Associated and BJC Join Campaign to Fight Escalating Antisemitism

March 27, 2023 Staff Report

In July of 2021, more than a dozen gravestones were vandalized at the German Hill Road Jewish Cemeteries in Dundalk. (File photos)

Billionaire businessman Robert K. Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and his family want to combat antisemitism in America. Joining him in this fight are The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and the Baltimore Jewish Council.

The Associated and the BJC announced Mar. 27 they have joined forces with the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism as an official partner of #StandUpToJewishHate, a new national campaign to mobilize Americans to combat antisemitism. The campaign was created through a $25 million investment by Kraft and his family.

Robert Kraft (Courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman)

Kraft is founder of the foundation, which is working with a broad coalition of organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the National Urban League, the National Governors Association, the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International, to combat to Jewish hate.

Last year, antisemitic incidents in the United States rose 36%, according to an annual audit recently released by the ADL. That figure represented the highest number ever recorded since the ADL first began collecting data in 1979.

“The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign is designed to raise awareness for the fight against antisemitism, specifically among non-Jewish audiences and to help all Americans understand that there is a role for each of us to play in combating a problem that is unfortunately all too prevalent in communities across the country today,” Kraft said in a statement.

In Maryland, the ADL’s audit found a 98 percent increase in reported antisemitic incidents from 2021 to 2022. Maryland registered with the 10th highest number of antisemitic incidents reported in the nation last year.

The Associated and the BJC encourage people to #StandUpToJewishHate by:

Posting and sharing 🟦, an emoji available on most smartphones, as a hashtag across social media, along with a message of support for the Jewish community and commitment to stand up to Jewish hate;

Activating one’s network to be aware of the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign and how they can use 🟦 as a symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community;

Telling one’s story to social media followers, describing an instance where you’ve encountered antisemitism and how it affected you, or witnessed someone standing up against hatred towards Jews;

Visiting StandUpToJewishHate.org and subscribe to the foundation’s ”From the Command Center” e-newsletter to keep updated on how antisemitism is spreading online, learn ways to identify and report it, and find helpful tools and resources around antisemitism;

Following the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign at @StandUpToJewishHate on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to keep up-to-date with 🟦 and learn more about antisemitism;

Reporting antisemitism immediately when you see it, and if it is an emergency, dial 911. You can learn more about how best to report antisemitism by visiting StandUpToJewishHate.org.