H eadlines
Jewbelong Continued from Page 1
Antisemitism “has always
been there, just waiting for
air,” Stacy Stuart, JewBelong’s
co-founder, said. “And in May,
it got air.”
Co-founder Archie
Gottesman and Stuart felt as
though it was inappropriate to
continue business as usual —
providing rituals, Shabbat songs
and recipes — during a time
“when people are hating you.”
“If the house is on fire, I
don’t want to talk about
redesigning the staircase,” said
Gottesman. Instead, JewBelong pivoted
to ways to address antisemi-
tism online.

Inspired by
Jewish Partisans, informal Jewish
militias in eastern Europe that
resisted and fought against
Nazis during World War II,
JewBelong awarded “Partisan
Prizes,” monetary rewards to
social media users who were
consistently outspoken about
antisemitism online.

JewBelong also posed
questions on social media,
asking followers to share
instances of when they had
experienced antisemitism.

According to Gottesman
and Stuart, the outpouring
of stories was immense, with
one respondent writing that
“My first grade teacher in
Mississippi checked my head
for horns. She thought we wore
hats to hide our horns.”
Though devastated by the
number and personal nature
of the responses, Gottesman
and Stuart realized that public-
facing discussions about
antisemitism brought oppor-
tunities to not only address
antisemitism on a greater scale,
but also create spaces for Jewish
connection and empowerment.

“It’s human nature that
when people are vulnerable
and tell you something that is
personal and painful, it makes
us open up to them more,”
Gottesman said.

But JewBelong did not
just want to connect Jews by
addressing antisemitism.

Gottesman believed that
while Jews value standing up
for others, they don’t always
advocate for themselves when
experiencing hate crimes and
discrimination. Through a campaign rooted
in witty and playful messaging,
JewBelong is not only trying
to raise awareness of antisem-
itism among non-Jewish
populations; they also hope to
inspire Jewish people to speak
out and against hate.

“JewBelong is fighting back,
and we are giving the energy
to other people to fight back,”
Gottesman said.

Stuart said that the humor
and brevity of their campaigns is
what draws people to JewBelong.

The “nontraditional” ads juxta-
pose ideas like religion and
ritual, which are oftentimes seen
as very traditional.

For individuals who have
A mock-up of a “JewBelong or JewBeGone” sign in New York
Courtesy of JewBelong
JewBelong is fighting back, and we are giving the energy to other
people to fight back.”
ARCHIE GOTTESMAN
A simpler, more convenient
lifestyle awaits at Dunwoody
Village. Newly renovated one-
and two-bedroom apartments
are currently available,
allowing you to spend less time
worrying and more time living
in the moment, doing the things
you enjoy. Contact us today.

Decidedly Different .

® Decidedly Ready.

(610) 359-4400 | www.dunwoody.org
3500 West Chester Pike • Newtown Square, PA 19073-4168
Independent Living • Rehabilitation • Personal Care • Skilled Nursing • Memory Support • Home Care
12 JULY 8, 2021
A Continuing Care
Retirement Community
Five-Star Rated Healthcare
Pet Friendly
JEWISH EXPONENT
felt intimidated by a religion
steeped in tradition, JewBelong
is attempting to be relatable,
accessible. Both Gottesman and Stuart
had, at some point or another
in their adult lives, experienced
a disconnect from the religion,
apathy about their Judaism or
embarrassment about being
Jewish: After Gottesman’s
husband converted, she had
trouble finding Jewish events
that resonated with her; and
Stuart felt uneducated about
Jewish wedding rituals while
preparing for her wedding.

So after working together
on marketing for Manhattan
Mini Storages, Gottesman’s
family’s business, applying
their waggish marketing style
to grab the attention of disen-
gaged Jews was a natural next
step. They created JewBelong
4½ years ago, with the goal of
“rebranding Judaism.”
“Judaism is a great religion,
but it’s the marketing that
sucks,” Stuart said.

Over the past half decade,
JewBelong’s online presence
has swelled to 150,000
followers. Their “JewBelong
or JewBeGone” campaign has
already launched in New York.

In addition to the Big
Apple, JewBelong selected
Philadelphia, as well as Miami,
San Francisco and Washington,
D.C., as homes for its campaign
against antisemitism.

“There’s just a lot of energy
in the Jewish, Philly experi-
ence and a lot of Jewish pride.”
Gottesman said. “It’s also a
diverse community.”
Gottesman believes the
campaign in Philadelphia and
beyond is just the beginning
of combating antisemitism,
inspiring Jews and their allies
to address antisemitism when
they see it: “Speak about it;
don’t shut up about it.” l
srogelberg@jewishexponent.com |
215-832-0741 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H eadlines
Temple Continued from Page 1
Foundation, at which Wingard
served as a board member,
funded the Arab Resource &
Organizing Center, Adalah
Justice Project, Palestine Legal
and Dream Defenders, organi-
zations that support the boycott,
divestment and sanctions
movement and the delegitimi-
zation of Israeli statehood.

