Leaders at the Emmanuel Synagogue are saddened over comments left on Zoom during a virtual service. The incident unfolded during the Minyan where mourners were online honoring a loved one who passed away. The two Zoom bombers interrupted the service with pornographic videos and Nazi imagery while shouting anti-Semitic comments. Read Here
Watch this Week's Summary of Anti-Semitic Incidents Around the World.
This past week, anti-Semitic acts from across the political spectrum targeted Jews in Brooklyn, Paris, Spain, and beyond.
Against this stark backdrop, however, civic leaders stepped up in the fight against anti-Semitism. Facebook announced a ban on Holocaust denial content. The UK Education Secretary demanded all British universities take robust action or risk funding cuts. And two of the world’s biggest soccer teams formally adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
THIS WEEK’S CONTENT
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
SPECIAL FEATURE
THE INAUGURAL 2020 BALKANS FORUM AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM
By CAM
The Albanian Parliament, in partnership with the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is hosting the inaugural Balkans Forum Against Anti-Semitism on October 28, 2020. Heads of state, ministers, and anti-Semitism envoys from the Balkans, Europe, and the U.S. will speak, Click below to join the historic event. Read Here
COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM MOVEMENT WELCOMES FACEBOOK MOVE ON HOLOCAUST DENIAL, CALLS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS
By CAM
The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM), which has held ongoing discussions with Facebook’s senior policy figures, warmly welcomed Facebook’s decision to ban Holocaust denial content. CAM will continue to advocate for social media platforms to robustly counter contemporary anti-Semitism in its many forms, as well as to offer educational programs addressing anti-Semitism. Read Here
UNITED STATES
JEWISH MAN ASSAULTED ON CONEY ISLAND BOARDWALK IN BROOKLYN
By CAM
An Orthodox Jewish man was beaten during a walk along the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn as his wife and child watched. The victim described the assailant as a “six-foot tall African-American man,” and was punched in the face and suffered a broken nose, requiring stitches. Read Here
PA STATE REP. SAYS FLIER WITH ANTI-SEMITIC PHRASES WAS PLACED ON OFFICE DOOR
By Andy Mehalshick
A state representative from Luzerne County is deeply offended by what he found stuffed in his office door — one of his own campaign fliers with anti-Semitic words written on it. “I came here to the office and found this flier just jammed in the door right here. You can see that it’s ripped here but written on it calling me a Nazi, calling me Hitler, probably some of the most offensive things that you could say to a Jew,” said PA State Rep. Aaron Kaufer. Read Here
FEDERATIONS AND ORTHODOX GROUPS CALL FOR QUADRUPLING SECURITY FUNDS FOR NONPROFITS
By RON KAMPEAS
Two Orthodox umbrella groups and the Jewish Federations of North America joined a faith groups’ letter to congressional appropriators asking them to quadruple funds for security grants for vulnerable nonprofits, to $360 million. The letter, also signed by Christian, Sikh and Muslim groups, says the $90 million available has run out. Read Here
ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK DURING VIRTUAL SYNAGOGUE SERVICE IN HARTFORD, CT UNDER INVESTIGATION
By Shaynah Ferreira
SIGNS SUPPORTING NY JEWISH CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE VANDALIZED IN ROCKLAND
By News 12 Staff
At least a dozen campaign signs supporting independent Jewish congressional candidate Josh Eisen, running in the 17th District, were vandalized with anti-Semitic messages. The signs were sprayed with foul language and terms that included “Nazi lover.” Eisen says the messages hit home for him. His father was a Holocaust survivor. Read Here
WORLD NEWS
United Kingdom
GLASGOW SOCCER STADIUM DEFACED WITH ‘PALESTINIAN BLOOD’ GRAFFITI AHEAD OF ISRAEL GAME
By Algemeiner
The Scottish soccer team Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium in Glasgow was defaced with anti-Israel graffiti, just before a major game against Israel’s national team. The stadium was splashed with red paint, along with the slogan “Palestinian blood.” Read Here
FIVE ARRESTED AS BDS ACTIVISTS VANDALIZE ISRAELI FIRM’S LONDON HQ
By Jack Mendel
Five people were arrested and one police officer was injured at a London demonstration against an Israeli defence firm. Activists from Palestine Action sprayed red liquid on the headquarters of Elbit Systems. In footage, anti-Zionist activists can be heard chanting “free Palestine” and “shut Elbit down.” Read Here
LABOUR EXPELS SECOND WAVERTREE CLP OFFICIAL
By Lee Harpin
Helen Dickson, Wavertree’s women’s officer, had been suspended after criticising her local MP’s attempt to repair relations with the Jewish community. Ms Dickson also signed a letter blaming the “Israel lobby” for anti-Semitism. Read Here
BBC BROADCASTS REPORT SUPPORTING TERRORIST
