Ninety-three percent of American Jews are concerned with the current levels of antisemitism in the United States, with nearly half of US Jews (42%) experiencing antisemitism either directly or through family and friends over the past five years alone, according to a new panel survey commissioned and released Thursday by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

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The two-part survey, conducted by the Mellman Group, examined 2,500 Jewish American adults in December 2019 and a further 1,000 Jewish adults from October-November 2021. Despite being conducted before the synagogue hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas, the newly released survey amplifies the renewed fears over antisemitism nationwide in the aftermath of that attack.

According to the findings, 75% of American Jews believe that there is more antisemitism today in the US than there was five years ago. Almost all American Jews (94%) say they see at least some antisemitism in the US over the past five years. One in three younger Jews (18-39 years old) say they have personally experienced antisemitism and 60% say they know a family or friend who has. Older Jews (over 60 years old) are more likely to have seen "a lot" of antisemitism (62%) than younger Jews (47%).

The survey also explored the notion of shared fate among American Jews. When asked how much they thought what happens to US Jews would have something to do with what happens in their own life, 82% acknowledged a shared fate. Even among those who do not value being Jewish, a majority (65%) feel what happens to other US Jews also has some effect on them. Additionally, the survey found that 9% of those who are uninvolved in the Jewish community view antisemitism as a reason for involvement, showcasing that the issue is strong enough to engage a demographic unconnected to Jewish life.

"Our survey reinforces the urgent need for American leadership to formulate new strategies to confront the surge of antisemitism and increasing hate crimes against the Jewish community," said Ruderman Family Foundation President Jay Ruderman. "Accordingly, we hope that these findings spur local and national leaders into action on this critical issue. Antisemitism is a threat to American society as a whole and only in tackling this issue as one unified nation will it ever be truly addressed."

In addition to antisemitism, the survey explored multiple topics pertaining to American Jewry. When it comes to US politics, American Jews perceive both parties as pro-Israel; 69% stating this was the case for the Democratic Party and 71% for the Republican Party. Yet when delving further into this support, the majority see Democrats as pro-Israel but critical of the Israeli government's policies, while the majority see Republicans as pro-Israel and supportive of its policies. Interestingly, both parties are seen to be moving in opposite directions with their support for Israel, with 54% believing the Democratic Party has become less pro-Israel and 39% stating that the Republican Party has become more pro-Israel.

When exploring their connection to Israel, approximately one-third (34%) of respondents believe the relationship between Israel and US Jews has weakened in the last two years, including 40% of Republicans and 31% of Democrats. Only 12% identified Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021 as a reason for that weakened relationship, with 32% naming the increasing power of right-wing or ultra-Orthodox Israeli political parties; 25% the treatment of Palestinians; 24% the mutual ties between Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, and 24% Israel's settlement policies.

Reinforcing many American Jews' gaps in basic knowledge about Israel, 41% of respondents are unaware that Israel's Arab citizens have voting rights, with 27% incorrectly asserting that Arab citizens cannot vote and 14% stating they were unsure on the topic. Fifty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified Naftali Bennett as Israel's prime minister, with 16% saying that Netanyahu still holds the position and 20% unable to recall who is currently prime minister.

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Some 30% of antisemitic incidents worldwide in 2021 took place in the US, a new report by the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel shows.

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The data in the report, published ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on Jan. 27, are particularly interesting in light of the hostage taking at the Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on Saturday. The reveal that the US saw the second-highest number of antisemitic incidents for 2021, after the entire continent of Europe.

According to the report, about 30% of all such incidents reported worldwide in 2021 occurred in the US, and Texas saw only the sixth-highest number of antisemitic occurrences. New York was the US state with the most reported incidents, followed by Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida and California.

The WZO's Department for Combating Antisemitism and for Promoting Diaspora Community Resilience analyzed the numbers and concluded that the US had seen more instances of physical than verbal violence, in sharp contrast to global trends, in which vandalism and antisemitic propaganda were the most frequent forms of antisemitic incidents.

