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NYT Criticized Over Fawning Profile of Rashida Tlaib

The New York Times is being criticized over its fawning profile of Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) that will be published in its Sunday magazine.

The lengthy profile, which was first published on March 3, stated that “Tlaib has been criticized, sometimes viciously, by Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats for calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime,’ and for her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to end military occupation by exerting economic pressure on Israel” and she has been accused of being antisemitic over ‘her criticism of Israeli policies.’” The article goes onto describe her rise to Congress and how she, as a child, played with Israeli settlers’ children when visiting her grandmother in the West Bank, so she sees “the humanity of people on both sides” of the conflict. The article later claims that the American Jewish community “has begun to fracture” over support for Israel, citing a Jewish Electorate Institute poll saying that “43 percent of Jewish voters under 40 say that Israeli treatment of Palestinians is comparable to racism in the United States, versus 27 percent of those over 64.” The article says there was a “shift” in bipartisan support for Israel after “social media was flooded with testimonials and videos of Israeli airstrikes, which killed nearly 1,500 Palestinian civilians” during the 2014 Gaza War.

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro tweeted, “This piece is a cornucopia of lies, including the anti-Semitic lie that Israel targets civilians. But that’s no shock. It’s the NYT, which has been pushing this garbage for decades.”

Stop Antisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez said in a statement to the Journal, “Rashida Tlaib claims she’s not antisemitic yet holds Jews and the Jewish nation to standards unlike no one else. Rashida Tlaib claims people only see her as a Palestinian but her social media accounts obsessively focus on the Israel/Palestinian conflict. Rashida Tlaib claims she cares about her family in the ‘West Bank’ but refused to travel to Israel to actually see them. For the New York Times to misrepresent Tlaib’s true anti-Jewish nature is a grave injustice.”

Writer Lilac Sigan tweeted that the Times profile portrays Tlaib as “heroic” and says that she has been called antisemitic, “but fails to explain the reason or magnitude of her hateful stand.” “The marginal fact that Tlaib and this story keep avoiding, is that Palestinian rights are mostly trampled on by Palestinian leadership,” she wrote. “Not by Israel. Therefore focusing on Israel as the major problem of the Palestinians its actually antisemitic.”

Sigan also noted that Palestinians born in Syria and Lebanon are “2nd class citizens” and that the profile wrongly refers to the West Bank as being Palestinian land prior to the Six Day War. “The area was under Turkish rule for 400 years, then under British rule, then captured by Jordan [and] Egypt in 48,” she wrote. “Israel captured it from the capturers when Jordan [and] Egypt tried to annihilate us in 67. [Palestinians] deserve self definition, but the truth is this was never Palestinian land. Why casually change historical facts? The complexity is that the land is no-one’s, the people want self definition, and their leadership strives to erase Israel.”

Sigan also rejected the article’s comparison of Black Lives Matter to the Palestinians, stating: “BLM is not anti-American, whereas Palestinian leadership defines itself as a sworn enemy of Jews, Zionism, and Israel. The comparison is just so twisted. It assumes Israel should embrace its sworn enemies that are out to kill it, and therefore is antisemitic in itself. Bottom line: this story portrays antisemites as heroes, and again – doesn’t describe the true situation.”

Media critic Ira Stoll argued in a March 3 op-ed for The Algemeiner criticized the Times profile for defining BDS as aiming “to end military occupation by exerting economic pressure on Israel.” “In fact, ending ‘military occupation’ is not the goal of the BDS movement, unless one considers all of Israel to be militarily occupied,” Stoll argued. “According to the movement’s official website, it also favors allowing ‘more than 7.25 million Palestinian refugees’ a ‘right to return to their homes.’ That would eradicate Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”

Stoll also lambasted the Times for citing the Jewish Electorate Institute poll to support its claim that support for Israel among American Jewry is starting to fracture, as he views the poll as “flawed.” “When the 800 ‘Jewish voters’ respondents in the poll were asked ‘what is your present religion, if any?’ only 85 percent of them said they were Jewish,” he wrote. “In addition, the ‘comparable to racism’ question was a split question, meaning it was only asked of 400 of the 800 respondents. Looking at variation between age groups in a question only answered by 400 people total, 15% of whom say their religion is not Jewish, is statistical garbage. The margin of sampling error is so large for such a small sample that it doesn’t generate reliable results.” Stoll acknowledged “the risk that the Democratic left or young American Jews may shift away from Israel” but argued that thus far predictions of the Democrats moving away from Israel has mostly “been hype, not reality — a fringe phenomenon, like Tlaib herself.”

In a March 4 Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) op-ed, Jonathan Tobin contrasted the Times’ Tlaib profile to Representative Ted Deutch’s (D-FL) announcement that he’s going to retire from Congress and head the American Jewish Committee. “With people like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (81), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (82), as well as President Joe Biden (79) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (71), clearly representing the past, Democrats need people such as the 55-year-old Deutch to step up to lead them, lest the party leadership ultimately fall into the hands of the popular and far more youthful champions of the intersectional left, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Tlaib,” Tobin wrote. “In that context, the boost that The Times Magazine gave Tlaib is a clear harbinger of the efforts that progressives (whose numbers make up almost half of the Democratic House caucus, even if the more flamboyant Squad is much smaller), will make to ensure that they seize control of one of the nation’s two dominant parties. “

CNN Opinion: As the granddaughter and daughter of Jews who escaped Kyiv, I cannot remain silent now

CNN.com - As the granddaughter and daughter of Jews who escaped Kyiv early enough to evade the barbaric Babyn Yar massacre in 1941, when more than 33,000 Jews were shot to death by Nazi forces, my DNA is ingrained with the call to protect the Jewish people.

To think that 80 years later, Russian forces would strike the area of the Babyn Yar memorial site and desecrate the memories of the Jews who were murdered there, is sickening.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rightfully tweeted, "To the world: What is the point of saying never again for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar?"

I will not stay silent and sit back as these atrocities play out before our eyes.

Read the rest of Liora Rez’s piece here.

Disclaimer: CNN retains ownership of this op-ed; republication is fulled prohibited.

USF Suspends Fraternity after Swastika Drawn on Pledge

After a Jewish pledge at a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity initiation ceremony had a swastika drawn on his head, University of South Florida officials issued an interim suspension of the fraternity, on Thursday, Feb. 24.

Nevertheless, the victim does not think his frat brothers are antisemitic and feels too much is being made of the incident, according to a campus rabbi who talked with the student. (See story, page 10)

USF’s Student Conduct and Ethical Development (SCED) panel conducted the investigation and issued the suspension, banning virtually all of the fraternity’s activities, It will last at least until March 1, when fraternity leaders will come before a hearing master who can continue, modify or lift the suspension before matters proceed to a formal hearing.