By Donna Rachel Edmunds
BBC Arabic broadcast an appeal for the mastermind behind the 2001 Sbarro Pizza parlor bombing in Jerusalem, Ahlam Tamimi, to be reunited with her husband following his deportation by Jordan. The family of Malki Roth, who was killed in the bombing at 15 years of age, called on BBC to apologize “for giving a sympathetic megaphone to one of the world’s most loathsome, unrepentant child murderers.” Read Here
GERMANY
ISRAEL SLAMS GERMAN ART COLLEGE FOR ‘EMBRACING ANTI-SEMITISM’
By Benjamin Weinthal
Israel’s embassy in Berlin accused a local arts college of stoking anti-Semitism by supporting a program titled “School for Unlearning Zionism” that denies the existence of the State of Israel. The embassy wrote that the Weissensee Academy of Art Berlin was “hosting a workshop whose title already negates Israel’s existence and is an embrace of anti-Semitism.” Read Here
GRAFFITI TRIBUTES TO HALLE YOM KIPPUR ATTACK DEFACED WITH SWASTIKAS
By AFP
Graffiti tributes to mark one year since a deadly anti-Semitic attack in the city of Halle have been sprayed over with red swastikas. Some of the images with the inscription “Never forget — Kevin and Jana” were smeared on the anniversary of the Halle attack. An investigation has been launched and work has begun to remove the swastikas. Read Here
PRO-IRANIAN REGIME GERMAN MP WHO AGITATES FOR BDS URGED TO BE BANNED
By Benjamin Weinthal
The German-Israel Friendship Society in Hamburg criticized the nomination of MP Niels Annen because of his opposition to the security of the Jewish state and his pro-Iranian regime activities. He also helped mainstream the activities of the pro-BDS NGO Al-Haq, affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Read Here
THE MIDDLE EAST
ICONIC UAE-ISRAEL PEACE IMAGE STIRS ANTI-SEMITISM, ONLINE HATE
By Melanie Swan
Emirati Norah al-Awadhi and her friend, Israeli Ronny Gonen, took a picture while standing facing the Burj Khalifa, draped in their countries’ flags. The picture went viral and was widely seen as a symbol of peace. However, the pictured friends received vitriolic hate in the form of hostile reports about their image on Instagram and comments with images of Hitler and Holocaust victims. Read Here
IT SEEMS JEWS AREN’T ALLOWED TO PLAY CLEOPATRA, DESPITE MID-EAST ROOTS
By Seth J. Frantzman
The announcement that actress Gal Gadot would play Egyptian queen Cleopatra in an upcoming movie has been met with claims that an Arab woman should have been chosen. Sameera Khan, ignoring the fact that Cleopatra was not Arab, tweeted: “Which Hollywood dumbass thought it would be a good idea to cast an Israeli actress as Cleopatra (a very bland looking one)…? And shame on you, Gal Gadot. Your country steals Arab land and you’re stealing their movie roles.” Read Here
OTHER WORLD NEWS
POLISH POLITICIAN WHO CALLED HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL A ‘SCANDAL’ APPOINTED EDUCATION MINISTER
By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ
A Polish politician who called a memorial for Jews killed by Poles during the Holocaust an “anti-Polish scandal” was tapped to become the country’s education minister. Przemysław Czernek of the ruling Law and Justice party, called last year for the removal of the memorial created by artist Dorota Nieznalska. Read Here
FAR-LEFT SPANISH POLITICIAN DEFIANTLY CLAIMS ‘JEWS’ ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
By Algemeiner Staff
A politician from Spain’s leading far-left political party courted accusations of anti-Semitism by declaring that Jews should be held accountable for the actions of Israel toward Palestinians. Sonia Vivas — a member of the Podemos party and city councilor in Palma, told a council meeting that “Jews” were voting for a government that abuses Palestinian rights. Read Here
BRAZILIAN MAN WITH INFAMOUS SWASTIKA POOL EXPELLED FROM HIS POLITICAL PARTY
By MARCUS M. GILBAN
History professor Wandercy Pugliesi first made headlines when it was discovered he had an enormous swastika tiled into his backyard pool. Pugliesi, 58, named his son Adolf, and police seized a trove of Nazi-related materials from him. After attempting to run for a seat on his local town council, the Liberal Party kicked him out last week, “for not ideologically agreeing with the affiliate.” Read Here
MAN ARRESTED OVER SWASTIKAS SPRAYED NEAR LOUVRE MUSEUM IN PARIS
By AFP
Paris authorities arrested a man suspected of spraying swastikas on columns near the world-famous Louvre museum in the city’s historic center. The red paint swastikas were spotted along the upscale Rue de Rivoli artery in central Paris early, leading passers-by to post pictures on social media. Read Here
NATIONALIST MARCHERS IN KYIV SAY UKRAINE IS UNDER ‘OCCUPATION’ BY ‘JEWISH CLAN’
By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ
Participants in a nationalist march in Ukraine raised a banner decrying the country’s “occupation and robbery” by a “Jewish clan.” The banner, aimed at Ukraine’s Jewish president, Vlodymyr Zelensky, appeared at the annual OUN-UPA March. “Celebrating the anniversary of the occupation and robbery of Ukraine by the Dnipro Jewish clan of Vova Zelensky,” read the billboard-sized banner that was displayed in front of Zelensky’s office. Read Here
