Weekly Round Up: State of Antisemitism in America

October 29, 2021

23 Cheshvan, 5782

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom!

This week I want to highlight an agency outside of the Birmingham area that receives an allocation from The Birmingham Jewish Federation – The AJC. Founded in 1906, the American Jewish Committee is one of the oldest advocacy groups in the United States. Today, the AJC promotes itself as the leading global Jewish advocacy organization. From city halls to Capitol Hill, at the UN, and in world capitals, AJC works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people. The AJC has six main areas of focus, Israel, Radicalism and Extremism, Interreglious Relations, BDS, Human Rights, and Antisemitism.

This past week, the AJC released its 2021 State of Antisemitism in America Report. American Jewish Committee’s annual State of Antisemitism in America report includes the largest-ever surveys of American Jews and the U.S. general public on antisemitism in America. The report shows deep anxiety among Jewish Americans and divergent views among the general public about the severity of antisemitism in the United States. Parallel surveys of American Jews and the U.S. general public provide a unique opportunity to understand the impact of hatred toward Jews in America. Key highlights include:

One in four American Jews has been the target of antisemitism over the past 12 months. 17% said they had been the targets of antisemitic remarks in person, 12% said they had been the targets of antisemitism online or on social media, and 3% said they had been the victims of physical attacks.

Four in ten American Jews (39%) have changed their behavior over the past 12 months out of fear of antisemitism. 25% have avoided posting content online that would enable others to identify them as Jewish or reveal their views on Jewish issues; 22% said they had avoided wearing or displaying things that might enable others to identify them as Jewish; and 17% have avoided certain places, events, or situations out of fear.

While 82% of American Jews believe antisemitism has increased over the past five years, only 44% of the general public agrees—even though 41% of Americans say they’ve witnessed at least one antisemitic incident over the past year.

American Jews and the U.S. general public have very different perceptions of the antisemitic attacks this past summer. While 71% of American Jews said they had heard “some” or “a lot” about attacks on Jews in America and around the world during the May conflict between Israel and Hamas, most Americans (53%) said they had not. Of the American Jews who had heard some or a lot about the attacks, 72% said they made them feel less safe as Jews in America.

Both American Jews and the U.S. general public overwhelmingly view anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism. More than eight in ten respondents in both groups said the statement “Israel has no right to exist” is antisemitic.

I am sure we can all agree that these statistics are quite alarming and may even be keeping us up at night. A while back I wrote and asked you to talk to the righteous gentiles in your life to speak up against Antisemitism. I encourage you to send this full report to all your contacts, Jewish and non-Jewish so that the gravity of the situation continues to be drummed into the daily conversation of everyday Americans. I am also urging you to contact members of our local governments and Congress to urge them to help combat Antisemitism in America. A list of our elected officials and their contacts can be accessed here.

Please know that in addition to the work our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) does on a daily basis, The Birmingham Jewish Federation continues to partner with the AJC and the ADL to bring education and programming to our community. We have added an Antisemitism incident report to our website as well, which can be accessed here. As we enter the calendar year 2022 please stay tuned for more updates on what we are doing to secure our community and provide additional resources on fighting Antisemitism. For now, please check out these 90 ways you can help combat antisemitism.

Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a week of peace.

B’Shalom,

Danny

Foundation News

This year's N.E. Miles Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

The Birmingham Jewish Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipients of this year’s N.E. Miles Lifetime Achievement Award are Rhonda z”l and Eric Siegel.

The N.E. Miles Award is presented to a couple or individual who have exhibited a lifetime of leadership giving and who are endowing their Federation annual campaign gift. The Siegels have generously supported not only the Federation over the years, but also many of our other Jewish organizations. Rhonda, of blessed memory, held many leadership positions in the community, including for CJFS and Hadassah. The award will be presented January 23^rd, more details to follow.

Agency Spotlight

Stories from the LJCC

2021 at the Levite Jewish Community Center

Upcoming Programming

Sigd - A Virtual Celebration

of Jewish Unity

November 3rd at 11 AM CST

Please join us on November 3^rd, 2021 at 11 AM CST for a virtual celebration of Jewish Unity!

For hundreds of years, generation after generation, Ethiopian Jews celebrated a holy day that is dedicated to prayers reflecting the community’s centuries-old aspirations to return to the holy city, Jerusalem.

When Yom Kippur ends, the 7-weeks count begins towards the Sigd Day. While Yom Kipur is a day of individual repentance, the Sigd is the day of communal reflection and Tikkun.