SCED’s letter announcing the suspension contends that on Feb. 11, the fraternity “hosted an off-campus Bid Party in which associate members [pledges] … were required to wear white shirts. Guests were given sharpies and told to engage with the associate members and then write on their shirts. Associate members had inappropriate objects (penises and a swastika) drawn on their shirts and/or body parts. Alcohol was present at the event and consumed by associate members.”

SCED has charged Pi Kappa Phi with violating USF’s Student Code of Conduct by “hosting or sponsoring a gathering at which the underage consumption of alcohol may or has occurred” and for a hazing violation.

The same day the suspension came down, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters sent the Jewish Press a statement, saying their own investigation revealed that a “nonmember guest” was responsible for the swastika incident. However, USF has not announced such a conclusion.

The fraternity added it “values the human dignity of each person and condemns the reprehensible antisemitic action that has happened at the University of South Florida…We support our member who has suffered and the entire Jewish community.”

Liora Rez, executive director of New-York based StopAntisemitism that monitors incidents throughout the country, said her organization received a photo of the swastika drawn on the pledge’s head and learned it has been circulated on Snapchat.

She said not only was the incident antisemitic, but it exposed the student to more humiliation when it was posted on social media.

From her vantage point, Rez said the university seemed slow to react until “a stink is made on social media.”

On Tuesday evening, Feb. 22, USF Dean of Students Danielle McDonald sent an e-mail to the USF community about “several concerning allegations.” She specifically referenced the swastika incident, a social media post minimizing the Holocaust, a post accusing a sorority membe of racist behavior (later found to be false), and retaliatory behavior of the fraternity and sorority involved.

“Such actions as these are reprehensible and deserve our condemnation.” McDonald wrote. “I implore the community to allow the student conduct process to progress before making judgments on individuals or organizations. Acts of retaliation will not be tolerated. ”

Two days before the suspension was announced, Rez called on USF to do more regarding the Feb. 11 incident.

“While StopAntisemitism appreciates USF’s condemnation, it is imperative to follow up with immediate action to put an end to the hostile antisemitic environment that is emerging on its campus. Jewish students must no longer be subjected to such threats,” the organization said.

Many agree that this cannot be sloughed off as a harmless prank and that education is key.

“Essentially at this point the mud-slinging does not matter. We know it happened. We need to educate our population,” said Sylvie Feinsmith of Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, which has a facility at the USF campus.

She said the idea of what was done to the pledge, especially because he is Jewish, is appalling. That and the hateful social media post about the Holocaust, regardless of who posted it, is harmful, she said.

“Using the genocide of our people” in a petty or demeaning way “impacts not only Jewish students but the broader culture at USF.”

Feinsmith said Hillel has no interest in punishment or blame, but in education and healing.

“I am angry, but at end of day we have an opportunity to address this in a meaningful, productive manner.

USF Hillel and staff are open to welcome those involved to come, sit down and have a conversation on Jewish history and the Holocaust and generational trauma, and let us explain how harmful these actions have been.”

Erin Blankenship, interim executive director of the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, agreed, “These allegations are deeply disturbing. Six million Jews, and millions of others, died as a result of the Holocaust, and to minimize that is an insult to all the victims and survivors.” She said the museum “is working with the Jewish organizations on campus to educate students on the realities of the Holocaust … We are inviting the fraternity to tour the Museum and speak with a [Holocaust] survivor, and we hope they will take us up on this opportunity.”

Also voicing concern over the USF incidents is Lonny Wilk, interim director of the Florida region for the Anti-Defamation League. He called the behavior reported at USF “obscene” He added, “Mockery of the Holocaust, the use of hate symbols and the trivialization of genocide is unacceptable” and said he reached out to USF administrators to offer the educational resources of the ADL.

Before the interim suspension of Pi Kappa Phi had been announced, Wilk had already credited USF for its “quick and strong denunciation” of what took place.

“This incident is not living in a vacuum. We are seeing heightened antisemitism incidents over the last few years,” he said, and in an audit of such incidents, even as cases were slightly declining nationwide, there was a 40 percent rise in Florida.

Rez from StopAntisemitism said she believes criminal prosecution is warranted. “Once the administration is made aware of a hate incident like this hazing, it could be classified as a misdemeanor,” she said.

Responding to a query from the Jewish Press, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said, “These are disturbing allegations. I’ve spoken with USF Police and the University of South Florida is investigating. In Florida, hazing is a crime only if there is actual injury or a risk of physical injury. Even if this doesn’t meet that legal definition, USF can discipline the students involved.”

As for USF Police, the department issued this statement: “The USF Police Department is not currently investigating any hate crimes to the Jewish community because we do not have a victim. We have reached out to USF Dean of Students to offer our assistance.”

USF Fraternity Blamed in Swastika Incident gets Invited to Holocaust Museum

Pi Kappa Phi at is suspended pending a hearing. But, in the meantime, the chapter is asked to tour the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

Rabbi Pinny Backman said he felt saddened to hear reports of antisemitic activities last weekend involving a University of South Florida fraternity. But the leader of USF’s Chabad Jewish student center also felt called to action. Backman said he didn’t wish to punish people, but rather to educate them. He had an idea.

He put the president of Pi Kappa Phi in touch with the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg. They invited the fraternity to tour the museum and speak with a Holocaust survivor. “I can’t change the past,” Backman said. “But I can change the future by bringing more light into the world.”

Allegations surfaced this week that, as part of a Pi Kappa Phi initiation on Feb. 11, someone drew a swastika on the head of a Jewish pledge. A photo of the student was posted Thursday on the Instagram page of watchdog group StopAntisemism, with calls for action from the university.

Then came reports of posts on a Greek life website that mocked the Holocaust and were written by someone claiming to be from Pi Kappa Phi. The incidents were believed to be the result of a feud between a sorority and the fraternity. A university-wide email condemned the actions and said USF will be investigating to find out who was responsible.

On Thursday, USF suspended its Pi Kappa Phi chapter on charges of hazing and having alcohol at an underage gathering. An email from the university detailed reports of a gathering hosted by the fraternity off campus where alcohol was served, and of “inappropriate objects” — including the swastika — being drawn on the bidding students’ shirts or bodies. The suspension prevents the fraternity from holding activities pending a hearing.

A statement from the fraternity’s national office said their investigation found that the person who drew the swastika was not a member of Pi Kappa Phi and was not responsible for the posts on the Greek life website. The group said it is committed to providing ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion training.

“Pi Kappa Phi values the human dignity of each person and condemns the reprehensible antisemitic action that has happened at the University of South Florida,” the statement said. “We support our member who has suffered and the entire Jewish community. Pi Kappa Phi is continuing to partner with USF in the ongoing investigation.”

Erin Blankenship, interim executive director of the Florida Holocaust Museum, called the allegations “deeply disturbing” in a statement.

