Urge them to publicly support the Jewish community
In the U.S. and much of the world, antisemitism has skyrocketed. But few people are standing up and speaking out against the hatred. Please reach out to non-Jewish organizations with which you are affiliated and ask them to publicly support the Jewish community at this time, using the below letter.
Dear [insert name of partner],
In recent days, we have seen a surge in violent antisemitism in the streets of New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, South Florida, and other major U.S. cities, in addition to many European capitals. According to the FBI’s latest statistics, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 60.2 percent of all hate crimes motivated by religion, a shocking number for a group that accounts for just 2 percent of the U.S. population. On top of that, studies show that anti-Jewish violence increases in America at times of increased hostilities in the Middle East, and this has sadly been true in the past weeks. This past month, acts of verbal and physical violence against Jews have spiked. These shocking trends do not bode well for the spirit of inclusiveness and respect for diversity which are an integral part of American values.
While many of you have taken an active stand, for which we are deeply grateful, the critical task at hand requires your additional involvement. Attention to this alarming wave of antisemitic incidents is insufficient and awareness about the violent nature of these attacks is too low to move the needle. According to AJC’s latest survey on antisemitism, 46% of Americans are unfamiliar with the term antisemitism and 53% either believe antisemitism has stayed the same or decreased over the past five years, which is the opposite of what is happening.
On behalf of American Jewish Committee (AJC), we are writing to express our deep concern and ask for your solidarity and for your voice. The recent past has been hard for many minority communities and we have seen that we are all stronger when we work together. Responsible political debate makes our country stronger, but unchecked antisemitism will tear it apart.
There are a number of ways you and your organization can show support at this time:
Speak Out: Condemn the recent attacks against Jews through your social media, in newspapers, TV appearances, at your board meetings, and elsewhere. Say unequivocally that your community/organization stands with the Jewish community and with American ideals against this hate.
Show Outrage: Join AJC’s international campaign to raise awareness about the recent spike in antisemitic violence by posting on social media using the #WheresTheOutrage hashtag and graphic. You can also print the #WheresTheOutrage sign here, take a picture with the sign, and post it on social media.
Help Educate Your Community: Sadly, hate is not unique to the Jewish community, but antisemitism is especially complicated because it comes in many subtle guises and from diverse sources. AJC’s Translate Hate, a glossary of triggers, tropes, and code words, is a tool to help recognize the many forms of antisemitism that exist in our country and around the world.
Thank you for your support and partnership with the Jewish community.