In modern times, the Sigd symbolizes the never-ending dream of a united Jewish peoplehood and Tikkun Olam. This is a wonderful opportunity for world Jewry to take this journey together in celebrating the Sigd.

Outsmarting Antisemitism

November 3 - December 1

In honor of Veterans Day:

An Evening with

U.S. Representative Elaine Luria

Monday, November 8, 2021 at 7PM

RSVP Here!

Momentum: A Year Long Journey to Becoming Your Best Self

Learn more!

2021 Lion of Judah and

Pomegranate Event

Featuring Noa Tishby, Israeli-American Actress, Producer, Activist, and Author

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 6PM

*This is a program for the Lions of Judah

and Pomegranate Society giving levels.

RSVP Here!

SAVE THE DATE!

Courageous Conversation of Healing

November 16, 2021 at 7PM

The JCRC and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are hosting a Courageous Conversation of Healing between Danny Cohn, BJF CEO, and DeJuana Thompson, BCRI President and CEO at 7:00 pm on November 16th.

Sherri Jackson of CBS42 will be moderating. The event will be streamed live on Facebook and a link will be available beginning in November - so stay tuned!

The aim of this program is to bring together our Jewish and Black communities - not only to understand the issues that are most concerning us, but to also listen to each other and heal. This honest dialogue will be just a first step towards more meaningful collaborations that will benefit both our communities, and as a result, our city as a whole.

For more information contact Joyce Shevin.

The Matzah Ball

December 2, 2021 at 8PM

Early Bird Tickets on Sale Here!

Community Programs

ShulHouse Rock Family Shabbat

(with PJ Library)

Saturday, October 30 @ 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

Temple Beth-El

All kids are invited to come in costume for this special Halloween-weekend Shabbat.

Send all other RSVP’s to mnorman@templebeth-el.net.

At 12:00 all will be invited to join for a kid-friendly outdoor Kiddush luncheon or take a lunch to go.

11:15 – 12:00: Tot Shabbat with PJ Library (to-go activity option available)

Don’t Forget to Register for ShulHouse Rock to participate in all family programming!

PJ Library’s Shabbat in the Bag –

Tot Shabbat Morning

Saturday, October 30 @ 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

PJ Library and Temple Beth-El

PJ Library joins TBE’s Tot Shabbat to make our

own tzedakah boxes.

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, November 3 @ 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Temple Emanu-El

This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels welcome.

Jewish Fertility Foundation-Birmingham (JFF-BHM) Kickoff Event, A Program of CJFS

Thursday, November 4 @ 7:00 PM

CJFS

Come join us for a women’s only event to celebrate the launch of Jewish Fertility Foundation here in Birmingham! Kosher wine, cheese, and desserts. There will be speakers talking about their personal journey with infertility along with talking about the mission and goals of JFF-BHM.

An Evening with Representative Elaine Luria; Birmingham Native, Naval Veteran, Congresswoman from Virginia

Monday, November 8 @ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

JCRC and Jewish War Veteran Post #608

Join the JCRC and Jewish War Veterans Post #608 for a virtual evening with Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia. Rep. Luria is a naval veteran and native daughter of our Birmingham Jewish community.

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, November 10 @ 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Temple Emanu-El

This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels welcome.

BJF Women’s Philanthropy –

LOJ and POM Program With Noa Tishby

Wednesday, November 10 @ 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Women's Philanthropy

BJF Women’s Philanthropy – LOJ and POM Program

With Noa Tishby

*This is a program for the Lions of Judah and Pomegranate Society giving levels.

RSVP here!

Temple Beth-EL Sisterhood Bake Sale

Sunday, November 14 @ 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Drive by pick up

CJFS Senior Grocery Delivery

Sunday, November 14 @ 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

CJFS

Senior Grocery Delivery

TravelStorys Launch Event: Jewish Birmingham and Civil Rights with TBE and TEE

Sunday, November 14 @ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El

Join us for a “soft launch” of the Beth El Civil Rights Experiences’ Jewish Birmingham + Civil Rights audio tour! For our “soft launch” event we’ll be previewing the first five stops of the tour, which will be complete Fall 2022. And we’ll be partnering with Temple Emanu-El, so that we can enjoy engaging with our history as a whole Birmingham Jewish community.

You must register for a timed slot to attend and plan to arrive at that time. We will be putting participants in groups to embark on this self-guided audio tour together. This tour will take place in downtown Birmingham and the walking route is approximately 1.5 miles round trip. Participants who register will receive a map, arrival information and detailed instructions about accessing the audio tour before the event.