“Six million Jews, and millions of others, died as a result of the Holocaust, and to minimize that is an insult to all the victims and survivors,” the statement said. “The Florida Holocaust Museum is working with the Jewish organizations on campus to educate students on the realities of the Holocaust in the hopes that they will learn why these actions are so highly problematic.”

Michael Igel, who serves as chairperson of both the museum and the Florida Commissioner of Education’s Task Force on Holocaust Education, said he wants to make it clear that the point of the fraternity’s visit is not to scold the people involved. Instead, he said he hopes the students can gain empathy.

“Most people are not bad people,” Igel said. “They’re not hateful. Perhaps these people don’t understand what they did.”

His grandparents got married the day Hitler invaded Poland, he said. His grandfather went to war that night. They were later placed in a ghetto with a new baby. They gave up the baby to a stranger in hopes she would survive. The baby was Igel’s aunt, who survived and later was reconnected with the family.

His grandparents were then hidden by a Polish couple who were farmers and had kids. Police arrested the farmers and tortured them for six weeks, Igel said. The couple would not give up information about his grandparents, Igel said, and were executed for it.

“If they wouldn’t have done that, I wouldn’t be here,” Igel said. “I owe it to them.”

The rest of his family members weren’t as lucky. Igel’s father never met his grandparents, who were killed during the Holocaust.

Igel said he hopes by learning of individual stories, people can learn.

“As time passes it’s the reason that Holocaust education is so, so important,” he said. “We need to keep this from being just a paragraph in a history book.”

Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism.org, said her watchdog organization was alerted to the events at USF via their Instagram page. The group received more than 15 similar reports about the USF incident over the weekend.

“This has to be one of the most egregious instances,” she said. “But by no means are we surprised. Antisemitism is skyrocketing across every demographic, every income level, every age group.”

Rez said she hopes to see the university suspend or expel the student involved and the charter revoked for the involved fraternity. She also hopes to see the topic of antisemitism added to diversity, equity and inclusion trainings.

“Jewish students deserve to feel safe on college campuses just as everyone else,” she said. “They are often seen as privileged and white, the model class. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

She pointed to FBI statistics showing that more than half of religion-based hate crimes are committed against Jews.

Backman, the USF rabbi, said he also hopes Jewish students feel safe on campus and that they feel proud to practice their religion. Chabad has distributed mezuzahs, or religious scrolls, for students to display outside their apartments or dorms to stand in solidarity with other Jewish students.

“Perhaps somewhere down the line one of these young men may approach things differently or stand up for someone else if they see something,” Backman said, referring to the fraternity. “I really feel everybody can play a part in bringing kindness and good and warmth into someone’s life.”

Alabama School Faces Backlash over Nazi Salutes to US Flag

An Alabama high school is facing backlash after a video was released last week of a teacher and students doing a Nazi-style salute to the United States flag. 

Video and pictures of the January 18th incident, released by Jewish student Ephraim Tytell on Snapchat, show 11th grade US History teacher Joe Webb of Mountain Brook High School doing the straight-armed, open palm salute associated with the Nazi party. Webb was joined in saluting the US flag by some students, who Tytell told AL.com had encouraged to join. The school denied that Webb had instructed students to perform the salute. 

According to AL.com, Tytell was called to Assistant Principal Jeremy Crigger’s office, and told to apologize to Webb for posting the video, as it was "making Mountain Brook look bad." Tytell didn't apologize. Webb moved Tytell's class seat to the front of the class, and students were no longer allowed to use their phones. 

"The picture and 3 second video being circulated are not representative of the lesson, what was being taught, or the context of the instruction that was occurring," Mountain Brook Schools explained in a Tuesday statement. "The US History teacher was teaching a lesson on the meaning of symbols in the context of history. The Bellamy Salute was used as an example of a symbol whose meaning dramatically changed. The salute was named for Francis Bellamy, the writer of the Pledge of Allegiance, originating in 1892. A similar symbol was adopted by the Nazi Party in the 1920’s. Because of the atrocities committed by the Nazi Party against humanity, the symbol’s meaning in America changed and the American flag salute was changed to a hand over the heart in 1942. The focus of the lesson was the meaning of symbols, how they change, and why the Bellamy Salute should never again be recognized due to its association with the actions of the Nazi Party...Understanding the sensitive nature of this subject, Mountain Brook Schools has addressed the instructional strategy used with the teacher and does not condone the modeling of this salute when a picture or video could accurately convey the same message."

Tytell told AL.com that while it was a history lesson, it could have been taught in a different way. 

A faculty member said to the NGO StopAntisemitism.org that the "student who took the photo and video did so to intentionally start trouble." The Tytell family told WBHM that they received death and arson threats for speaking up. They also said to AL.com that they had been targets of antisemitic incidents in the past.

“I want to give Coach Webb the benefit of the doubt,” Tytell's mother told AL.com, and said that their family was mostly upset of how the school had handled the incident. 

"The community is understandably upset at the lack of judgment and the use of the salute and the treatment of the student," Daniel Cohn, CEO of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, told The Jerusalem Post. "Over the past week, The Birmingham Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council have been engaged in ongoing dialogue with Mountain Brook Schools regarding the incident concerning the Nazi salute at Mountain Brook High School."

Cohn said to The Post that they had an "open and honest dialogue regarding the incident and its effect and implications for our students, Jewish community, and the City of Mountain Brook," in a meeting between the Birmingham Jewish Federation and the school's superintendent, principal and other education officials. Following the meeting, Mountain Brook Schools released an additional statement. 

"Earlier this week, we released a statement concerning an instructional method used in a US History lesson. We continue to learn about this matter and have heard many perspectives," said the school on Thursday. "The instructional strategy for this lesson lacked sensitivity, and however unintentional, caused hurt and distress within the community. More than 17 million people were killed, including 6 million Jews, during the Holocaust and this salute desecrates their memory. We are deeply apologetic for the pain caused. There are more effective ways to teach this subject without recreating painful, emotional responses to history’s atrocities."

"We are committed to providing a safe learning environment for everyone in our schools," said the school. "We absolutely and unequivocally stand against antisemitism."

This is not the first time that Mountain Brooks Schools has been embroiled in an antisemitic scandal.

In May 2020, StopAntisemitism documented how students were filmed drawing swastikas on their bodies. In June, Harrison Bleiberg, a former student, shared a list of incidents in a Facebook post prior to a demonstration about racism at the institution. 

"There are many people from Mountain Brook, Alabama who are, during this difficult time, insisting that racism and prejudice is a fluke, not an ongoing pattern in the community," Bleiberg said at the time. 

According to Bleiberg, swastika graffiti was commonplace in the bathrooms, the death of Anne Frank in a play was called "cool" by students, and Bleiberg was awarded a certificate that said, "Most Likely to be Jewish.” There were also reportedly derogatory statements made about LGBTQ, Muslim, black, and Asian Americans. 

