THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM REPORT
A concerning spate of antisemitic incidents occurred in the U.S. this week. Seattle police are searching for a man who made a Heil Hitler salute and death threats while stalking a Jewish family’s home. A Portland, Oregon Holocaust memorial was defaced with Neo-Nazi graffiti, and Baltimore police are investigating the recent murder of an Israeli man as a potential hate crime.
In Cologne, Germany, Holocaust memorial stumbling blocks were defaced with BDS graffiti, and hundreds of Neo-Nazis participated in a public rally in Milan, Italy. After 45 Jews died in the Lag B’Omer tragedy in Israel, thousands of Arabic social media users erupted in celebration.
In contrast, an Israeli Jewish father embraced a Bedouin police officer for saving his son’s life during the Lag B’Omer tragedy. U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the contributions of Jewish Americans in a proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month.
CAM’s global anti-Semitism report this week highlights 37 new media reports of anti-Semitic incidents: 18 incidents (48.6%) from the far-right, 4 incidents (10.8%) from the far-left, 5 incidents (13.5%) with Islamist motivations, and 10 unidentifiable incidents (27%).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIAL FEATURE
NEW #PROTECTTHEFACTS CAMPAIGN RAISES AWARENESS OF RISING HOLOCAUST DISTORTION TREND
By CAM
Less than eight decades after the Nazi genocide of the Jews, Holocaust distortion is on the rise. And while the phenomenon can be harder to identify than blatant Holocaust denial, it is just as dangerous. To raise awareness of this pernicious trend, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), United Nations, and UNESCO have launched a year-long #ProtectTheFacts digital campaign. Read Here
JOIN CAM AS INTERN TO HELP TAKE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM TO NEXT LEVEL
By CAM
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is seeking a hardworking and inspired individual to join our growing professional team as an intern. As a young organization with a start-up mentality, we are looking for a creative digital content intern to help expand our reach and take us to the next level in the global fight against antisemitism. The intern will work collaboratively with our staff on a diverse array of tasks to further our mission of ending the world’s oldest hatred. Read Here
#OURSHAREDHERITAGE:JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
By National Museum of American Jewish History
May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), and CAM is proud to be an official partner of this national celebration. JAHM provides an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate and draw inspiration from the contributions that American Jews have made to the fabric of the nation’s history and culture. Visit JewishAmericanHeritage.org and celebrate with us on social media by using the hashtags #OurSharedHeritage and #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth! Read Here
UNITED STATES
SEATTLE POLICE SEARCHING FOR MAN WHO STALKED JEWISH FAMILY’S HOME, MADE ANTISEMITIC GESTURES AND THREATS
By CAM
Police in Seattle are investigating a disturbing incident in which an unidentified man stalked a Jewish family’s home and made antisemitic gestures that were caught on camera. Doorbell security footage shows the man pacing in front of the home, and extending his arm in a Nazi salute. He also stood outside the daughter’s window and threatened to kidnap her and kill her parents. The home has a mezuzah on the door, identifying its residents as Jewish. Read Here
FAMILY OF ISRAELI SHOT DEAD IN US CLAIMS IT WAS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK, NOT ROBBERY
By Times of Israel
The family of an Israeli man shot dead in Baltimore claimed that he did not die in a botched robbery, but was rather deliberately targeted as a Jew. Efraim Gordon, 31, was visiting for a cousin’s wedding when he was shot and killed at the entrance to a relative’s home. Baltimore Police has said investigators believe the shooting “was an attempted robbery that turned fatal.” Read Here
WORLD NEWS
United Kingdom
CHELSEA BANS FAN FOR 10 YEARS OVER ANTISEMITIC MESSAGES SENT TO JOURNALIST
By Jack Mandel
Sam Mole, who was issued with a three-year restraining order in February, sent antisemitic and homophobic messages to Dan Levene, including one wishing he would die and lamenting that he had not be murdered in the Holocaust. The perpetrator was however allowed to walk free from court in February, because he was on holiday in Australia at the time of the offence, and outside the jurisdiction of the law. Following an internal investigation, Chelsea issued a statement saying it “has taken the decision to ban the individual from Chelsea FC for a period of 10 years.” Read Here
