Anti-Semitism in Europe

       Although it seems, at this time, to have died down from the widely-reported levels of April and May, anti-semitism in Europe, and particularly in France, remains of great concern. Some of the anti-semitism stems from opposition to Israel, and some appears to be part of the culture.  The Simon Wiesenthal Center Web site has published the May 22 testimony of Dr. Shimon Samuels, the Center's International Liason, to the Helsinki Commission in Washington, on "Escalating Antisemitic Violence in Europe" .  The testimony includes a lengthy discussion of the problem, and ends, at pages 19-20, with a series of excerpts from the accounts of individual victims of anti-semitism.
       Reading through the excerpts is a chilling experience, especially when you bear in mind that these incidents occurred to Jews much like ourselves, living in a modern, "civilized" society in the 21st Century, going about their normal daily lives (going to school, shopping, being at synagogue, etc.), and assuming the standard mechanisms of society will protect them -- just as we do.
       Read the testimony at

       Click here: http://www.wiesenthal.com/social/pdf/index.cfm?ItemID=5753

       http://www.wiesenthal.com/social/pdf/index.cfm?ItemID=5753

       Anti-Israel actions abound throughout Europe. This piece describes some recent developments in Norway, and their historical background:
      
       Click here: jewish comment uk israel news

       http://www.jewishcomment.com/cgibin/news.cgi?id=12&command=shownews&newsid=265

       As Ron Rosenbaum put it in The New York Observor:

       Isn’t it interesting that you didn’t see any "European peace activists" volunteering to "put their bodies on the line" by announcing that they would place themselves in real danger—in the Tel Aviv cafés and pizza parlors, favorite targets of the suicide bombers. Why no "European peace activists" at the Seders of Netanya or the streets of Jerusalem? Instead, "European peace activists" do their best to protect the brave sponsors of the suicide bombers in Ramallah.

In these 2 fascinating essays, Rosenbaum presents a dark, alarming, frankly depressing analysis of modern European antisemitism, European hypocrisy, and its connection to the events in the MidEast:

       First essay:  Click here: THE NEW YORK OBSERVER

       http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=5715

       Second essay:  Click here: THE NEW YORK OBSERVER              http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=5779

       On June 12 the American Jewish Committee launched a new ad listing 200 incidents of antisemitism around the world, and stating:

       Nearly 200 anti-Semitic incidents occurred in one month alone - April 2002. At our collective peril, we forget the central lesson of the 20th century: Don't ever ignore, underestimate, or rationalize hate. Governments, civic and religious leaders, the media, and individuals must never remain silent in the battle between good and evil.

       See the ad here:
        
      Short Memory -- See AJC's New York Times, International Herald Tribune Ad

       http://www.ajc.org/upload/pdf/Times_anti_Semitism.pdf

Want to protest European anti-semitism?

       Click here: American Jewish Committee -- AJC Legislative Action Center

       http://capwiz.com/ajc/home/

        The Anti-Defamation League has just published a report on anti-semitism in America. Read it here:

       Click here: Anti-Semitism on the Rise in America - Press Release

       http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4109_12.asp

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Do You Think It Can't Happen Here?

       Then read this account by Laurie Zoloth, Director of the Jewish Studies Program at San Francisco State University,  of what happened at a pro-Israel peace rally at the University:

       Click here: Anti-Semitic Pogrom at San Francisco State

       http://www.frontpagemag.com/guestcolumnists2002/zoloth05-13-02.htm

Mainstream media confirm that the incident occurred (although not the details of Ms. Zoloth's account), and that the police are considering charges.

       Certainly the Arab-Israeli conflict is being battled at colleges and universities throughout the United States, both in the classroom and otherwise on campus.  Jewish and pro-Israeli students need to be armed with information and passion to effectively present Israel's side and to fight distortion and lies, and need to have continual sources of Jewish culture, programming, and company.  You can help by giving to the Hillel association at your alma mater and/or the school your child attends.  To find addresses of Hillel associations at particular schools, go here:

       Click here: Guide to Jewish Life on Campus

       http://www.hillel.org/hillel/Hillel_Schools_New.nsf/Schools?openform

BTW, this site also provides a lot of other useful information, such as statistics about Jewish student population, Jewish course offerings, etc.

