The rise of recent antisemitic comments from public figures has inadvertently triggered a domino effect of oppressive acts again the Jewish community. When Kanye West took to Twitter in early October to state he would be “going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” and that he couldn’t “be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew(s),” the Jewish community around the world suffered the heat of his actions. With more and more antisemitic hate acts being supported by notable figures in the U.S., it’s more than clear that we need to take a stand and support the Jewish community in any way possible.
The Jewish community has long faced prejudice and oppression in the U.S. Recent events, though, have revealed that the U.S. is far from ending the antisemitism in the country.
On Oct. 22, a banner was hung over a Los Angeles freeway that read “Kanye is right about the Jews.”
On Nov. 3, the Newark, New Jersey FBI released a statement to their Twitter page stating that they had “received credible information of a broad threat to synagogues in NJ,” urging communities to “stay alert” and protect their communities.
NBA player Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets was suspended for five upcoming games on Nov. 3 after he posted both a Tweet and Instagram story that linked back to an antisemetic film. The film pushed a false narrative that Jewish persons lied about their origins.
Irving was suspended from Nike on Nov. 4 following the incident. Like Irving, West has been dropped from many big name companies following his antisemetic comments, including Adidas and Balenciaga.
The growth of an outlandish, dated antisemetic mindset has left many dumbfounded. Amidst these trying times, here are five ways that you can offer your support to the Jewish community.
- Educate yourself about the history of Jewish people.
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It’s important that we continue to remember and respect the history of Jewish people, not only those who are in the US. The Holocaust was a horrid act of hate against many marginalized communities, and an event in history that should never be forgotten. To better understand why antisemitism is so treacherous for the Jewish community, it’s important to learn more about the roots of their history. There are numerous organizations full of resources that can help you learn more about the history of Jewish people.
The International Holocaust Rememberance Alliance is a group with a driving mission to cultivate Holocaust education and rememberance. The IHRA has various focus areas that they intend to spread awareness around, including antisemitism, which they refer to as “the root of the Holocaust and a persistent scourge.” A pool of educational materials is available on the IHRA official site with reliable information accredited by expert sources to learn more about the Holocaust and other events.
- Donate to the Jewish community.
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Monetary donations are another way to show your support for Jewish people. The Jewish Funders Network has compiled a group of private foundations and philanthropies that are all dedicated to fostering “meaningful giving” and to “take an active part in the processes that change the thinking and action patterns of philanthropy in the Jewish world.” The JFN supports many different programs including Honeycomb, a resource solely dedicated to Jewish youth philanthropy. They also foster GrantED, which allows for grant seekers and givers from the Jewish community to connect.
Another direct and trustworthy resource that you can donate to is the World Jewish Relief. With numerous ways to donate to the Jewish community, WJR provides many options when it comes to choosing how you would like to donate. Monthly or one-off donations can be given at their official site. Additionally, you can support several appeals that aim to uplift Jewish communities that have endured disasters. Sponsoring a homecare worker or friend are more ways that you can directly support today.
- Volunteer your time.
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If a monetary contribution doesn’t work for you right now, that’s alright — you can volunteer. The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund is another support system for Jewish people that has a great variety of resources aimed to help the community. Among those, there are a few area-specific volunteer opportunities that you can take part in.
- Don’t support antisemites.
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Another way that you can easily show allyship to the Jewish community is to not support any form of antisemitism. Fostering conversations around the recent acts of antisemitism in the U.S. is a great way to get the word out, and maybe even educate someone close to you. It’s important to tackle this issue head-on to diffuse it as much as possible, and your words may be able to educate the people close to you. If you come across any form of antisemitism, make sure to report this to your local Jewish community or the Anti-Defamation League.
Making the decision to not support the public figures that have shown patterns of antisemetic behavior is another way you can aim to tissue the growing hate against Jewish people. Learning more about where your political candidates stand on the recent issues that have erupted and voting is just one way you can assist. The midterm elections on Nov. 8 are going to be a pivotal moment in American politics, and antisemitism is one leading issue you should be taking into consideration this election season.
- Use your voice.
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Sometimes our voices are the strongest force we have against any form of hate speech or prejudice. Spreading the word about the terrible acts that have been done against the Jewish community and pronouncing your allyship can go an extremely long way. Learning to advocate for Jewish people by educating yourself and staying up to date with the news is one way that you can use your voice. Posting a simple Instagram story or reposting a Tweet on Twitter that shows support for the Jewish community are just some ways that you can use your voice to fight against antisemitism in these times.