‘REVOLTING ABUSE’ BY ASTON VILLA FANS LEADS TO RESIGNATIONS FROM OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS’ GROUP
By Mathilde Frot
Two former executives at the Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust have resigned over its public handling of antisemitic abuse allegedly levelled against an ex media liaison officer. Former membership director Simon Goodyear and ex-inclusivity officer Nigel Canin resigned in solidarity with former trust executive and self-described “Brummie” Jonny Gould. Mr Gould alleged he was subjected to a stream of “revolting” Twitter messages and emails from identifiable Aston Villa supporters. He resigned as director in protest at what he said was the trust’s “silence and lack of support” throughout his ordeal. Read Here
GERMANY
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL ‘STUMBLING BLOCKS’ DEFACED WITH ANTI-ISRAEL GRAFFITI IN COLOGNE, GERMANY
By Algemeiner Staff
Three stepping stones memorializing victims of the Holocaust were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti in the German city of Cologne. The three brass blocks inlaid in the street were overwritten with the letters “BDS” — the acronym of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to harm Israel economically with the goal of dismantling it and replacing it with a Palestinian Arab state. Read Here
FRANCE
‘WE ARE ON OUR OWN’: FRENCH JEWS ON WHY THEY ARE PROTESTING OVER SARAH HALIMI, IN THEIR OWN WORDS
By Cnaan Lipshiz
The fallout of a French court’s decision in the Sarah Halimi murder case has become a watershed moment for French Jews. Over 20,000 people protested the ruling in Paris, symbolizing the swell of frustration, and smaller protest rallies occurred simultaneously in at least three other French cities and elsewhere around the world. Following the protests, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency spoke to multiple French Jews, asking them in interviews to share their thoughts and impressions from the situation on the ground. Read Here
FRENCH JEWS DEMAND ACTION AGAINST FACEBOOK ‘SUPPORT COMMITTEE’ FOR ACCUSED ANTISEMITIC MURDERER OF SARAH HALIMI
By Ben Cohen
A Jewish defense organization in Paris is urging the public prosecutor in the French capital to take action against the “ignominy” of a Facebook page that was created in solidarity with Kobili Traore, the accused antisemitic murderer of Sarah Halimi. The solidarity page on Facebook — created in the name of the “Kobili Traore Support Committee” — was discovered by Jewish community activists, who declared themselves “outraged” and “disgusted.” Read Here
OTHER WORLD NEWS
HUNDREDS IN UKRAINE ATTEND MARCHES CELEBRATING NAZI SS SOLDIERS, INCLUDING IN KYIV FOR THE 1ST TIME
By JTA
In late April, hundreds of Ukrainians attended marches celebrating Nazi SS soldiers, including the first such event in Kyiv. The so-called Embroidery March took place in the capital on the 78th anniversary of the establishment of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the 1st Galician. It was a force set up under German occupation auspices composed of ethnic Ukrainian and German volunteers and conscripts. Read Here
ITALIAN NEO-FASCIST EXTREMISTS FILMED DOING MASS NAZI SALUTE AT PUBLIC RALLY IN MILAN
By CAM
A large group of far-right extremists were filmed doing a mass Nazi salute at a public rally in Milan, Italy. An estimated 800 people took part in the demonstration on Paladini Street in the northern Italian commerce and fashion hub. The event was held to mark the 46th anniversary of the death of neo-fascist activist Sergio Ramelli in a communist ambush. Read Here
THE MIDDLE EAST
LAG B’OMER TRAGEDY GREETED WITH OUTPOURING OF ANTISEMITISM
By Jenni Frazer
The Lag b’Omer tragedy at Mount Meron in Israel, which led to at least 44 deaths, has been greeted with an outpouring of hatred on social media. According to investigative journalist David Collier, a report of the deaths by Al-Jazeera garnered 30,000 responses, and that “10,000 — 33 per cent — were either laughing at or loving the fact [that] innocent Jews have died. The most ‘liked’ comments were the most vicious”. Read Here
STUDENT, 19, DIES OF INJURIES AFTER WEST BANK DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
By TOI Staff
A 19-year-old student who was shot in the head in a drive-by shooting attack at Tapuah Junction in the West Bank has died of his injuries, the hospital treating him announced. Less than an hour later, the suspect in the attack was apprehended and was identified as 44-year-old Muntasir Shalabi. He is not believed to have ties to any terror groups. Read Here
ON CAMPUS
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO JEWISH GIRL THREATENED BY STUDENTS FOR RELIGION