Alabama School Pressures Jewish Student for Speaking Out Regarding Nazi Salutes in Class

After a picture and video surfaced online of a Mountain Brook history teacher and students appearing to do a Nazi salute in class, CBS 42 sat down with a Jewish student who witnessed it all happen.

Ephraim Tytell said his class was learning about what the Nazi salute meant before it became a hateful gesture.

“He [The teacher] explained to us that in America we used to do that before WWII and everything and then he proceeded to show us, ask us to stand up to salute the flag and he and everyone else did the Nazi salute,” Ephraim told CBS 42. “I felt upset, unsure of what’s going on. Just kind of shocked.”

Ephraim explained he then posted a video and picture of the incident to social media, speaking out against what happened. The next day, he said school administrators reprimanded him.

“They proceeded to tell me that I’m making Mountain Brook look bad for uploading the video and sharing it and asked me to apologize to my teacher, which I refused to,” he said. “The day after he made our class, and our class only, put up our phones and he moved me from sitting in the back of the class to right next to him.”

On Tuesday Mountain Brook School denied any wrongdoing.

Ephraim said at this time, the school has not issued any sort of apology to him for the incident.

Watchdog organization StopAntisemitism.org responded to the incident, telling CBS 42 in a statement, “Mountain Brook administration’s behavior threatening to punish the Jewish pupil for his principled and courageous stance against performing a Nazi salute in class and dismissing the reasonable concerns of Jewish parents can only be understood as unconscionable acts of intentional antisemitism.”

Mexican Teacher Dressed as Hitler Fired after Backlash

A Mexican teacher that was revealed to have dressed as Adolf Hitler during class and engaged in other Nazi-themed school activities in 2016 was fired from her position at Tecnologico de Monterrey on January 24, according to the NGO StopAntisemitism.org.

A spokesperson for the university and preparatory school told The Algemeiner on Wednesday that Ana Luisa Nevárez was “no longer part of our institution."

The former student of Nevárez's that revealed her conduct explained to The Jerusalem Post how Nevárez had dressed as Hitler and divided her high school class into Jews and Nazis as an educational activity to teach about the Holocaust.

"She came into class, dressed up as Hitler, and everyone was just so excited. Because she had guns, she had four [toy] guns," which Nevárez gave to the students she selected to be Nazis. Other students were assigned to be Jews. "And they was just so excited, like they all wanted to have the guns, but no one wanted to, obviously, be the Jews."

Nevárez had the students as her "soldiers and -- she would act like a totalitarian, like she would act like if she were Hitler -- and have us shot at random." Some students were put on their knees to await execution.

Along with Nevárez's fake Hitler persona, she had students hail her with a made up title and a phrase from her favorite song while doing Nazi salutes, and even had a hashtag for her character.

"Everyone was having so much fun. I was just so confused about how to feel about it," said the student, who was the only Jewish person at the school. "She knew I was Jewish and still decided to do this."

The student had approached Nevárez when she understood that their history class would be covering the Holocaust: "Listen, I know you know that I'm Jewish. I know we're going to talk about the Holocaust next week. I can do this presentation about my family who went to Auschwitz and my grandfather's siblings who were murdered in the gas chambers....And then the next, the next class, she shows up dressed up as Hitler."

The student explained that there was another grade that was taught in the same manner that year, and it was also not the only day in which there was Nazi-related activity.

One session, in which Nevárez encouraged students to dress as "poor people," saw a Hitler Piñata brought to the school. The student told The Post that she didn't think that Nevárez brought the Hitler Piñata, but that it was likely that "one of her students felt so compelled to it that they bought it. And the thing is with this, they don't really have them readily made as Hitler. You have to go to an artist and someone who makes them and say, 'I want this commissioned.'" Photos show students posing with the Hitler Piñata.

The response to Nevárez's teachings was not just the alleged commissioning of the Hitler Piñata -- They also posed for a picture giving Nazi salutes as a birthday present for their teacher, and hurled abuse at the Jewish student for weeks following the initial lesson.

"For weeks afterwards, people would still come at me...and made comments related to soap," the student explained, in reference to the World War II-era rumors that the Nazis had made soap from Jews. When the Jewish student complained or took issue with any of the Nazi-themed activities or jokes, the other students allegedly gaslit her, and told her she was being too sensitive and ruining the fun.

"At Tec de Monterrey, we forcefully reject any expression that threatens the dignity of people,” the school's spokesperson told The Algemeiner. "All of us who are part of the Tec community are responsible for following the institution’s principles at all times, even when exercising academic freedom, and for promoting a safe and respectful environment."

"Since our foundation, we have maintained a shared history of closeness and collaboration with various cultural and religious communities, such as the Jewish community. We endorse our commitment so that Tec de Monterrey is experienced as a space with diversity and plurality of ideas that enrich the dialogue and formation of each person who is part of our community, always within a framework of respect," the spokesperson said.

However, the Jewish student told The Post that they had complained to the administration at the time, but had been ignored. Further, Nevárez's actions were allegedly not only common knowledge among students and staff, but publicly displayed and celebrated on her Facebook page and teacher profile. The photo of the students giving a Nazi salute was her Facebook profile cover picture. Videos of her dressed as Hitler and mock executing students with a water gun were readily available on her page, which has since been deleted.

The year after the Hitler incident, Nevárez was promoted to an administrative position. She awarded the title of "inspirational teacher of 2016" and two years later awarded as a “professor that leaves a mark.” A newspaper clipping that was on her Facebook page celebrated her “teaching style.” 

The Jewish student kept this information to herself until this year because according to them, the gaslighting had made them feel as if they had been over-reacting. Moreover, they didn't think anyone cared about antisemitism in Mexico. This changed when they saw the backlash that StopAntisemitism.org helped publicize regarding an incident at Mexico City's Center for Higher Studies of San Angel University (CESSA), in which a teacher joked to her class on a zoom session, "What is the difference between a pizza and a Jew? A pizza doesn't scream when it's put into the oven." That teacher was consequently fired.

"Until I saw that one video of StopAntisemitism.org, specifically about a teacher in Mexico and then people being outraged about it, that I felt like it mattered." The backlash inspired the student to approach StopAntisemitism.org, which shared details and media of the incidents, ultimately leading to Nevárez firing.

Reflecting on the incident, the Jewish student, now in University, told The Post that they had encountered other instances of antisemitism in Mexico's education system. 

When asked what advice to students that had similar experiences, the student said to "speak up. I encourage them to do so because even though there maybe isn't the community with you, there is the Jewish community, in your city, in your state, even in your country, there is a Jewish community worldwide that will back you up. That is something I didn't know I had back then. I thought I was alone in the world."

Jewish Organizations Consider Increasing Security Following Antisemitic Rallies

Rabbi Sholom Dubov says the rallies in Orlando last weekend are evidence antisemitic
is on the rise.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their own beliefs but certain things cross the line,” said Rabbi Sholom Dubov of the Chabad of Greater Orlando.