ON CAMPUS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBERS ISSUE OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT AFTER HE DENOUNCES PRO-BDS REFERENDUM
By Algemeiner Staff
Columbia faculty members issued an open letter supporting the school’s president for opposing a pro-BDS referendum approved by undergraduate students. The faculty signatories pointed to the anti-Semitic nature of such initiatives, saying, “We are concerned that this resolution will adversely affect the campus climate for many Jewish students who support Israel.” Read Here
STUDENTS REACT TO ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS YELLED DURING YOM KIPPUR SERVICE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY HILLEL
By PHYLLIS CHA
During an outdoor Yom Kippur service at IU Hillel, someone passing by in a car yelled an anti-Semitic statement, IU Police said. Members were holding the service on the lawn of the building as a COVID-19 safety precaution. Read Here
BUTLER UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT HOSTS ANTI-ISRAEL ART EXHIBIT, ZOOM CALL
By JNS
The student government at Butler University in Indiana this hosted a two-part BDS event and failed to pass a resolution condemning anti-Semitism.It was hosted by the university’s Student Government Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board, in partnership with the school’s branch of Students for Justice in Palestine. Read Here
COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM WITH CSU’S PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE
By Molly O’Shea
Colorado State University’s Presidential Task Force on Jewish Inclusion and the Prevention of Anti-Semitism was established to educate its community on Jewish culture, creating an inclusive environment and preventing anti-Semitism. Read Here
ANALYSIS
COMBATTING ANTI-SEMITISM: WHY THE WORLD NEEDS TO ADOPT THE IHRA DEFINITION
By IRA FORMAN, FORMER US SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM
Ira Forman, who served under President Obama as U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, writes in a Jerusalem Post op-ed that the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is an effective means to educate governments and civil society about Israel-related Jew-hatred. Forman argues the U.S. must catch up with European allies by having Congress, as well as state and local governments, formally adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. Read Here
STUDIES AND STATISTICS
OVER 30% OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS ABOUT JEWS ARE HOSTILE, SWEDISH RESEARCHERS CONCLUDE
By Algemeiner Staff
Researchers in Sweden who analyzed over 2 million postings about Jews on four different social media channels found that more than 30% of the messages were anti-Semitic. The report, compiled by the Swedish Defense Research Agency, examined posts on the platforms 4chan/pol, Gab, Reddit and Twitter over a six-month period. 25% of the posts contained anti-Semitic stereotypes, while another 9% did not but expressed hostility toward Jews. Read Here
STUDY FINDS MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TIES WITH ISRAEL IN SAUDI ARABIA, UAE, JORDAN, EGYPT
By Israel Hayom
A study published by U.S.-based Zogby Analytics found majority support in four Arab states for normalizing relations with Israel. The poll included 3,600 Arab respondents in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. 59% of Jordanians and Saudis, 58% of Egyptians and 56% of the residents of the UAE support normalization. In sharp contrast, 61% of Palestinians opposed normalization. Read Here
FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM FOUND IN LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF GERMAN SECURITY FORCES
By Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
Less than one percent of Germany’s police forces, security agencies and military personnel espouse far-right world views and sympathies, a report by the domestic intelligence agency shows. The report, part of a wider inquiry into far-right extremism in the civil service, seeks to dispel concerns that authorities have turned a blind eye to potentially violent nationalists gaining footholds in the uniformed services. Read Here
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TWITTER EXPLAINED | A PRODUCTIVE THREAD ABOUT HOLOCAUST EDUCATION
By LILLY GELMAN
It became clear to many that the educational divide unsurprisingly fell along the line between Jewish and non-Jewish school education. Jewish tweeters, who say they can’t remember a time before they knew about the Holocaust, began asking their non-Jewish twitter friends when their awareness of the Holocaust began. Read Here
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
MEETING SAUDI FM, POMPEO ENCOURAGES NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL
By AFP