The report complied all the data on antisemitism published for 2021 by different organizations and institutions that follow the phenomenon, and pointed to a rise in antisemitism in the ranks of US academia.

May 2021, when Israel was engaged in an escalation of violence against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, saw antisemitic incidents spike.

Raheli Baratz Rix, head of Department for Combating Antisemitism and for Promoting Diaspora Community Resilience at the WZO, told Israel Hayom that "What happened in the Texas synagogue wasn't the event that 'opened' 2022, it's just that most of these incident are routine and not discussed.

"Our job is to not only raise awareness of the situation of antisemitism and encourage countries to fight it, but also to embrace Jewish communities and take care of their community resilience insofar as they are interested. And as a country, we can bring the experience we have acquired through blood to our brethren in the Diaspora, and remind them that this time, too, Israel will always be an anchor for any Jew who wants it to be," Baratz Rix said.

After the Texas synagogue standoff, the Anti-Defamation League called on Congress to double funding for a plan that provides grants to NGOs run by FEMA. The plan provides organizations, including Jewish schools and synagogues, with the help needed to bolster their security.

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To a certain extent, you could say that Omicron saved the lived of members of a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, where a 12-hour hostage standoff ended Saturday. If the fifth COVID wave hadn't hit the US, many more worshippers would have been in attendance at the 160-seat Beth Israel Reform synagogue when the hostage taker targeted the community.

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Texas is home to some 160,000 Jewish residents, most of whom live in Houston and Dallas. Only about 100 Jewish families live in Colleyville, a suburb about 30 minutes away from Dallas. The Jewish community there is small, founded in 1999. The local synagogue was built only six years later, in 2005.

"This is a warm, close community, based mainly on volunteers, mutual responsibility, and support, Sharona Israeli-Roth, VP of Online Education at the Israeli American Council (IAC), tells Israel Hayom.

"We went through some difficult, tense hours. We're happy that the hostages came out safely," Israeli-Roth says.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker has been in charge of the congregation since 2006. Israeli-Roth describes him as a "special man, devoted to education and bringing people together, who works closely with the Muslim and Christian community in our area. We met at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and since them we've been working with him on online education to bring Israel into his congregation in the framework of the IAC Ofek [study] program.

"Our cooperation allows the community to continue its study of the spirit of Israel with the best teachers and close, warm contact between teachers and students," she says.

The Colleyville community, like many across the US, is not backed by a local Jewish federation, and mainly meets the religious needs of the people who live there. Actually, it works closely with a local church to provide the services its members need – after-school activities are held in the church.

"The congregation members' connection to Judaism is confined to the synagogue – beyond that, they identify as Americans," Gilad Katz, former Israeli Consul General to the Southwest US, tells Israel Hayom.

"In a certain sense, a congregation like this is fragile and could fall apart because people tend to move around," he adds.

While the synagogue has 160 seats, it is rare that they are all taken.

"In this instance, the most important goal of the congregation is to remain in existence. I think that an event like this [the hostage standoff], which we still don't fully understand, generally strengthens the community. The immediate response will be a fear to go to synagogue, but after that, if the rabbi works properly and inspires respect, he can strengthen the congregation and create an atmosphere of action," Katz says.

In the broader context, Katz say, "It's no secret that antisemitism is rearing its head in the US. At least one in four [Jewish] institutions is being attacked and US Jews are reliazing that something bad is happening for US Jews. The way in which US Jewry confronts these difficulties will be its biggest challenge in the next few years."

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The state of Pennsylvania will allocate $6.6 million in funding to redevelop the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where in 2018 a gunman murdered 11 worshippers and wounded six others in the worst antisemitic attack in US history.

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Governor Tom Wolf made the announcement at a press conference on Monday outside of the congregation in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, calling the contribution for the renovation a "Hanukkah present" on the final day of the holiday.

"Tree of Life is undertaking a project to remember the past, to inform the present, and promote healing for the future," Wolf said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And I am so proud to support the communities' efforts to reimagine this space, to create a welcoming place for residents, for visitors in Pittsburgh to reflect, and to learn, and to grow."

