partisan, global grassroots movement of individuals and organizations, across all religions and faiths, united around the goal of ending anti-Semitism in all its forms. Since its launching in February 2019, 294 organizations and 299,000 individuals have joined the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement by signing the campaign’s pledge. The CAM Pledge draws upon the IHRA international definition of anti- Semitism and its list of specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.
