Anne Frank Center releases open letter to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg
“We understand it’s not easy keeping 2 billion members happy, much less shouldering the weight for all the nasty things they might say to one another. We genuinely appreciate all the good social media can accomplish: the personal connections, the charity drives, the human compassion, the teachable moments.
“What we don’t understand is hypocrisy. We don’t understand the failure to step up when given an opportunity to do the right thing — and to refuse to enable the wrong thing.
“In your own words, you do ‘not allow hate speech on Facebook because it creates an environment of intimidation and exclusion and in some cases may promote real-world violence.’ As we have seen in recent research, there is a direct correlation between social media and hate and violence. When someone posts something hateful, there is a corresponding increase in race-related violence. It’s astonishing the power Facebook posts wield!
You yourself ‘define hate speech as a direct attack on people based on what we call protected characteristics – race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation…. We define attack as violent or dehumanizing speech, statements of inferiority, or calls for exclusion or segregation.’
Some say that would compromise free speech. We actually value the principles of individual liberty, until that moment when someone is foreseeably harmed by those words.Holocaust denial is dehumanizing and attacks people based on religious affiliation. It is hate speech. We urge you to take immediate action to stop the spread of Holocaust denial across your platform.
A month ago, we wrote to you directly offering to work together to tackle hate speech on your site. We’re not even asking you to proactively promote education, or to advocate for a better-informed public. We’re not asking you to endorse the hundreds of Holocaust education organizations that teach about the perils of intolerance, discrimination, injustice, and hatred.
We simply want you to abide by your own policy of not allowing hate speech on Facebook, and to own up to your moral responsibility to support a fact-based account of history.
Close to 200,000 people from all around the world have signed our petition asking for you to step up. When you host Holocaust denial groups, you are spreading lies and untruths. This hatred and anti-Semitism casts doubt on facts and incites violence against human beings.
We know you can do this. We have witnessed your admirable attempts to curtail hate speech in places like Myanmar. Be consistent! Hate speech = violence. You have a responsibility to make a safe space for those who interact with your billions of users — not to be complicit in inciting violence against anyone. — From the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect
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American Jewish Congress prepares a 2018 Jewish Voters Guide
The American Jewish Congress is preparing for online distribution a 2018 Jewish Voters Guide to present and summarize the stances of congressional candidates on issues that are critical to the Jewish community. This tool is part of its broader mission to identify positive policy developments and take action against hate speech and anti-Semitism in the United States.
According to American Jewish Congress President, Jack Rosen, “Amid a rising tide of hate speech, bigotry, and episodes of violence based on misguided ideologies, it is critical for communities across the US to take a stand against anti-Semitism. Informed voting is a democratic society’s most powerful defense, and our 2018 Jewish Voters Guide stands as unparalleled resource for educating and empowering voters.”
Through its interactive map, visually appealing style, and user-friendly interface, this platform will allow Jewish and pro-Israel voters in the United States to make well-informed decisions about the candidates that are running to represent these constituents. Senators have a fundamental impact on the Jewish community and the U.S.-Israel alliance — they shape and vote on legislation, are a key factor in facing the threat of a nuclear Iran, decide on the security aid to Israel, and more.
The 2018 Jewish Voters Guide pinpoints a list of federal candidates who have been engaged in bigoted and intolerant rhetoric during the campaign. This feature of the platform offers a list of comments and positions exhibited by some federal candidates who we believe American society as a whole should disassociate from and fully reject.
This platform does not offer endorsements for specific candidates, but aims to serve as an educational tool for its users to learn more about the positions of candidates on issues that affect the wellbeing and interests of the Jewish community.
In its 100 years of activity, the American Jewish Congress has been widely recognized for its active engagement in the civic discourse and in advocating for the rights and interests of the Jewish community, and as an advocate for civil rights in general. — From American Jewish Congress
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Survey tracks Israeli bike riding on Yom Kippur
One can praise the Israeli habit of Yom Kippur bicycle riding, or one can denounce it, the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) notes. However, one thing one cannot do is ignore it. The streets of Israel have been flooded with bike riders on Yom Kippur for quite a few years, and it has become clear that bike riding on Yom Kippur has gone mainstream.
Who are the Yom Kippur bicyclists? JPPI’s Israeli Judaism Project has discovered that Jews defining themselves as “Haredi” or “Traditional” do not bike on Yom Kippur, nor do their children. The biking population is composed mostly of Israeli Jews who identify as “Traditional” or “Secular”, especially their children.
Bike riding on Yom Kippur is first and foremost a children`s phenomenon. Only 7% of all Jewish Israeli adults say they bike on Yom Kippur (according to a survey conducted by the Municipilty of Jerusalem – 40% of Israeli adults ride bikes, and among them 48% ride every week[1]). In contrast, 34% of adults say their children ride bikes. If you account for how many of these adults have children old enough to ride bicycles, one can calculate that 43%, almost half of Israeli children, ride bikes on Yom Kippur.
Another intersting finding from the survey shows an inverse correlation between keeping tradition and riding bikes. The more traditional you are – the less chance you`ll be riding your bike on Yom Kippur. While this in itself is no surprise, what is surprising is the fact that the percentage of adults who bike on Yom Kippur is significantly lower than the percentage of children who do so. Therefore, the fact that adults refrain from riding bikes on Yom Kippur because of their adherence to tradition does not necessarily carry over to their children.