The money will be used to renovate the main sanctuary and replace the chapel, where the victims were killed on Oct. 27, 2018 when the suspect in the shooting, Robert Bowers, burst into the synagogue shouting "all Jews must die" as he opened fire, according to police.

The synagogue also plans to build a memorial garden to the 11 victims.

Bowers, who pleaded not guilty, is facing dozens of federal and state charges, including capital crimes and hate crimes.

i24NEWS contributed to this report

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The North MoPac Expressway runs up Austin's west side, a busy, eight-lane artery that speaks to the city's expanding suburbs and the extravagant consumption of space that is uniquely Texan. It's not a place that seems conducive to antisemitic demonstrations – or demonstrations of any kind, for that matter. But late last month, the MoPac came to national attention when a banner appeared on an overpass reading "Vax the Jews." The sign bore the name of a neo-Nazi group. Several men were seen beside it giving the Nazi salute to passing cars.

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The banner was one in a string of antisemitic incidents that rocked Austin that week, culminating in an arson fire outside Temple Beth Shalom on Nov. 1 that caused more than $25,000 worth of damage. On the day before the fire, the banner appeared over the MoPac again.

Austin faith leaders and politicians forcefully condemned the incidents; a "Rally for Kindness" was held at the capitol; and on Monday, Nov. 29, another sort of response will be issued: Levi Levertov, associate rabbi at Chabad of Austin, will light a large menorah on the overpass where the banner appeared.

"Our approach is to spread positivity to everyone we meet, Jewish and non-Jewish," Levertov told JNS. "What better symbol could there be than to light a menorah on an overpass that brought fear and hate to Austin. The overpass was spreading hate; the menorah is spreading light."

The event will be one of several of public menorah-lightings in the Austin area, including events at the capitol with the governor and at City Hall with the mayor, said Levertov.

Public lightings began in 1973, when a group of yeshivah students erected a small, wooden handmade menorah on Fifth Avenue in New York City. It was just a stunt to attract attention; the students were there to distribute free tin menorahs. A year later, in 1974, in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, a small white wooden menorah was put into place by Chabad Rabbi Abraham Shemtov and a handful of yeshiva students.

It was done at the initiative of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who encouraged his followers to take the mitzvah of publicizing the Hanukkah miracle –pirsume nisa in Hebrew – quite literally. The Rebbe embraced his students' innovation, promoting public menorahs as a triumph of light over darkness and an expression of Jewish pride.

The campaign caught on, and within a few years, large, V-shaped menorahs appeared outside state houses, from the Billy Graham menorah in San Francisco to the one outside the Kremlin. US President Jimmy Carter kindled the first national menorah outside the White House in 1978 – a tradition that has taken place ever since.

Initially, the idea encountered fierce pushback from Jewish groups, who saw the menorahs as undercutting their hard-fought battle to remove Christian symbols from the public square. Civil liberties groups joined the fight, and in 1989, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging a menorah outside a Pittsburgh municipal building. In County of Allegheny v. ACLU, the Court ruled 6-3 that public menorahs did not violate the separation of church and state because they had become a symbol of the secular holiday season. A subsequent Supreme Court challenge, in Cincinnati in 2003, cemented the menorah's constitutional status.

Today, public menorahs are so ubiquitous that they transcend denominations and even faiths. "Public lightings shine light in both the physical and the spiritual realms, and remind us that we are together, standing strong," Neil Blumofe, senior rabbi at Conservative Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin, told JNS. "It is an important statement that the lights of Hanukkah represent a respectful and navigable way forward – a proper and holy way to utilize fire – especially after the arson attack in Austin."

A grassroots campaign this year in Buda, Texas, persuaded officials to allow a menorah on town property for the first time. When they refused to fund it, as they did the public Christmas tree, Christian groups chipped in to make it possible.