By KezJ
A young Twin Falls girl attending South Hills Middle School is allegedly being harassed and threatened at school for her religion. Over the last two weeks she said these incidents have turned into threats. A group of boys were saying things like they “idolized Hitler” and one child even allegedly threatened to “gas her”. One boy also allegedly told her that he liked to tease Jews, so she was going to hate him by the end of class. Read Here
ANTISEMITIC, THREATENING EMAIL SENT TO UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING STAFFER
By Marissa Taylor
An antisemitic and potentially life-threatening email was received by an University of Wyoming employee. Ben Herdt, manager of academic advising at UW and racial justice activist, said that after receiving the hate mail he was both fearful and disappointed. UW Police Chief Mike Samp stated the email in question qualifies under Wyoming State Statute as an electronic threat and will be reported as a hate crime. Read Here
ANALYSIS & OP-EDS
STUDIES & STATISTICS
GERMAN JEWISH LEADERS CALL 15% RISE IN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ANTISEMITIC CRIMES ‘ABSOLUTELY ALARMING’
By Toby Axelrod
The number of politically motivated crimes rose sharply in Germany last year, including a 15% rise in antisemitic offenses. The total documented by the country’s federal police force is the highest since contemporary record-keeping began in 2001. The annual report by the Federal Criminal Police Office showed the number of antisemitic crimes reported to police across the country rose to 2,351 from 2,032. The vast majority — 85 % — fell into the categories of incitement to hate. Fifty-five were violent crimes. Read Here
RISING ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS IN BAVARIA DRIVEN BY CORONAVIRUS PROTESTS, WARNS GERMAN MONITORING REPORT
By Sharon Wrobel
Antisemitic incidents recorded in Bavaria, a southwestern state in Germany, rose by about 30% during 2020 versus the previous year, according to a new report released by the Association of Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS). The number of antisemitic incidents increased by 55 to a total of 239 in 2020. Almost every other incident was connected to the coronavirus pandemic, including conspiracy theories, and anti-lockdown protests. Read Here
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
‘L’DOR V’DOR’: BIDEN HAILS US JEWRY CONTRIBUTIONS IN HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION
By Jacob Magid
US President Joe Biden highlighted the historic year that was for Jewish Americans who saw new representation in the highest levels of public life, in a proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month. “The Jewish American experience is a story of faith, fortitude, and progress. It is a quintessential American experience — one that is connected to key tenets of American identity, including our commitment to freedom of religion and conscience…” Read Here
145 US HOUSE MEMBERS CALL FOR $360 MILLION IN NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT FUNDING
By Marc Rod
A large bipartisan contingent of House members is calling to double funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) for a second year to $360 million for the 2022 fiscal year, citing a “lethal threat to faith-based communities.” A letter, which was signed by 145 members of the House, shows broad support for increasing funding to the Department of Homeland Security grant program. The letter lays out in stark language the threats facing the Jewish community and Congress’s need to stay vigilant. Read Here
HUMANITY
FAMED US JEWISH ARCHITECT WILL RENOVATE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE IN PITTSBURGH, SITE OF WORST ANTISEMITIC ATROCITY IN US HISTORY
By Algemeiner
Daniel Libeskind — whose portfolio includes the master plans for the post-9/11 World Trade Center site in New York as well as Jewish museums in Europe, Israel and the United States — has been announced as the lead architect in the rebuilding of the Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha Congregation in Pittsburgh. The son of Holocaust survivors from Poland, Libeskind issued a solemn statement on Tuesday confirming his involvement. Read Here
MAN TO BEDOUIN COP WHO RESCUED SON AT MERON: YOU SAVED MY CHILD, SAVED THE WORLD
By TOI Staff
A man was reunited with the police officer who saved him and his son at Mount Meron when the officer paid a visit to their Bnei Brak home, where they were mourning a second son who was killed in the tragedy. Avigdor Hayut told Rami Alwan that he wanted to thank him from the bottom of his heart for saving his child, paraphrasing the Talmudic phrase that “he who saves a life, saves the world.” 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.
