A Ten Point Action Plan to Stem Attacks Against Jews By Rabbi Aryeh Spero
The Jewish community is experiencing an explosion of anti-Jewish attacks, both physical and ideological. Jews have been gunned down or stabbed in Pittsburgh, San Diego, Jersey City, and Monsey, and are being pushed, beaten, and cursed on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan. The attacks are happening against the community and individuals, in Jewish institutions and on subways, on almost a daily basis.
Though neo-Nazis, leftist anti-Zionists, and Jew haters within the Black and Islamic communities often disagree, they are united in their animus toward Jews. There are today powerful forces arrayed against the Jewish people, not simply from the right but predominantly — and with greater cultural influence –from the political Left.
Thus far, those in major establishment Jewish organizations have been unable or unwilling to stop the daily harassment of Jews on campus and on New York City streets. Many in the Jewish community now rightfully acknowledge that we have a crisis in Jewish organizational leadership. Our major organizations, be it the ADL, the JCRC, or the many Federations, are failing us.
Furthermore, the loyalty and simpatico of these cash-laden organizations with liberal/left ideology renders them unwilling to combat the pernicious negativity against Jews coming from members within certain minority groups. Similarly, they are reluctant to condemn the anti-Jewish rhetoric coming from groups within the Democrat Party.
In light of this dereliction of duty, a Jewish Leadership Summit of experienced activists and grassroots leadership was convened to set forth a set of serious proposals to be discussed by local Jewish communities and individual Jews desirous of protecting America’s Jewish institutions and people. We can no longer wait. The history of these organizations as well as the present make-up of their staff and bureaucrats does not give us confidence.
The following recommendations from the Jewish Leadership Summit
A TEN POINT DECLARATION OF ACTION
1. SELF-DEFENSE AND SELF-RESPECT: Promote the ethic and mitzvah of self-protection
- Encourage Jews to be trained in legal self-defense measures, e.g., martial arts such as Krav Maga, jiu-jitsu, boxing, Legion Self-Defense, responsible firearm use, and non-lethal weapons such as mace.
- Promote athletic and strength-building activities to instill a self-confident demeanor.
2. INSTITUTIONAL AND SYNAGOGUE PROTECTION
- In addition to outside hired security guards, members of congregations should enroll in synagogue protection programs such as “Dr. Bob’s Be Prepared.” These volunteers will be “Synagogue Marshals” trained in the use of firearms.
3. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PATROLS
- Densely populated Jewish neighborhoods should establish patrols or shomrim organizations to constantly do walk-throughs on the streets. While we welcome the help of outside groups, it is incumbent that we bear a responsibility to protect our families. The image of a toughened neighborhood will discourage would-be perpetrators.
- Rabbis and Jewish educators should encourage such avenues of self-protection.
- Promote tax credits for community safety patrols and training.
4. LEGAL REPRESENTATION
- Recruit pro bono lawyers willing to represent Jewish victims of attacks and harassment, as well as those Jews who fought back in self-defense and are now being sued by the perpetrators or prosecuted by government entities.
5. COMMON SENSE JUSTICE THAT PROTECTS VICTIMS
- Work against dangerous ideas such as “bail reform” and “justice reform” measures that release violent, hate-based criminals back to the streets free to re-attack and give victims’ and witnesses’ names and contact information to criminals.
6. STOP FUNDING ANTI-JEWISH ENTITIES
- Do not fund candidates who either are unwilling to explicitly condemn anti-Semitism in and of itself or those candidates who align themselves with radical causes that culminate in anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric.
- Stop funding and donating to colleges that allow BDS movements on campus, student organizations steeped specifically in anti-Israel programming, or professors and departments pushing anti-Israel boycotts and maligning supporters of Israel
- Stop giving to those Jewish organizations that consistently find fault with and criticize Israel and elevate and “dialogue” with anti-Israel spokespeople. Do not fund groups or individuals that use incendiary language against Zionism and speak of “white privilege”. This incendiary language ends up fueling attacks against Jewish institutions and individuals, especially in urban neighborhoods.
7. HONESTLY IDENTIFY SOURCES OF VIOLENCE
- So as to stop violence against Jews, it is crucial to identify those sources even if it comes from minority groups.
- There is an excess of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric coming out of the mosques and madrassas as well as militant segments in the black community.
- So as to be confronted they must first be exposed.
- Demands must be made of leaders in those communities to speak against anti-Jewish phraseology and to shun and ostracize those members engaged in it.
8. CALL THE ATTACKS WHAT THEY TRULY ARE
- These attacks should not be whitewashed simply as a form of hate or intolerance or mental illness. It is specifically Jew-hatred.
- We cannot assume that those who speak against hate and intolerance are equally against anti-Semitism. Instead of the sanitized term “anti-Semitism” when speaking of attacks, we should call it “Jew-hatred.”
9. NEW JEWISH LEADERSHIP
- The failure of establishment major Jewish organizations to effectively condemn or diminish the anti-Semitism on American campuses, in mosques, in certain minority neighborhoods, and among a host of “progressive” officials is due to their choosing leftwing politics over the needs of the Jewish community. This is a sacrifice that most sane Jews should not be willing to offer.
- The survival and safety of the Jewish People is the greatest of Jewish goals and values and must override the professed left-wing values that often collide with Jewish survival.
- Thus, it seems necessary for concerned Jewish citizens to not fully depend on the major Jewish organizations that very likely will malign and sabotage Jewish self-defense efforts that do not conform to the liberal/leftist goals prioritized by establishment organizations. Many of those heading up Jewish organizations are not leaders, rather bureaucrats, social workers, and committed to the implementation of leftist ideology.
- A grassroots movement as well as courageous individual Jews will be needed to fight the battles that may reach our doorsteps.
10. PRO-ACTIVELY ENGAGE LOCAL LEADERS
- Reach out to local, state, and federal law enforcement, first responders, and government officials. U.S. Attorney General William Barr has already shown an overflow of heartfelt concern by traveling to Brooklyn and telling Jewish leaders that his department, a federal agency, will prosecute the attackers and assist Jewish institutions.
- Make relationships with local media outlets to ensure that attacks on Jews are accurately and consistently reported.
- Conversations with neighboring communities should not be done under an attitude of appeasement nor with the sociological guilt that too often dominates what poses as “dialogue”. They should be honest conversations, conducted with self-confidence, and with an expectation of civil behavior without excuse-making. Excuses for anti-Semitism under a call for “understanding” should not be countenanced.
- Education is vital in shaping young people. However, we need to create curriculums and messaging that do not camouflage the scourge of anti-Semitism under the general banner of hate and intolerance. Due to “intersectionality”, many groups condemning hate and intolerance regarding themselves accept demonization of Jews as” white oppressors” or “white privileged” and find anti-Semitism acceptable and “cool.” Jew hatred is unique among hatreds.
- Network with communal and civic organizations, community-based groups, and religious leaders, Jewish and non-Jewish. Respect the customs and culture of the community wherein you live.
For further information:
Conference of Jewish Affairs
90 Washington Valley Road, Suite 1261
Bedminster, New Jersey 07921
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