H EADLINES
NEWSBRIEFS Muslim Groups in Indonesia Want to Close
First Permanent Holocaust Exhibit
SOME INDONESIAN MUSLIM groups seek to close
the country’s fi rst permanent Holocaust exhibition,
saying it’s part of an eff ort to normalize Indonesia’s
relations with Israel, JTA reported.

Th e exhibit launch was timed to International
Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27 and is in
Indonesia’s only synagogue, Shaar HaShamayim. “Shoah:
How is it Humanly Possible?” was created by the Yad
Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel.

Shaar Hashamayim Rabbi Yaakov Baruch said he
had personal motivation to open the exhibit because
family members died in the Holocaust.

Although several conservative Muslim groups have
expressed opposition, representatives from Nahdlatul
Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization — and
the world’s largest Islamic organization — have said they
support the exhibition, as does the local government.

NFL Player Wishes He Could Dine With Hitler
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen of the NFL’s
Washington Commanders said that if he had his
druthers he’d break bread with Adolf Hitler, then
later apologized, JTA reported.

In an “ask me anything” tweet, a fan asked Allen
who were the three people, dead or alive, he wanted
to dine with. He listed his grandfather, Hitler and
Michael Jackson.

When asked why Hitler, Allen said, “He’s a military
genius and I love military tactics but honestly I would
want to pick his brain as to why he did what he did.

I’m also assuming that the people I’ve chosen have to
answer all my questions honestly.”
Allen removed his off ending tweet aft er Twitter
blew up.

Later, he tweeted: “Early I tweeted something that
probably hurt people and I apologize about what I
said. I didn’t express properly what I was trying to say
and I realize it was dumb!”
British Jews Record Highest Antisemitic Tally
Across Europe in 2021
British Jews and authorities recorded 2,255 antise-
mitic incidents in the United Kingdom in 2021 — the
highest recent total in Europe, JTA reported.

It’s the highest total reported in a single calendar
year by the Community Security Trust, British Jewry’s
antisemitism watchdog.

Its report found an increase of antisemitic incidents of
34%, up from 1,684 incidents a year earlier. Th e 2021 tally
is 24% higher than the 2019 record of 1,813 incidents.

Of the 2021 tally, 871 incidents happened in May and
June, close to when Israel and Hamas were exchanging fi re.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the landscape of
UK-based antisemitism in 2021 is largely defi ned by
responses to confl ict in Israel and Palestine, as indeed
is the unprecedented annual fi gure,” CST wrote.

Th e UK’s Jewish population is 292,000. In France,
where the Jewish population is 446,000, a watchdog group
there recorded 589 hate crimes against Jews in 2021.

Convicted German Holocaust Denier Hides in Brazil
A far-right German extremist convicted of denying
the Holocaust is taking shelter in Brazil, JTA reported.

Nikolai Nerling, 41, told a Brazilian news site that
he fears he will be arrested if he returns to Germany.

Th e Berlin public prosecutor’s offi ce declined to say
whether Interpol was notifi ed of his presence in Brazil
or whether an extradition request would be fi led.

Nerling was fi red in May 2018 from a Berlin
elementary school where he taught from 2009 to 2018
aft er a local newspaper report showed that he was
disseminating neo-Nazi content.

In December, he was fi ned 6,000 euros for denying
the existence of the Holocaust in front of students
visiting the Dachau concentration camp.

Nerling arrived in Brazil on a tourist visa in
November and has spent the last few months touring
cities in and creating more content for his social
media channels. ●
In Memory of
Harold Goldman z”l
1942 – 2022
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mourns
the passing of Harold Goldman. Harold spent more than
20 years in leadership roles in the Greater Philadelphia
Jewish community, as Chief Executive Officer at Jewish
Family and Children’s Service and then the Jewish
Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Our hearts are full
as we reflect on the impact he had within the Jewish
community and the legacy he leaves behind.

May his memory be for a blessing, and his husband,
John Bonavita-Goldman, sister, and many nieces
and nephews be comforted among the mourners of
Zion and Jerusalem.

8 FEBRUARY 17, 2022
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM