Antisemitism & Bigotry Worldwide

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ADL CEO: The British Green Party looks like the next hub of antisemitism in UK politics

LONDON (JTA) — The head of the Anti-Defamation League praised the British Labour Party for its efforts to combat antisemitism among its membership but warned that those expelled from the party could seek to coalesce under other banners, including the Green Party.

https://www.jta.org/2023/07/05/global/adl-ceo-the-british-green-party-is-looking-like-the-next-hub-of-antisemitism-in-british-politics?

[Hanseng]

"Dahl [children's author] publicly made a number of antisemitic comments throughout his career, including in a 1983 interview with the New Statesman in which he said: “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.”

Chaplain Levi Meir OBM, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, conducted  studies in the Los Angeles area. He had a weekly torah study  at Cedars. He also conducted a weekly study serving members of the entertainment industry. He authored a book on Jewish medical ethics. During one of his torah studies, of which I was the only gentile present, he said to the group, "We need to ask ourselves what roll we played in the Shoah."

Fortunately, I played no roll but others in the group may have been descendants of those who did. His remark echoed Dahl's sentiment that the Jews were not necessarily hapless victims. Neither were all nazis murderous Jew haters. An acquaintance of mine escaped from a transport train in Poland. His feet were frozen. A Nazi doctor performed a bilateral trans metatarsal amputation, thereby saving his life. He eventually married a Polish woman and settled in the SFV.  

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ADL and major Jewish groups in 7 countries team up to fight antisemitism together

(JTA) — Large Jewish organizations in seven countries outside of Israel have formed a task force to collaborate on fighting antisemitism.

https://www.jta.org/2023/07/25/global/large-jewish-groups-in-7-countries-team-up-to-fight-antisemitism?

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Far-right group burns Quran in Copenhagen

Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark sparked swift condemnation from Muslim-majority countries.

https://www.politico.eu/article/far-right-group-burn-quran-copenhagen-denmark/?

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London sees antisemitic hate crimes jump 1,350% since start of Israel-Hamas war

(JTA) — London’s Metropolitan Police Service said that antisemitic offenses are up 1,353% in the city since fighting erupted between Israel and Hamas.

https://www.jta.org/2023/10/23/global/london-sees-1350-jump-in-antisemitic-hate-crimes-since-start-of-israel-hamas-war?

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Putin Has Unleashed a Twisted New Wave of Antisemitism

After years of good relations with the Jewish community, Putin has thrown it all away—leaving Russian Jews terrified for their lives.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-has-unleashed-a-twisted-new-wave-of-antisemitism?

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Antisemitism is exploding on China’s internet

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Jews have long been widely revered in China, albeit in a cringeworthy way. Centuries-old stereotypes are common — such as the conspiracy theory that Jews are wealthy and have control over American institutions from Wall Street and the media.

But these stereotypes are portrayed in a positive light and are often referred to as “philosemitic.” Jews here have talked about getting everything from free taxi rides to compliments about their intelligence. Bookstores carry self-help books about how to be more like the “successful” Jews.

Since Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, many have turned the stereotypes on their heads, calling all Jews Nazis and perpetuating conspiracy theories. “Jews represent just 3% of the American population but control 70% of its wealth … these factors can be used to exert incomparable influence on politics,” said a state-backed broadcaster.

“Is China even going to be a safe place for, say, Jewish businessmen who are known to be Jewish?... In the past, my answer was no, but now I’m not sure,” said one Chinese Jew who didn’t want his real name revealed out of safety concerns.

Read the full feature here.

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• ?? Brazil: Police have arrested two men and are looking for 11 others reportedly involved in a terror cell plotting attacks aimed at Brazilian Jews.

• ?? Spain: The Balearic Islands issued an official recognition of the “marginalization and discrimination” endured by the islands’ chuetas, or local Crypto-Jews from Majorca.

• ?? United Kingdom: Liberal activists have not stated with “moral clarity” that “Jewish lives matter” in the wake of Oct. 7, said Britain’s deputy prime minister.

• ?? Germany: A daycare center that has been named after Anne Frank since 1970 is changing its name — and sparking debate in the process.

• ?? Austria: For the first time in more than 20 years, the Austrian government has agreed to up its Holocaust restitution payments, giving every living Austrian Holocaust survivor an additional direct compensation of 5,000 euros.

• ?? Canada: Vandals threw Molotov cocktails at a Montreal-area synagogue and a Jewish center.

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Antisemitism

The term antisemitism was coined only in the nineteenth century, but anti-Jewish hatred and Judeophobia (fear of Jews) date back to ancient times and have a variety of causes.

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/antisemitism?

