By Jon Marks
Educate…speak out…report…and be 10 percent more “Jew-y.”
That’s the formula a distinguished panel of local Jewish community leaders say can best combat the rising tide of antisemitism that has pervaded our society in recent years. Speaking before over 200 enthralled listeners at a Feb. 26 town hall at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, they exchanged views on several important issues.
Moderating the panel was Ayal Feinberg, director of the Center for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights at Gratz College. Joining him onstage were Marcia Bronstein, American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey regional director; Zev Eleff, Gratz College president; Andrew Goretsky, Anti-Defamation League Philadelphia regional director; Meir Zimmerman, Jewish Community Relations Council assistant director; and Dan Tadmor, Weitzman CEO.
They discussed a problem that has become more concerning the past decade, while pointing out antisemitism has existed for hundreds if not thousands of years.
“The latest survey of 1,732 Jewish American adults shows that one-third of American Jews have been targeted in person or online in the last 12 months,” said Bronstein, who’s been at AJC for 16 years. “More than half of them have changed their behavior, including taking steps so they are not identified as Jewish. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed felt less secure than a year ago. Less than three years ago only one-third felt the same way.”
Of course, since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel nearly 18 months ago, much has changed. That’s triggered unrest on many college campuses and led to a growing number of antisemitic incidents of various types.
“In the last 12 months, 17 percent of American Jews have been threatened online or on social media and 6 percent have experienced vandalism or had a flyer left at their door,” said Bronstein. “But eight out of ten did not report it because they didn’t think anything would be done about it. You need to report. Please report.”
How ironic that while he was speaking he and the rest were unaware a peaceful protest in opposition to “Zionist racism” was taking place outside the doors of the Weitzman. Nearly 30 members of Philly Socialists, virtually all wearing masks or kufiyahs to hide their identity, marched from 7th and Locust, carrying Palestinian and socialist flags while chanting “intifada forever.” They were met by police.
Following a half-hour long demonstration, they dispersed without incident before the event ended.
“I heard about it afterwards,” said Bronstein the following day. “There was a counter protest. They marched to the museum and the museum had to lock its doors. These things happen all the time and everyone has a right to counter protest and have free speech because this is America.”
Weitzman Chief Operating Officer Arthur Sandman said they were well prepared.
“We’ve known since over a week and have been in contact with law enforcement,” said Sandman. “We’ve had a number of groups show up at various points, but this may have been the largest. It was a peaceful protest. We were very appreciative of the appropriate and complete response of police on the scene, who were prepared to take whatever steps were needed to protect the audience.”
Sadly, not all such protests are peaceful, which panelists attribute largely to the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation.
“There is so much disinformation and misinformation out there right now,” said Goretsky, who spent most of his career as a college administrator before coming to the ADL three years ago. “Disinformation is the person leaving [information] out intentionally and or making up fake information. Misinformation is the person who sees that, believes it and shares it unintentionally and it spreads.”
There’s also a number of familiar stereotypes, though at least one may have some merit.
“We’re perceived in today’s dichotomy as being privileged,” said Tadmor, a former IDF major who oversaw the $100 million renovation of Tel Aviv’s ANU Museum of the Jewish People. “I don’t know how we can eradicate this twisted way of thinking. But what we can do is simply stop apologizing. We’ve contributed. We’ve done a lot for civilization and we’re not going to feel as if we have to hide it. It’s time for unabashed Jewish pride.”
That remark drew a round of applause from the audience, as did Zimmerman’s response when asked what gave him hope.
“What gives me hope is the future of Jewish people is in good hands,” said Zimmerman, who was filling in for JCRC Director Jason Holtzman. “One slight silver lining is our sense of belonging and togetherness is on an upward trajectory. We care deeply and want to listen and respond. The second-best thing to do in this situation is to be 10 percent more ‘Jew-y.’ That really means finding the part of your Jewish identity that makes you feel more proud to be Jewish and do more to be connected to the Jewish people because, with antisemitism on the rise, people can tend to feel being Jewish is a burden.”
The consensus was that this was an impressive display of unity among organizations that don’t always see eye-to-eye.
“This is only going to be a success if it parlays into more conversation,” said Eleff. “We reintroduced ourselves to our communities and now have the opportunity to bring more people into the discussion.”
At the same time, they’re aware that combatting antisemitism is complicated.
“You have to distinguish between the category of haters you’re not going to reverse and a large category who are misinformed and disinformed,” said Tadmor, who revealed the Museum is in the process of putting together a section on antisemitism in the modern age.
“Those can still be saved. I think we should concentrate our efforts on that. The other is a lost cause in my opinion.”
Jon Marks is a Philadelphia-area freelance writer.