H EADLINES
ISRAELBRIEFS AJC Study Shows Lack of Awareness of
Anti-Semitism NEARLY HALF OF non-Jewish Americans surveyed
either had never heard of anti-Semitism or were
unsure of what it meant, according to the American
Jewish Committee.

In the AJC’s fi rst “State of Antisemitism in America
Report,” 21% said they had never heard the word and
25% said that while they had heard it, they were
unsure what it meant.

Familiarity with the term is linked to education
level, with 79% of college graduates knowing what
it means, compared to just 27% of those with a high
school diploma or less.

“What American Jews and the general public
are saying in these surveys, for us, is a clarion call
for a stepped-up, multipronged response to rising
anti-Semitism in the United States,” AJC CEO David
Harris said. “Th at nearly half of the American popula-
tion does not even seem to know what anti-Semitism
is can only increase American Jews’ concern about
their own security and well-being.”
In other data, 88% of American Jews believe
anti-Semitism in the U.S. today is a very serious (37%)
or somewhat serious (51%) issue, while only 63% of
the general population says likewise.

Other data of note: 24% of Jews said they have
avoided publicly wearing, carrying or displaying
items that may identify them as Jews since the Tree
of Life shooting; 37% report being the target of an
anti-Semitic incident; and 43% of Jews between 18-29
say they have experienced anti-Semitism on a college
campus or know someone who has.

Muslim Council Adopts IHRA Defi nition of
Anti-Semitism Th e Global Imams Council announced Oct. 29
that it has adopted a defi nition of anti-Semitism
that includes some forms of vitriol against Israel,
JTA reported.

Th e council, which was created in 2017 to help
heal sectarian divisions in Iraq, cited recent “peace
eff orts” between Israel and several Muslim countries,
in its decision to adopt the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance’s defi nition of anti-Semitism.

Th at defi nition includes the demonization of Israel
alongside more traditional forms of anti-Semitism.

Palestinian and Muslim groups had rejected the
IHRA defi nition for years, saying it limits free speech.

“Today, we add our council’s name alongside 34
countries that have adopted this working defi ni-
tion,” the council said. “We live in a time of rising
anti-Semitism and terrorist attacks, which makes
our responsibility as faith leaders greater, and even
greater as Imams.”
Th is defi nition will be in eff ect for current
and future members and affi liate institutions, the
council said.

Dutch Chief Rabbi Says Churches Don’t Need
to Apologize for Holocaust Inaction
Six Dutch churches issued an apology for failing
to save Jews or protest their murder during the
Holocaust, but Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs
said the gesture was unnecessary, JTA reported.

“Children needn’t profess their parents’ guilt or
take responsibility for it,” Jacobs said, noting that he
appreciated the gesture.

Th e Protestant Church of the Netherlands, which
is the nation’s largest church, issued a statement on
Oct. 28 and fi ve other Protestant churches issued a
separate statement.

“We failed in speaking out and in keeping silent,
in deeds and inaction, in attitude and thoughts,”
the Protestant Church of the Netherlands statement
said, adding that the church wishes to “acknowledge
unequivocally that the church prepared the soil where
the seed of anti-Semitism could grow.”
About 75% of Dutch Jewry died in the Holocaust,
the highest death rate in occupied Western Europe. ●
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
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