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel. Hosting Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pompeo said the agreement “contributed greatly to our shared goals for regional peace and security.” “We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its relationships as well. We want to thank them for the assistance they’ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far.” Read Here
BRITISH EDUCATION SECRETARY CHARGES UNIVERSITIES WITH IGNORING ANTI-SEMITISM
By CAM
The UK’s Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson accused British universities of “dragging their feet” and not adequately responding to anti-Semitism on campus. Williamson urged the nation’s universities to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, or risk losing government funding, in a letter to universities across the UK. Read Here
GERMAN LEADERS VOICE SHAME AS TRIBUTE DEFACED A YEAR AFTER ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK
By FEMKE COLBORNE
German leaders voiced shame over resurgent anti-Semitism, one year after a deadly attack targeting Jews in the city of Halle, as a tribute to the victims was defaced with swastikas. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said “No one should stand by and watch anti-Semitism “in the underground, in a café, in the schoolyard, on the street, on the internet. Everyone must stand up when the human dignity of others is violated.” Read Here
GUATEMALA TO ENFORCE BAN ON HEZBOLLAH WITH ANTI-TERRORISM FINANCING LEGISLATION
By Algemeiner Staff
The Guatemalan government reaffirmed its commitment to a ban on Hezbollah by announcing new legislation to prevent the financing of terrorism. Speaking at a press conference, Alejandro Giammattei — Guatemala’s president — argued that a “regulatory framework” to crack down on Hezbollah’s ability to transfer laundered funds was imperative for the ban on the organization to have teeth. Read Here
HUMANITY
FACEBOOK WILL NOW BAN HOLOCAUST DENIAL, IN A MAJOR SHIFT
By BEN SALES
Facebook will now ban any posts that deny or distort the Holocaust, a landmark change from its previous policy. On Monday, Zuckerberg wrote in that he now believes banning Holocaust denial “is the right balance.” The change comes after months of activism by anti-discrimination groups pushing Facebook to change its policies on hate speech and Holocaust denial in particular. Read More
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ADOPTS IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM
By JTA
The Argentine Football Association adopted the definition of anti-Semitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The AFA governs all soccer activity in Argentina. Argentina’s soccer culture has had its share of anti-Semitism controversies in recent years. Read Here
BORUSSIA DORTMUND ADOPT IHRA TO SEND ‘STRONG SIGNAL AGAINST JEW HATE’
By Lee Harpin
German football giants Borussia Dortmund have confirmed they have adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism in a move the club said would send “a strong signal against hatred against Jews.” The club’s Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said he had decided it was a positive move to adopt the definition after a visit to the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem. Read Here
HUMAN CHAIN FORMED AROUND GERMAN SYNAGOGUE IN MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY
By Algemeiner Staff
Residents of the German town of Bad Neuheim formed a human chain around their local synagogue in a gesture of solidarity with the Jewish community. Around 80 people participated in the event, which took place as Jews worshiping inside the synagogue marked the arrival of the Sabbath and the final days of Sukkot. Read More
NEW INITIATIVE HELPS TACKLE ANTI-SEMITIC CONTENT ON ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS
By Ari Ingel
As users go digging for content to fill their time, they are also coming across an increasing amount of anti-Semitic content. Unfortunately, streaming services such as TikTok, Facebook, Spotify and YouTube are struggling to adequately enforce their own incitement policies. In response, Creative Community for Peace has created a new digital taskforce to tackle this problem. Read Here
HEARTWARMING: ARAB BUILDER DONATES PRAYER AREA TO ISRAELI COMMUNITY IN SAMARIA
By Aryeh Savir
An Arab contractor who paved an open space that will serve the worshippers at an Israeli community in Samaria decided to donate it. The contractor, Rami Yihya, was hired by the Yemenite synagogue in Einav to prepare an area at which they could pray during Corona times. Hearing that the construction was meant for prayer, Yihya donated the materials and work time. Read Here
TENNIS BORUSSIA BERLIN ADOPTS IHRA WORKING DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM
By TEBE
The Berlin football club Tennis Borussia Berlin officially committed to the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism and adopted it by board resolution. “Our club and our fans resolutely oppose anti-Semitism in all its manifestations. The adoption of the IHRA definition corresponds to this attitude, ” says TeBe board member Tobias Schulze. 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, 276 organizations and 289,000 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.