       For college students particularly interested in the MidEast, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is offering a leadership seminar in Israel from August 5-25. The "Hasbara Fellowships" educates students on Middle East history and politics, and trains students to be effective activists on their campuses by giving them the tools to create a pro-active pro-Israel campaign. The Hasbara Fellowships also visits important sites throughout Israel and meets with political leaders from across the ideological spectrum.  For more information:

       Click here: http://www.goisrael.org/home.htm
      
       http://www.goisrael.org/home.htm#Hasbara

     

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Israeli News      

       Do you want to watch Israeli television news, or listen to Israeli radio news, in English?  You can do it, on your computer.  Try the links listed here:

       Click here: Ondemand

       http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/israel.html

Click "Israel" in the listing on the left side of the screen if the Israel page doesn't come up automatically.  The first 4 items on the Israel page are in English. Some are archived from earlier in the day, others occur live. The schedule of live broadcasts is a bit difficult to figure out.

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Project Open Hearts--Open Homes

       The Bergen Y is sponsoring an exciting program to help Israeli teenage children who are victims of terrorism.  From July 8 - 26, or July 29 - August 16, you can get involved with Israeli children who will be joining the exciting, successful Teen Travel Camp of the Bergen YJCC.  The Y is partnering with the Jewish Agency to bring 15 teens, ages 13-15, and two "shlichim" per session to Bergen County to join the traveling teens and to live with host families.  In addition, the Y is developing "extracurricular" evening and Sunday activities for children in the program.

       You can volunteer to:

       --Be a host family.  Host families must have children.   This is the only requirement.  Participants in Teen Travel Camp and Y members will be given priority.  Hosts who cannot give a full three weeks due to scheduling problems may still be considered.  Because people already have summer plans, the Y is looking into "mixing and matching" host families.

       --Be a buddy (back-up) family.  If you can't host you can still volunteer to drive, to chaperone, to attend events.

       --Assist the YJCC in planning extracurricular activities, events, and outings.

       --Make a contribution of money or supplies.

       For more information on participating in this mitzvah of lightening the lives of Israeli teens who have been victims of terrorism or who are related to a terror victim, contact Debbie Gottleib at the Bergen YJCC,   201-666-6610, x210.

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Internet Rumors

       Have you received an e-mail telling you that Fuji is distributing maps of the world that have removed Israel?  That pop singer Shakira told an MTV audience that she'd rather have pigs listen to her music than have Israeli fans?  That Sprint lists calls to Israel on its bills as calls to "Palestine"?
       These and many other such stories are false, modern "urban myths". The Anti-Defamation League maintains a list debunking such false rumors:

       Click here: ADL Internet Main Page

       http://www.adl.org/main_internet.asp#d

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Shop Israel:  Israeli Vendors Fair

A fair with Israeli vendors from Ben Yehuda to Gush Etzion
Sunday June 16, 10 AM to 4 PM (Don't go until after the Father's Day Breakfast with Stephen Flatow!)
Torah Academy of Bergen County
1600 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck NJ

All proceeds from sale of merchandise will go directly to the Israeli vendors

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Rally for Israel -- June 23

             Sponsored by the Interdenominational Rabbinic Committee for Israel, which urges us to gather en masse before taking flight for the summer in order to:

--Urge the White House to apply the Bush Doctrine consistently

--Tell the Europeans that the anti-Semitism in their streets is an outgrowth of the anti-"Zionism" in their parliaments

--Remind the journalistic and academic communities that there is no moral equivalency between cold-blooded murder     and self defense

--Tell the State Department that the Israelis are defending our shores by battling terror on theirs

Toward that end, we ask that you join us at "Speak the Truth": A Rally for Israel, Sunday, June 23rd, 11 AM at the Isaiah Peace Wall (43rd Street and First Avenue), in New York City.

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