'Hanukkah with the Greeks'

Public menorahs seem particularly relevant at a time when 39% of American Jews say they have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism, according to a recent study by the American Jewish Committee titled "The State of Antisemitism in America 2021." It's a phenomenon that's only intensified by the hothouse environment of a college campus, said Rabbi Yudi Steiner, director of the Rohr Chabad Center at George Washington University.

After a Torah scroll was found desecrated in a GW fraternity last month, Steiner launched a campaign to put up mezuzahs for Jewish students on campus. "There was tremendous buy-in," he said. "At the same time, there are students who feel uncomfortable putting up the mezuzah because they feel they're going to be targeted."

Hanukkah's message of religious freedom and spiritual light is the antidote to that mentality, said Steiner – "The theme could not be more perfect" – and he's seizing the moment to create an unexpected alliance. On the last night of the holiday, Chabad is staging a public menorah-lighting co-sponsored by every fraternity and sorority at GW, an event they have playfully dubbed "Hanukkah with the Greeks."

"These aren't just individuals making a decision to support Jewish life," said Steiner. "These are student organizations coming out and saying we want to do the right thing."

Samson Kampler, a junior at GW, said last month's incident at the fraternity wasn't anything new. "Antisemitism doesn't surprise us anymore. As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I find that really unfortunate."

Public menorah-lightings on campus give him a sense of Jewish pride, he said, but, perhaps more importantly, they're an opportunity to teach: "It's giving insight to kids of other religions, to show that no matter what occurs across campus, we're proud. We just want to celebrate our holiday."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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The Jewish American group Jewish Voice for Peace, which supports the BDS movement against Israel, has announced an "anti-Zionist" Hanukkah party to benefit the Palestinian Adalah Justice Project.

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In a Twitter message, JVP issued an invitation to a "fiery and flirty" Hanukkah party on Dec. 6.

"If you've ever wanted to be part of a thriving multigenerational antizionist Jewish community, join us," the invitation reads.

The organizers invite participants to enjoy performances and strengthen their Jewish roots by sharpening their critical thinking skills.

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A satirical news show and an interfaith coalition of high school students dedicated to fighting hate are among the winning projects from the groundbreaking American Jewish Committee (AJC) Disrupt Antisemitism initiative, the first incubator to fund innovative ideas by young American Jews to combat antisemitism.

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A panel of AJC staff, journalists, and business leaders considered nearly 70 submissions and selected five. Each will receive $10,000 in seed money from AJC as well as access to AJC experts in advocacy, finance, and technology to help launch their projects locally, nationally, and online.

"Bold new ideas are critical to combat the growing threats to Jews in the US," said Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, Director of AJC's Alexander Young Leadership Department. "The creative thinking of Jewish innovators will help the rising generation of American Jews lead us in fighting hate."

The winners were announced a week after AJC's The State of Antisemitism in America 2021, the largest-ever surveys of American Jews and the US public on antisemitism in America, was issued. Among its findings were that 90% of American Jews believe antisemitism is a problem, nearly one-quarter reported they experienced antisemitism in the last 12 months and 39% limited their activities or concealed their Jewishness out of safety concerns. In addition, 86% of American Jews, ages 18-35, think antisemitism is a problem, with 37% saying it's "a very serious problem," in the US today, and 30% said it has increased a lot over the past five years.

The winners of the Disrupt Antisemitism initiative include:

Olive Branch Pictures: Olive Branch Pictures is a graphic novel and animation studio that fosters mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. Olive Branch is producing a film and graphic novel called Shira and Amal, about an Israeli girl and a Palestinian girl who learn to cope with the loss of loved ones by escaping into the world of music.

Uri L'Tzedek: The Orthodox social justice organization based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is guided by Torah values and dedicated to combating suffering and oppression. Uri L'Tzedek will take on antisemitism in progressive spaces by conducting workshops with partner organizations on how antisemitism is manifested and can be fought.

