Philadelphia, South Jersey, but across
the entire country,” said Alan Hoffman,
AJC Philadelphia/Southern NJ president
and co-chair of PAPAJA. “In joining
forces, we want to work together, under-
stand each other’s communities a little
bit better and fight against this hate that
we continue to be the victims of and is
continuing to increase in this country.”
Both populations share similar strug-
gles, such as model minority status and
the stereotype of dual loyalty.

“It’s a tool used to even create division
between communities,” Sun said. “When
people portray us as model minorities,
usually the concept behind it is, ‘Oh,
Jewish [people], they’re all rich from day
one. You just come to this country rich.

Oh, those Asians — they’re all doing
well; they’re all just lawyers, accountants,
bankers. They don’t need any resources;
they don’t need any help.’”
Though Sun believes that PAPAJA is
the first statewide alliance between the
Jewish and AAPI communities, the two
populations have a shared history of soli-
darity, Bronstein said.

In 1905, the Kishinev pogrom, which
took place in modern-day Moldova,
prompted American Jewish leaders to
respond and support pogrom victims.

AJC was founded in 1906 in New York.

“It wasn’t only the Jewish commu-
nity that wanted to do something.

The Chinese community in New York
City under Joseph Singleton offered to
arrange a benefit for Kishinev pogrom
victims,” Bronstein said. “And he orga-
nized this program at a Chinese theater,
and they put on three performances, and
the money that was raised went to the
victims of the Kishinev pogrom.”
AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey
also has a long history of solidarity efforts
with other interfaith and marginalized
groups. AJC helped to found the Jewish-
Latino Coalition in 2013; the Bucks
County Christian Coalition Dialogue
group, created 30 years ago; and the Circle
of Friends, the Philadelphia chapter of the
Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council.

Bronstein draws on the aphorism that,
in times of crisis, one learns who their
real friends are. With shared experi-
ences of being the victims of hatred
and discrimination, Jewish and Asian
Americans, as well as other marginalized
groups, can forge deeper friendships.

“It ties into allyship, and it ties into
being there for one another and speak-
ing out and affirming that we’re part of
the fabric of this great nation,” Bronstein
said. “We’re here to strengthen one
another and work together.” JE
“To save one life is to save the world entire.”
— The Talmud
This High Holiday season, as we seek spiritual and physical renewal for ourselves and our loved
ones, let us also remember those in Israel who nurture and renew life every day.

Whether it’s treating civilians wounded in terror attacks or responding to any number of at-home
medical emergencies, no organization in Israel saves more lives than Magen David Adom.

No gift will help Israel more this coming year.

Support Magen David Adom by
donating today at afmda.org/support
or call 866.632.2763.

Shanah tovah.

afmda.org/support srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com
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