Calling for the rescinding
of Wingard as Temple presi-
dent, Klein expressed concern
that his appointment would
bring “Tides’ hateful ideology
to Temple’s 37,000 students,
potentially via appointing
anti-Israel, Jew-hating deans
and faculty and programming.”
Wingard, Temple’s first
Black president in its 137-year
history, said that though the
Tides Foundation has provided
in question,” Wingard said.

“They were engaged prior to my
arrival on the board.”
Additionally, volunteer
board members, according
to Wingard, are not privy to
the selection of grantees and
partner organizations. This
decision is determined by the
CEO and Tides staff, of which
he said he was not a part.

Dan Shannon,
chief partnerships officer at Tides,
confirmed that Wingard was
not part of Tides’ decision to
build relationships with the
organizations. “Dr. Wingard was not yet
a member of the Tides board
when the board approved
Tides’ fiscal sponsorship
of these partners, and Dr.

Wingard played no role in
approving their affiliation with
Tides,” he said.

The Tides Foundation,
Dr. Wingard is a scholar of education, a firm
believer in the exchange of ideas and a
champion for equity and justice for all.”
MITCHELL MORGAN
funding for the Adalah Justice
Project, Palestine Legal and
Arab Resource & Organization
Center, Tides has also provided
funding to Jewish organi-
zation, such as the Jewish
Community Federation &
Endowment Fund, the Jim
Joseph Foundation and the
Walter & Elise Haas Fund, in
addition to 139 Israeli grantees.

The funding of the three
aforementioned anti-Zionist
organizations make up less
than 1% of Tides’ $1.4 billion
budget, according to Wingard.

Moreover, Wingard, who
previously served as the vice
dean of the Wharton School at
the University of Pennsylvania,
said he had no jurisdiction over
Tides’ decision to give money
to these organizations.

“As a volunteer board
member and chair, I did not
approve or support the programs
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Tides Foundation’s relationship
with AROC Executive Director
Lisa Kiswani and AJP Executive
Director Sandra Tamari or the
funding of Dream Defenders.

Despite apprehension from
the ZOA, Temple’s board of
trustees feels confident in
Wingard’s ability to build
connections with Jewish
students. “Dr. Wingard is a scholar
of education, a firm believer
in the exchange of ideas and a
champion for equity and justice
for all,” Chairman Mitchell
Morgan said. “The Temple
community, including the
Jewish student community, will
be better for his leadership.”
The Anti-Defamation
League Philadelphia, which has
worked with Temple’s adminis-
tration, faculty, campus safety,
Institutional Diversity, Equity,
Advocacy and Leadership and
Hillel to address antisemitism,
also expressed optimism about
Wingard as Temple’s new
president. “ADL has enjoyed a long and
productive partnership with
Temple University,” said Shira
Goodman, regional director
of ADL Philadelphia. “We are
hopeful that this partnership
will continue to expand under
President Wingard’s leadership,
and we look forward to meeting
with him to provide resources
and recommendations for
ensuring Temple University
remains a welcoming and inclu-
sive campus for all students.”
Wingard is aware of
concerns of antisemitism
and is conscious of “discom-
fort” Jewish students have felt
on some American college
campuses. He hopes to garner
the trust of Jewish students
over the course of his presi-
dency, which began on July 1.

“I will seek out and work
with students, faculty, admin-
istrators, trustees and others
to ensure that Temple is a
model of tolerance and under-
standing,” Wingard said. l
a public charity organiza-
tion founded in 1976 with
the mission of “advancing
the issues of equality and
human rights, a sustainable
environment, quality educa-
tion, and healthy individuals
and communities globally,”
affirmed a commitment to
serving Jewish populations.

“Antisemitism is one of the
many forms of discrimination and
oppression that Tides combats
every day,” Shannon said.

However, Tides was also
clear in its support of the
organizations in question.

Shannon said, “Tides
is proud of the important
work done by our partners
at the Adalah Justice Project,
Palestine Legal and Arab
Resource and Organization
Center.” Neither the Tides Foundation srogelberg@jewishexponent.com |
nor Wingard addressed the 215-832-0741
JEWISH EXPONENT
The Women of
Congregation Mikveh Israel
will read the 5 Chapters of the
Scroll of Eicha (Lamentations)
Thursday, July 15, 2021
7:00 P.M.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2159225446?pwd=K2Vp WmJqSmxYNERZVmNVL3dxT3dXQT09
Meeting ID: 215 922 5446
Passcode: 1234
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 (N.Y.) • +1 301 715 8592 (Wash., DC)
Find your local number:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcEVddYngg Tish’a Be’Ab services in the synagogue:
Saturday, July 17, 9:45 P.M. – Sunday, July 18, 8:00. A.M
Exclusive Women’s Apparel Boutique
Made in USA
Custom designs, color options and
free alterations available
Evening Gowns
Suits/Separates Cocktail Dresses
61 Buck Road
Huntingdon Valley,
PA 19006
www.elanaboutique.com (215)953-8820
Make an appointment today!
Consult with the designer to
explore your style options.

JULY 8, 2021
13