A close look at the data shows that among those who identify as “completely Secular” about twice as many children bike on Yom Kippur than do adults. Among the “Traditional” and the “Seculars who are somewhat Traditional,” about five times as many children bike than adults.
These numbers show that the percentage of adults biking on Yom Kippur correlates to the level of adherence to tradition, and that there is a major gap between those who identify as completely secular and those who identify as somewhat traditional. That gap, however, decreases when it comes to children. The percentage of biking is pretty much the same among children from “completely Secular” families and those from “Secular, who are a bit traditional” families. The percentage of children from “Traditional” families who ride bikes on Yom Kippur is lower, but still considerable. Furthermore, virtually no religious adults ride bicycles on Yom Kippur, but there are religious kids who do so: 25% of adults who identify as “Liberal Religious,” 10% of those who identify as “Religious” and 7% of those who identify as “National Haredi” claim their children bike on Yom Kippur.
The biking phenomenon can be a sign of one of two changes in Israeli society: either that the very fact of children biking on Yom Kippur has caused Israeli society to accept this practice (although it is not true among adults, who still see biking as breaking tradition), or that we can expect that in Israel`s next generation, biking will become an important Yom Kippur tradition; we can also expect the percentage of adults who bike to rise accordingly.
The gap between those who identify as “Completely Secular” and the two traditional groups (who together compose about 40% of Israel`s Jewish population) is also apparent in other Yom Kippur habits, Like the percentage of those who recite Kol Nidre or the Ne`ila prayer in a synagogue. — From the Jewish People Policy Institute
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Roskam hails passage of bill elevating special envoy on anti-Semitism to rank of ambassador
U.S Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) co-Chair of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating anti-Semitism, released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 1911- the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act.
“Tragically, anti-Semitism is on the rise across the globe. The bipartisan Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act reinforces our nation’s leadership in fighting this scourge by elevating the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to the rank of Ambassador and ensuring that the Special Envoy is solely focused on this important task.
“History teaches us that anti-Semitism is defeated only when it is confronted directly. The Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act is a strong step forward as Congress seeks to defeat global anti-Semitism.” — From Congressman Peter Roskam
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Preceding stories culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, applauded U.S. House passage of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2018 (H.R. 1911), bipartisan legislation to require the prompt appointment of the Special Envoy position by the Administration and to elevate the position to the rank of ambassador. Lowey is an original cosponsor of the legislation.
“Today, the House sent a clear signal to the Administration that the U.S. must remain a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism,” said Congresswoman Lowey. “As anti-Semitism continues to rise around the globe, it is more important than ever that we have a strong, qualified leader in this role.”
The Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. Department of State is tasked with spearheading the country’s important diplomatic efforts in the fight against anti-Semitism. The position has been vacant since the beginning of the Trump Administration.
Since early 2017, Congresswoman Lowey has led multiple efforts to urge the Administration to fill the Special Envoy position as quickly as possible. Additionally, the Omnibus Appropriations bills for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 included directives, authored by Lowey – a co-chair of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism – urging the Administration to prioritize the appointment of the position and to provide funding for the efforts of the Special Envoy and his or her Office.
The American Jewish Committee issued the following statement:
H.R. 1911, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a bipartisan group of other representatives, will elevate the envoy position to the rank of Ambassador, to report directly to the Secretary of State. The bill establishes the position as the primary advisor and coordinator for U.S. government efforts to monitor and combat anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement in foreign countries. It also emphasizes that the Special Envoy should be a person of recognized distinction in the field of religious freedom or combating anti-Semitism.
“Mobilizing governments and civil society and assuring there are adequate tools to combat European anti-Semitism are priority objectives, for which the U.S. Special Envoy is an essential partner. At a time when anti-Semitism shows no sign of abating, it is fitting and logical that this position be given prominence at the State Department,” said Jason Isaacson, AJC Associate Executive Director for Policy.
“This critical position has been unfilled since January 2017, and with this vote Congress is not only reaffirming the necessity of naming an envoy but upgrading the position in response to a growing demand for U.S. leadership,” Isaacson continued. “Indeed, the very existence of this Special Envoy role sends a powerful signal to world leaders and to vulnerable Jewish communities of America’s commitment to confronting this menace.”
AJC has repeatedly called on the administration to fill the envoy post. In May, AJC worked to help garner the signatures of 120 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle on a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging swift appointment of a new State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This letter was initiated by leaders of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism – Representatives Eliot Engel, Chris Smith, Nita Lowey, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ted Deutch, Marc Veasey, and Kay Granger – a caucus AJC has supported since its creation in 2014.
The congressional letter—signed by more than one quarter of the House of Representatives—came on the heels of an AJC-coordinated letter, signed by more than 1,100 religious leaders across the United States, urging Secretary Pompeo to appoint a Special Envoy. Among the signatories are rabbis, several hundred Christian leaders, and faith representatives of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities.
The Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, created by Congress in 2004, has kept the U.S. at the forefront of international efforts to raise consciousness about the rising menace of anti-Semitism and press governments and multilateral institutions to act to safeguard vulnerable Jewish communities. In July, AJC directly and personally appealed to Secretary Pompeo on this matter and welcomed his commitment to promptly fill the post. “It is now imperative that this key State Department post be filled and provided necessary resources and exempt from any budget cuts,” said Isaacson.