Last weekend's rallies and the recent attacks on synagogues around the country have heightened concerns over security, Dubov said.

"We are talking about getting another grant from Homeland Security to put up more cameras and install bulletproof windows in the front of the property. It's unfortunate we live in a time when this is necessary,” Dubov said.

Investigators said the Orlando rallies were organized by a neo-Nazi group and demonstrators shouted antisemitic slurs while holding signs with swastikas.

One passerby got into a fight with the group and Orange County Sheriff John Mina said charges are pending against three of the protesters.

Liora Rez, the executive director of StopAntisemitism, a national antisemitic watchdog group, said the filing of criminal charges is a breakthrough.

"You guys are the first in the country to start doing this, so kudos to Florida. Enough is enough with this garbage,” Rez said.

Rez said Jews in America are on edge as the pandemic has brought an increase in antisemitic.

"Whenever society is in a lull or a negative place, people at least need villains and with groups like this and other neo-Nazi white supremacist organizations — they like to blame things on minorities, specifically the Jewish people,” Rez said.

Dubov said we should all rally against the hate to support the Jewish community.

"Darkness can only exist if we don't create light. It’s our responsibility to get out there and create light and that diminishes the darkness,” Dubov said.

WESH 2 News also got word from State Senator Randolph Bracy's office that he would be spearheading an effort to get more funding for safety for the Jewish community.

Central Florida Synagogues Stepping Up Security After Antisemitic Demonstrations

Local synagogue officials said they’re not taking any chances after antisemitic messages have spread through Central Florida.

Rabbi Shalom Dubov, executive director of Chabad of Greater Orlando, said the synagogue has been safety measures, such as a gate, for some time.

But with a hostage standoff at a synagogue in Texas on Jan. 15, security measures are even more heightened.

“We installed emergency buttons in the front and back of each ... building sections,” Dubov said.

But now, their concerns are close to home. A group identifying itself as the National Socialist Movement wore Nazi insignia and yelled profanities and antisemitic slurs were seen Saturday at Waterford Lakes. On Sunday, demonstrators hung signs full of more antisemitic slurs over I-4 on Daryl Carter Parkway.

“We’re going to put bulletproof windows in the front of the building,” Dubov said.

Liora Rez, the director of StopAntisemitism, said this is happening at more than just one synagogue.

“We are hearing, yes, security is of the utmost priority to all of them, but they’re hesitant to discuss it because they don’t want to become targets,” Rez said.

Whoopi Goldberg Apologizes After Facing Criticism over Holocaust Remarks on ‘The View’

Whoopi Goldberg has offered an apology after facing criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and other Jewish organizations for her remarks on the latest episode of “The View,” in which she stated that the Holocaust was “not about race.”

“On today’s show, I said the Holocaust ‘is not about race, but about man’s inhumanity to man.’ I should have said it is about both,” Goldberg wrote in a statement shared on her social media. “The Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never waiver. I’m sorry for the hurt I have caused.”

Earlier on Monday, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, responded to “The View” co-hosts comments on Twitter, calling her remarks “dangerous.”

“The Holocaust was about the Nazi’s systemic annihilation of the Jewish people — who they deemed to be an inferior race,” wrote Greenblatt. “They dehumanized them and used their racist propaganda to justify slaughtering 6 million Jews. Holocaust distortion is dangerous.”

Goldberg’s comments came during a discussion on the program regarding a Tennessee school board’s ban of “Maus,” a nonfiction graphic novel about cartoonist Art Spiegelman’s father’s experience surviving the Holocaust.

“Let’s be truthful about it because (the) Holocaust isn’t about race,” Goldberg said on Monday’s episode. “It’s not about race. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man… These are two white groups of people. The minute you turn it into race it goes down this alley. Let’s talk about it for what it is. It’s (about) how people treat each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black or white, Jews — it’s each other.”

Goldberg’s comments sparked immediate, sweeping criticism from Jewish organizations, including the U.S. Holocaust Museum and StopAntisemitism.org.

“Six million of us were gassed, starved and massacred because we were deemed an inferior race by the Nazis,” StopAntisemitism.org wrote on Twitter. “How dare you minimize our trauma and suffering!”

Although the Holocaust Museum did not cite Goldberg by name, the organization shared a statement that said “racism was central to Nazi ideology” on Monday afternoon.

Goldberg’s remarks have also drawn criticism from Jewish figures in entertainment. Michael Rapaport shared a video of himself in which he calls out “The View” co-host.

“You need to apologize. You need to explain yourself,” Rapaport stated.

Variety has reached out to “The View” for comment.

Jewish Shop Owners Brutally Beaten by Thug in Random Antisemitic Attack

This is the horrifying moment two Jewish men are battered by a thug in a random "anti-Semitic" attack outside a bakery.

Footage shows the two men closing up their shop in North London when they are suddenly attacked by a stranger.

Police today said they have arrested a teenager, 18, on suspicion of actual bodily harm, who remains in custody.

One victim of the attack suffered bruising, a broken nose and a fractured hand, while the second man suffered an eye injury.

Officers raced to the scene on Cadoxton Avenue, Haringey, at 9.50pm last night following reports that two men had been assaulted.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the incident is being treated as a hate crime.

StopAntiSemitism.org said the two men were victims of an "antisemitic assault" - which happened on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Home Secretary Priti Patel echoed the sentiment, describing it as "an absolutely despicable attack".

Shocking footage shows the two men leaving the shop, with one speaking on his phone when a man in a dark puffer jacket approaches the pair.

One of the Jewish men appears to say something as the man walks past before raising his right arm in defense.

The man in the puffer then unleashes a series of blows.

One victim raises his foot as the distressing attack continues.

The man then repeatedly punches one of the men in the head, which sends him to the floor and causes his kippah to fall off.

The attacker then lands punches on the other man, and he also loses his kippah.

He then chases the men away before walking back up the pavement, kicking the fallen kippah across the floor.

The attack happened the night before Holocaust Memorial Day - which commemorates the six million Jews murdered by Nazis in World War II.

It marks the day the Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945.

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick said: "On this most important day, this is an awful reminder that hate crime still exists.

“I know that Haringey residents will be upset by such a horrible attack and we won't stand for anyone in our community being targeted or hurt.

"If you assault someone, you can expect us to do everything we can to investigate and find you.

"I've been in touch with members of the local Jewish community, and I'm providing additional patrols throughout the day to reassure the community. Please do speak to them if you have any concerns.

"I'd like to thank the members of the public who called us and asked us to come to the aid of these two gentlemen and grateful for their help, which meant we could locate a suspect."

Hate Group 'Goyim Defense League' Blamed for Flooding Six States with Thousands of Antisemitic Flyers

Thousands of antisemitic flyers falsely claiming that public health efforts to protect against COVID are being masterminded by a cabal of Jewish leaders were distributed to homes in six states last weekend. 