New Zionist Congress: The goal of New Zionist Congress is to combat the rising tide of anti-Zionism in youth-centered spaces. According to AJC's recently released State of Antisemitism in America survey, over 80% of both Jews and the US public consider anti-Zionism – as represented by the statement "Israel has no right to exist" – antisemitic. The group's board members include journalist Bari Weiss, Israeli actress Noa Tishby, and columnist Blake Flayton, the group's CEO.

Jew or False: A digital content series designed to fight antisemitism, Jew or False is a satirical news show that aims to fight Jew-hatred, inspire Jewish pride, and correct misinformation on issues important to the Jewish community. The project is led by writer and director Jason A. Kessler.

Intercommunity Youth Initiative: Conceived by students from Yeshiva University Los Angeles High School, the initiative will bring Jewish and non-Jewish high school students together for a fellowship program designed to build trust, foster understanding, and fight antisemitism and racism.

AJC has taken action to combat antisemitism since its founding 115 years ago. It works with governments to act and forge alliances with other religions and ethnic groups to form a united front against hate. AJC has conceived and helped establish bipartisan taskforces in the House and Senate to combat antisemitism to address antisemitism and protect Jewish communities.

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The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) on Sunday announced a $54 million campaign to secure its affiliated institutions across the United States in the facing of rising antisemitism.

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The LiveSecure initiative will over the next three years provide funding for community security initiatives at all of the umbrella group's 146 Federations in the US. Currently 45 Federations have security initiatives.

The announcement was made at JFNA's annual General Assembly, held virtually for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Together through our LiveSecure campaign, we are working to make sure that the entire Federation system has undertaken this task, and that all of them can continue to upgrade their efforts to meet the new risks and adapt newly-developed best practices in security," Jewish Federations CEO Eric Fingerhut said.

Speakers at the General Assembly included Israeli President Isaac Herzog; former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley; Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), vice chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security; and Israeli singer Edene Alene, who made it to the Eurovision semifinals.

"We are sitting on a powder keg of antisemitism, and the Jewish community and all of us cannot afford to be complacent," Torres said. "All of us in public life have an obligation to speak out forcefully against extremism, no matter what form it takes."

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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For months, Jewish organizations in the United States have been lobbying to appoint a White House Jewish liaison. And after numerous meetings between Jewish organizational leaders and administration officials when violence erupted last month between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip – followed by a wave of anti-Semitic attacks – that role and that of the State Department Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating antisemitism have yet to be filled.

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Most who spoke to JNS said that it was a matter of days or weeks before appointments are made, although they declined to speculate on particular nominees.

Jewish issues have gained a new urgency after first taking a back seat to other concerns – namely, the COVID pandemic and the distribution of vaccines in the five months since the inauguration of US President Joe Biden.

Eric Fusfield, director of legislative affairs for B'nai B'rith International, said in addition to the Mideast conflict in May, concerns include the Iranian nuclear threat and ongoing discussions towards US re-entry into a deal, Israel's new leadership and, just this week, new Iranian leadership in the form of President-elect Ebrahim Raisi. American Jewish organizations want to make the White House aware of its opinions to make sure the US-Israel relationship remains strong, as well as address how Jews are being treated in the United States.

"Our community is feeling some urgency right now about several things in particular, like combating anti-Semitism, because anti-Semitism in this country has taken a very disturbing turn lately, with more violence against Jewish individuals and institutions," said Fusfield.

The liaison's position, he said, serves as a focal point for Jewish organizations to contact the White House to make sure their message is heard by those who have the power to augment change.

While he said that every administration has a settling-in period where it works to nominate individuals for key positions, the six-month window is approaching, and the Jewish community is experiencing urgent needs.

"We need a mailing address for voicing our concerns, and the liaison fills that need for us," he said. "We're feeling a great deal of anxiety about certain issues right now, and having a conduit in the administration would help further communication and help us get our point across."

'It's a shliach to the community'

The job of White House Jewish liaison first became official in the Reagan administration and each president since, except for former President Donald Trump, had multiple people who filled the role during their administration's tenure.