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Germany, Netherlands arrest 4 over Hamas plot

Public prosecutors say four members of the militant Islamist Hamas group were detained, three in Berlin and one in the Netherlands. They were arrested on suspicion of planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-netherlands-arrest-4-over-hamas-plot/a-67724305

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Lufthansa fined

Lufthansa, Germany's biggest airline, has been fined a record $4 million for denying boarding to 128 Jewish passengers who didn't know each other. The fine stems from a May 2022 incident in which the airline denied boarding to the travelers as a group and were unable to connect in Frankfurt to Budapest from a New York flight because of the "alleged misbehavior of a few." The airline issued an apology, saying the incident "resulted from an unfortunate series of inaccurate communications, misinterpretations, and misjudgments throughout the decision-making process." The US Department of Transportation said Tuesday's penalty is the largest ever issued by the federal agency for civil rights violations.

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Melbourne Synagogue Fire: One of the Oldest Evils Perpetrated Against Jews

As overt antisemitism becomes increasingly normalized, the hate crimes will continue to pile up.

https://aish.com/melbourne-synagogue-fire-one-of-the-oldest-evils-perpetrated-against-jews/?

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Jews Looking for Love Are Finding Hate

Antisemitism has infiltrated online dating, pushing Jews to date fellow Jews.

https://aish.com/jews-looking-for-love-are-finding-hate/?

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Arsonist Targets Historic Melbourne Synagogue During Shabbat

Hours after Shabbat began on July 4, a lone arsonist attempted to set fire to the historic East Melbourne Synagogue in Australia’s largest city. Approximately 20 Jews, including children, were there for Friday-evening prayer services. At the time of the attack, they were sitting together partaking in the traditional Friday-night meal.

https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/6953710/jewish/Arsonist-Targets-Historic-Melbourne-Synagogue-During-Shabbat.htm

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Australia accuses Iran of organizing antisemitic attacks and expels ambassador

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Iran of organizing two antisemitic attacks in Australia and said the country was cutting off diplomatic relations with Tehran in response on Tuesday.

https://apnews.com/article/australia-iran-antisemitism-attacks-fad2dc76125807a643bfe14cae33d2c8?

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Lithuanian court convicts the leader of a governing party of inciting hatred against Jews

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — A Lithuanian court on Thursday convicted the leader of one of the parties in the country’s coalition government for making antisemitic comments and fined him 5,000 euros (about $5,800).

https://apnews.com/article/lithuania-court-antisemitism-coalition-zemaitaitis-conviction-29e66a87c858671b835a5189f5266e8f?

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? Antisemitism surges in Australia

Data: Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Chart: Axios Visuals Jews in Australia have faced a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents over the two years before the killing of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney yesterday. Australia has seen one of the world's biggest increases in attacks on Jews since Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in 2023, Axios' Noah Bressner writes. There were more than 1,600 recorded antisemitic incidents in the country this year, according to data from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Zoom in: Antisemitic episodes in Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne — home to 85% of the country's Jewish population — have drawn the highest profile because they're severe, unusual and public, AP notes. In August, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Iran of organizing two antisemitic attacks in Australia. It was not immediately clear if yesterday's attack on a public Hanukkah candle lighting had any connection to Iran. The Australian Security Intelligence Organization concluded that Iran directed arson attacks on a kosher food company in Sydney in October 2024 and on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue two months later. Go deeper: "For Australia's Jews, Bondi shooting feels tragically inevitable" (Reuters) Students stand in front of the Van Wickle Gates at Brown University in Providence, R.I., after placing flowers yesterday. Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters ? The person of interest detained after the Brown University shooting, which killed two students and injured nine, has been released after law enforcement determined there was no basis to keep the person in custody. The disclosure, made at a hastily convened late-night news conference, represents a dramatic setback in an investigation into the killings on Saturday in Providence, R.I., AP reports. The man had been detained at the Hampton Inn in Coventry, R.I., about 20 miles from campus. One of the nine wounded students has been released from the hospital. Seven others were in critical but stable condition. One was in critical condition. Ella Cook of Birmingham, Ala., was one of the students killed, her church announced, calling her a "bright light" in the congregation and community. She was vice president of the Brown College Republicans, the College Republicans of America said. The release of the lone person of interest leaves law enforcement without a known suspect. Officials pledged to redouble efforts in the investigation by canvassing for video surveillance. Engineering design exams were underway at the Barus & Holley building when the shooting began. The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, firing more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun, a law enforcement official told AP. Get the latest.

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A photo of Miss Finland sparks accusations of racism and furor across Asia

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Finland’s government is facing heavy pressure and accusations of racism from several Asian countries after its representative to the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was seen pulling the corners of her eyes in a photo -- and some Finnish politicians posted their own photos repeating the gesture.

https://apnews.com/article/miss-finland-sarah-dzafce-miss-universe-fd4337d1e08aae8f6f82e441a811b249?

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London police say the stabbing of 2 Jewish men is an act of terror. The suspect was arrested

LONDON (AP) — Two Jewish men were stabbed and injured on a London street on Wednesday in what police called an act of terror. Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in the city’s latest antisemitic attack.

https://apnews.com/article/uk-london-stabbing-jewish-community-golders-green-3fba4e0c5d8467e3e497a9a05dfe976c?