Police officials have launched an investigation after the flyers were found in heavily populated Jewish areas of Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, California and Maryland. 

The hateful campaign appears to have been carried out by members of the antisemitic group the Goyim Defense League - their logo and streaming site or listed on the flyers. ('Goyim' is a disparaging Yiddish and Hebrew word for non-Jews.)

'Every single aspect of the COVID agenda is Jewish,' the top line of the flyer reads, set between the Star of David and a Satanic pentagram. 

The page goes on to list the names of top government health officials, pharmaceutical company leaders and heads of investment management companies with the word Jewish next to them.

'These flyers were distributed randomly and without malicious intent,' the fine print reads. 

But local police officials, federal investigators and Jewish groups were not buying the disclaimer. 

'There is no place for hate in our community and it will not be tolerated,' the Miami Beach Police tweeted when announcing the active investigation into the dissemination of these flyers. 

MBPD announced that they collected 205 flyers and located the rental car which they believe to be connected to the case. The FBI has joined the open investigation. 

'I took my morning walk with my wife on Sunday morning, and they were everywhere,' Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber told CNN.

'For me, it's jolting because, look, I'm Jewish. ... The idea that there are people out there who just are willing to spout out hate simply because of who I am, is jolting to anybody.'

The list includes CDC director Rochelle Walensky, COVID, Pfizer boss Albert Bourla and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

It also labeled Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra as Jewish, though the son of Mexican immigrants is Roman Catholic. Perhaps the hate group got him confused with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose Jewish mother fled the Holocaust for Cuba.

In November, residents in Beverly Hills reported the flyers were left in driveways. And the same hate-filled missive was left in Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Vermont, according to the Jewish News of Northern California. 

The Goyim Defense League is a known anti-Semitic group which has been monitored by watchdogs such as StopAntisemitism since August 2020. 

Their leader, Jon Minadeo II, 38, from the Bay Area, started leading anti-Semitic banner drops along highways in 2020. He then began GoyimTV, a video platform that streams anti-Semitic content, where he and others post hateful content.  

GoyimTV has been banned from its two previous web hosting sites for hate speech but currently remains online through Cloudflare, StopAntisemitism reported. 

'This man does a great job of skirting the legal line,' Liora Rez, Executive Director of StopAntisemitism, said of Minadeo in an interview with DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

Minadeo claims protections under the First Amendment but Rez insists: 'There's an intent to imitate, to harass, to harm, whether they admit it or not.' 

'This isn't just freedom of speech and assembly but premeditated harassment campaign aimed at Jews,' she told DailyMail.com.  

DailyMail.com reached out to the Goyim Defense League for comment. 

The Jewish Federation of Broward County in South Florida released a statement following the discovery of the flyers: 'Because Broward County is home to the third largest population of Holocaust Survivors in the world, we are acutely aware of what happens when hate is allowed to thrive unfettered and unchallenged. As a nation, we can do better and we will do better.'

Neighbors also spoke out about the hateful flyers.  'For hate to be distributed like that in our neighborhood, was just shocking, to say the least,' Joseph Waks told WFOR.  

'We couldn't believe it, here (in) 2022, here in Surfside. This is absolutely hideous,' he said. 'We're used to hearing these types of stories back 50 years ago, back 60 years ago.'

The mayor of San Francisco also blasted the flyers, which were scattered throughout the Pacific Heights neighborhood over the weekend. 

'These anti-Semitic acts and any scare tactics like them have no place in San Francisco,' Mayor London Breed tweeted Tuesday. 'We have a strong and proud Jewish community in this City, and we will continue to do everything we can to support all of our diverse communities when they are threatened like this.'

Pages vilifying Jews and connecting them to false COVID conspiracies have also been disseminated by the Goyim Defense League in Wisconsin and Maryland, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  

'These flyers are an attempt to intimidate and harass Jewish communities around the United States,' the ADL tweeted on Tuesday. 

Former Clevelander’s Goal – StopAntisemitism

Liora Rez didn’t set out to become the first female founder of a watchdog organization devoted to exposing antisemitism.

As the founder and executive director of StopAntisemitism, she leads a watchdog organization devoted to exposing hatred of Jews through digital platforms in what she calls “an umbrella of unity.”

While her parents and grandparents experienced state-sponsored discrimination and antisemitism prior to her birth in the former Soviet Union, she had a childhood free from antisemitism in Greater Cleveland.

Rez was a new stay-at-home mother looking to expand her horizons, when she first discovered Instagram in 2012.

“Nobody knew what Instagram was,” Rez told the Cleveland Jewish News Jan. 13. “I found it completely by accident. And I started sharing just content about my daily life. And I started building up a small following. And then in 2014, when Operation Protective Edge happened with the Israeli Gaza conflict, my following on Instagram blew up.”

Her Instagram handle was Jewish Chick. She said the number of her followers grew from 500 to 5,000, and then ballooned to 15,000 and finally 25,000. Then the branding deals started flowing in as did partnerships with Jewish organizations.

“So this by-accident Instagram page, after a few years grew to a full-time business,” Rez said.

Starting in 2016, Rez began to notice a pattern. When her branding partners began reposting her work, “it would get bombarded with the most horrific antisemitic comments,” she said.

In 2017, she approached “a few of the legacy organizations regarding the horrific rate of antisemitism I was seeing.”

She said a few of those organizations told her things like, “social media isn’t real. It stays online.”

Fast forward to today.

“Besides social media being literally one of the main communication methods from everyone from 10 years old to 85 years old, we clearly see that online hatred very, very easily manifests into real life, physical violence,” Rez said.

Rez decided to expose the antisemitism she and others were experiencing online – in an online format.

“One of the biggest frustrations that I had was, whenever an antisemitic incident occurred – what happened – the victim was always publicized,” she said. “The attacker, the perpetrator’s name and face, were often hidden. The punishments were often hidden.”

Rez said she wanted to know about the motivation of the perpetrators as well as their punishment – if there was one.

“I wanted to take a more proactive and transparent approach,” she said.

She launched StopAntisemitism in October 2018.

It exposes those that espouse hatred and threats against the Jewish people and the state of Israel.

“And three weeks later the Tree of Life … synagogue shooting happened,” she said, referring to the Pittsburgh massacre. “And because we already had that social media stronghold, our growth just exploded. … So the timing of it is just so bittersweet because you have this tragedy, and it propelled us really into a spotlight that we never would have thought would have occurred that quickly.”

According to its website, “StopAntisemitism works to hold antisemites accountable and creates consequences for their bigoted actions by exposing the threat that they present to all Americans. Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem but rather that of a civilized society because as history has shown us what starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews.”

StopAntisemitism features antisemites of the week and of the year on its website and social media channels. It also creates reports, including a 2021 report highlighting antisemitism in corporate America.