Over the years, the job was handled by a variety of administration employees, with the position sometimes becoming the responsibility of a junior staffer or someone more senior in the administration with other responsibilities. Often, these people were taken from other departments in the administration.

The Trump administration did not have an official liaison. The unofficial point-person for many organizations was Paul Teller, who served as special assistant to the president for legislative affairs, and later, as the director of strategic affairs for Vice President Mike Pence.

Democratic strategist Steve Rabinowitz said the position accomplishes two things: "It catches incoming, and it's a shliach to the community."

The job brings the president's agenda to the Jewish community, as well as information about programs and events, he explained, and "the things that people need – whether it's little stuff, like 'we need a letter from the president for our program or a video for our convention' or a speaker for our event. Or they want an invitation for something or a tour. Everybody wants something, and so it all goes through this poor schmuck who has the title of White House Jewish liaison. This person tries to take care of everybody."

Matt Nosanchuk, who served as a liaison in addition to his other duties from 2013 to 2016 under former President Barack Obama, said others often joked that he had the hardest job in Washington.

The Jewish community has "organizations of organizations, is what I've often said. Because we have many organizations and a community with a very long history of engagement on a wide range of issues," said Nosanchuk. "What appealed to me – what the liaison has the opportunity to do because the Jewish community is engaged with and cares about so many issues, both domestic and international – was the opportunity to engage on those issues. That was a really great vantage point from which to work at the White House."

'They did not have a full transition'

Jarrod Bernstein, who served as liaison from October 2011 to February 2013, said that he believes the delay in naming of someone now stems from the administration's initial focus on battling the pandemic and filling other key slots, which was hampered by the lack of a smooth transition from the Trump administration.

"They did not have a full transition because President Trump, for quite some time, refused to acknowledge President Biden's victory, refused to begin the transition process, and that has a trickle-down effect on lots of things," he said.

Another factor, he noted, could be the already longstanding relationship between known senior administration officials such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others within the Jewish community, which has moved finding an official liaison further down on the administration's priority list.

Still, while the Jewish community has been able to secure several virtual meetings with the administration, errors like the recently reported leaving out of key Jewish organizations for a virtual meeting with Blinken has put more pressure on the administration to act.

Facilitating these meetings between Jewish organizations and administration officials is an important part of the job.

"Somebody once told me that we are 2% of the population, but we are 20% of the meetings," said Bernstein. "Meaning, we're a very organized community, we have a lot of amazing talent, and we're very involved in the civic process, which is a good thing."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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I feel deep sorrow at the passing of a wonderful friend, and wonderful person – the late Sheldon Adelson.

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With a broken heart, in the name of my wife, Sara, on my own behalf, and in the name of many people in Israel and the world, we send our heartfelt condolences to Miri and the family. Many of the Jewish people, in Israel and the rest of the world, share in the heavy loss.

It is difficult to describe what Sheldon did for the Jewish people and for Israel. Sheldon was one of the biggest donors in the history of the Jewish people. He gave to Zionism, to the settlements, and to the state of Israel. He made enormous financial contributions to many institutions – to medical and scientific research, to higher education, to Ariel University, to Taglit-Birthright, and to his immense projects in every field. With his wife, Miri, he gave generously to many enterprises that save lives and brought Israel renown throughout the world. Sheldon was a huge Jewish patriot. He worked to strengthen Israel, bolster its standing in the United States, and strengthen ties between the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora.

Sheldon grew up poor, in a Boston suburb, and become one of the biggest entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the world. He did so through his keen intelligence, his honest thinking, his powerful personality, and his courage. Sheldon could face down anything and did what he believed. And what he believed in, more than anything else, was the promise of the Jewish people and their state.

Sheldon truly loved America – America, which gave him every opportunity he could dream of. He wanted everyone in the world to have those opportunities and that freedom.

I have to say that I've met many wonderful people in my life. But this giant, a personality like Sheldon, comes along once in a generation. We will forever remember Sheldon and his enormous contribution to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. His influence will remain with us for generations to come.

May his memory be a blessing.

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