It has launched petitions demanding the University of California terminate a professor, calling on the U.S. Department of Education and Georgia State University “to keep terror-affiliated Council on American-Islamic Relations off U.S. campuses,” and calling on then-U.S. Attorney William Barr to investigate CAIR’s ties to Congress.

Its 2020 annual report notes that Matthew Slatzer, who was photographed carrying a sign with a rat and a six-pointed star that said “The Real Plague” at a Columbus protest, had his YouTube channel removed and that “he continues to be monitored by the FBI.”

It also noted the firing of two Little Caesar’s employees in Cleveland, who placed pepperoni on a pizza in the shape of a swastika.

Since its founding in 2018, StopAntisemitism’s growth has been “exponential,” Rez said.

Its 2020 annual report said it was reaching millions of people on a monthly basis, including a 30-day average of 1.71 million on Instagram, 5.27 million on Twitter and 100,000 visits to its website. The report said it received 355,000 Facebook hits in a 28-day day and its Antisemite of the Week was going out to 50,000 subscribers every Sunday.

Rez was born in the former Soviet Union. To escape religious persecution and what she called “the horrors of socialism,” her family was sponsored by an uncle to come to Cleveland by way of Italy, where they lived for six months prior.

The train from Lithuania to Rome was guarded by soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces, because in 1973, the Palestine Liberation Organization hijacked a train full of Soviet Jews.

Aboard the Rez’s train, an IDF soldier gave her older brother a toy soldier.

“I just remember this one particular soldier trying to make my brother smile,” Rez said.

She said she remembers a feeling of unease about leaving her first home.

Rez credited Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland with helping her family settle in Greater Cleveland, including with job placement for her parents.

“They found an apartment for us,” she said. “They provided furniture for us. They provided our first car for us. And during that first year, while my father was a very established engineer, they assisted with as much as they could.”

In addition, she said Rabbi Zalman Kazen, spiritual leader of Zemech Zedech Congregation and Chabad in Cleveland, and his wife, Rebbetzin Shula Kazen, were also exceedingly helpful.

They approached her parents about enrolling Rez at Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights. She went to Unger’s Kosher Bakery and Food daily after school.

She has fond memories of her days at Hebrew Academy, calling it a “warm, loving environment.”

“They were just so welcoming and nonjudgmental about our lack of understanding of Torah and everything,” she said. “We were non-religious whatsoever. However, like nearly every single Soviet (Jewish) household, we were ardent Zionists. So it was a bit of a religious culture shock.”

She graduated from Laurel School in Shaker Heights. Afterward, she studied neuroscience at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and completed her MBA at Cleveland State University.

Rez settled in Greater Cleveland with her husband and family prior to settling outside of New York City in 2012.

“So with our amazingly dedicated social media audience, we slowly started becoming the go-to place to submit antisemitic episodes,” Rez said. “So on social media and utilizing the power of social media, we reach millions on a monthly basis, and often are fed original submissions of antisemitism.”

Rez said StopAntisemitism has received some false accusations. And it makes a point of vetting for accuracy and authenticity. However, in the two times when mistakes were made, StopAntisemitism issued immediate clarification.

As she looks to the future, Rez said she hopes to expand her team and to add a legal department, specifically to be able to pursue Title VI complaints under the Office for Civil Rights, dealing with antisemitism on campus.

COVID-19 has put a damper on traditional fundraising efforts through in-person events, so that expansion isn’t happening as fast as Rez would like.

“Antisemitism on college campuses is spreading like wildfire,” she said. “The law’s on our side. Jews are protected under various statutes.”

In the wake of rising antisemitism, Rez said her organization has a role to play.

“We investigate,” she said. “We contact press. We contact employers and schools of those committing antisemitism, and we make sure that there is accountability for those that perpetuate hate against the Jewish people.”

Man Takes Rabbi, Several Others Hostage at Texas Synagogue

A man has taken a rabbi and several other hostages at a synagogue on Colleyville, Texas on Saturday in a reported attempt to free a Pakistani woman who has ties with al-Qaeda.

The Colleyville Police Department said that it was first called about the situation at 10:41 a.m. local time as the synagogue was holding its Shabbat service. The service had been live-streamed on Facebook, where a man could be heard shouting about dying and not liking police officers, the New York Times reported. A video of the live-stream did not show what was going on inside the synagogue.

The man could also be heard asking to get his sister on the phone before the live-stream stopped.

“It’s a deal,” he said at one point. “It’s a deal I had with you.”

Colleyville police said that the F.B.I. crisis negotiators were in communication with the man. One hostage was released around 5 p.m. local time, the Colleyville Police Department said.

The synagogue’s rabbi is Charlie Cytron-Walker, a married father of two who took up his post in 2006, according to the congregation’s website. NBC News reported that the hostage-taker had the rabbi call a different rabbi in New York City to demand the release of Siddiqui.

The suspect could be heard mentioning Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national who was convicted in 2010 by a New York federal court for of two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm and assault of U.S. officers and employees for shooting at federal agents and American soldiers while she was detained in Afghanistan, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). As jurors left the courtroom, Siddiqui exclaimed, “This is a verdict coming from Israel, not America. That’s where the anger belongs.”

Currently, she is serving an 86-year sentence at Carswell Air Force Base, located about 25 miles from Colleyville. Multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News that the hostage-taker is demanding the release of Siddiqui.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the “developing hostage situation” and that he will continue to receive updates from his senior team.

“Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership,” she said on Twitter.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot said that the Texas Department of Public Safety was also on the scene in what he described as a “tense hostage situation.”

“They are working with local and federal teams to achieve the best and safest outcome,” Abbott said.

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue located in Colleyville, Texas, a city of about 26,000 residents that is 15 miles northeast of Forth Worth. The synagogue was established in 1999 with about 25 families and has since grown to over 100.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that he was “closely monitoring” the situation in Texas.

“We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers.”

Israel’s consul general to the U.S. southwest, Livia Link, said that she was on her way to the standoff.

‘We must spare no effort to ensure that American Jews are safe’

American Jewish groups and communal security organizations reacted with concern and dismay over the situation, which they attributed to rising levels of anti-Semitism in the U.S. in recent years.

“When Jews tell you anti-Semitism is a problem, listen to us. Anti-Semitism doesn’t just come from the white neo-Nazi movement – it comes from many sources like we see unfolding today in Colleyville, Texas. It’s critical not to turn a blind eye to any of it as the consequences can be catastrophic,” said Liora Rez, founder and executive director of the watchdog group StopAntisemitism.

“Our thoughts are with all the hostages and their families, along with the first responders, as they try to navigate this terrifying situation,” she said.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said that it was closely monitoring the ongoing situation with its national partners at the Secure Community Network and Anti-Defamation League, who have personnel near the synagogue.

“We pray for the safety of those inside the synagogue, as well as the members of law enforcement responding at the scene,” wrote Dianne Lob, Chair, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice-Chair.

“Collectively, we must spare no effort to ensure that American Jews are safe in their houses of worship and community centers. Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City, and now Colleyville, must not become the ‘new normal’ for our community.”

Similarly, Evan Bernstein, national director and CEO of the Community Security Service, a Jewish security nonprofit, said that the threat to Jews in the U.S. “remain real and dangerous.”

“We will be dissecting lessons from this incident as details emerge, and redoubling our efforts to strengthen the safety and security of synagogues and Jewish institutions across the country,” he said.

“Today’s events serve as another clear reminder to Jewish communities nationwide that prioritizing security is paramount. Our thoughts are with the hostages, their families and the Colleyville Jewish community.”

With Great Influence Comes Great Responsibility

Celebrities with large followings on social media have significant influence. Reaching millions of devoted fans with every post, these figures have the power to shape opinions and create movements.

Some use their influence for good, inspiring people to take action on behalf of important causes, and encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves. Yet others display an alarming lack of social responsibility.

British actress Emma Watson’s Instagram account is illustrative.

According to her Instagram bio, Watson lent her account to “an anonymous Feminist Collective.” The blue checkmark next to her username is supposed to verify that the Instagram account does, indeed, belong to her, but it’s clearly not her posting. If this is the case, why is Instagram violating its own rules by allowing this and undermining the integrity of its prestigious blue check?

Watson has more than 64 million Instagram followers, all of whom are now seeing posts in their feeds that they reasonably assume were from her, but are not. Until you click on her profile and read her bio, there is nothing alerting you to this identity swap.

Some of these posts display a disturbing lack of social responsibility. Recently, for example, a picture posted on her account shows Palestinian flags and “Free Palestine” posters in the background of a sign adorned with the quote: “Solidarity is a verb.” This implies that Israel is an aggressor. It’s a one-sided vilification of the world’s only Jewish nation.

There are no posts decrying atrocities in other parts of the world. Israel alone is singled out.

When celebrities get involved in geopolitical “hot button” issues, they gain traction. Someone like Watson is a hero to many, including millions of Jews. Her account’s asymmetric and biased approach to the Jewish state is troubling, as is her apparent willingness to lend her name to such an effort.

In addition, figures with large followings need to think about the consequences of their posts. With anti-Semitism surging worldwide, what will be the impact of sending out a post that demonizes the Jewish state to tens of millions of followers?

Sadly, Watson’s account is not the first, nor will it likely be the last, to continue this troubling pattern.

For instance, the singer and performer Dua Lipa, who was voted a finalist in StopAntisemitism’s “2021 Antisemite of the Year” contest, also vilified the Jewish nation. On her Instagram story, Lipa shared to her 77 million followers false screenshots claiming that the Israeli government created Hamas. Because stories placed on Instagram disappear after 24 hours, Lipa was able to post on social media and leave no trace of them.

Lipa and others are able to espouse opinions without being held accountable. This is shameful.

It’s not only celebrities who must consider their social responsibility; the social-media platforms themselves must also do so. Watson’s account is, by admission in her own bio, is not hers. Why does she still have a blue checkmark verifying her account?

According to Instagram, “At its core, verification is a way for people to know that the notable accounts they are following or searching for are exactly who they say they are. It’s a way for people to know which accounts are authentic and notable.” This is clearly not the case here.

Doesn’t Instagram have a responsibility, if for no other reason than to follow its own guidelines, to revoke her verification or shut down her account for community guideline violations?

Instagram is obligated to take immediate action. It’s time for social-media platforms to be held accountable for unfair, misleading and biased practices. At the very least, this means demanding that they enforce their own guidelines, which are designed to ensure transparency and legitimacy.

Celebrities should not take lightly the power that their platforms possess. Posting with care is a necessity. What’s more, account verifications should not be extended to those who are simply using a celebrity’s platform to widen a post’s reach. This social responsibility falls on famous users and platforms alike.

Liora Rez is the founder and director of the watchdog group StopAntisemitism.

Just desserts? Ben & Jerry's board chair voted 'Antisemite of the Year'

Anuradha Mittal, chair of Ben & Jerry's board of directors and vice president of the Vermont-based ice cream maker's nonprofit foundation was voted "Antisemite of the Year" in the third annual contest run by watchdog StopAntisemitism.

British singer Dua Lipa placed second and US lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene finished in third place with more than 10,000 people voting in the online competition.

The organization cited Mittal being the driving force behind the decision by Ben & Jerry's this past summer to end sales of its products in what they refer to as "Occupied Palestinian Territory."

They cite as another reason for Mittal's win her support for the BDS movement and pushing for Ben & Jerry's to boycott the entire state of Israel, which was rejected by parent company Unilever.

"There must be consequences for those who spew hatred and bigotry against the Jewish people and nation," said StopAntisemitism founder and Executive Director Liora Rez. "Being a finalist in this annual competition is one of those consequences."

Last year's winner was SUNY law student Nerdeen Kiswan. In 2019, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was crowned the competition's first-ever winner.

Multiple US states have divested their pension funds from Unilever since the boycott decision was announced.

"For us and for the voters, Mittal was clearly the 2021 Antisemite of the Year," said Rez. "The Ben & Jerry's boycott is shamelessly biased, and Mittal's commitment to promoting her antisemitic and anti-Israel agenda is deplorable."

Ben & Jerry's Board Chair Anuradha Mittal Voted 'Antisemite of the Year'

Anuradha Mittal, chair of Ben & Jerry's board of directors and vice president of the Vermont-based ice cream maker's nonprofit foundation, was voted "Antisemite of the Year" in the third annual contest run by watchdog StopAntisemitism.

British singer Dua Lipa placed second and US lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene finished in third place with more than 10,000 people voting in the online competition.

The  organization cited Mittal being the driving force behind the decision by Ben & Jerry's this past summer to end sales of its products in what they refer to as "Occupied Palestinian Territory." 

They cite as another reason for Mittal's win her support for the BDS movement and pushing for Ben & Jerry's to boycott the entire state of Israel, which was rejected by parent company Unilever.

“There must be consequences for those who spew hatred and bigotry against the Jewish people and nation,” said StopAntisemitism founder and Executive Director Liora Rez. “Being a finalist in this annual competition is one of those consequences.”

Last year’s winner was SUNY law student Nerdeen Kiswan. In 2019, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was crowned the competition's first ever winner.

Multiple US states have divested their pension funds from Unilever since the boycott decision was announced.

“For us and for the voters, Mittal was clearly the 2021 Antisemite of the Year,” said Rez. “The Ben & Jerry’s boycott is shamelessly biased, and Mittal’s commitment to promoting her antisemitic and anti-Israel agenda is deplorable.