Antisemitism is on the rise in Mass. What will we do about it?

Boston Globe

5 hours ago

This level of fear and danger for Jewish Americans is not normal — and it cannot be normalized.
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Over the weekend, a brick with the words 'Free Palestine' was
This is the latest in a string of attacks on the Jewish community in which the words 'Free Palestine' were used while committing violence against Jews. On June 1, an otherwise peaceful Jewish gathering in Boulder, Colo., to raise awareness for the 53 hostages still in Gaza was firebombed by an attacker who
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Violence against Jews does not and never will do anything to 'free Palestine.'
Over the past five years, the rate of antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts has surged over 500 percent. The
incidents were Israel-related, in which protesters and perpetrators spewed lies,
The killing and firebombing of Jews here in the United States is exactly what 'Globalize the Intifada' means.
Out of 50 states, Massachusetts
Some students have shared that they feel they must hide their Jewish identity in order to participate in campus life.
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Swastikas were graffitied 87 times in Massachusetts last year, traumatizing communities. Synagogues and Jewish organizations faced coordinated bomb threats, creating disruption and concern for congregants and requiring extensive law enforcement responses. There was also a 200 percent increase in New England in incidents targeting visibly Orthodox Jews, including one where an individual yelled
Each antisemitic incident leaves lasting scars on individuals and communities, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate victims.
Together, all of us need to confront antisemitism wherever it appears — in schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, and online spaces. We need our government leaders to lead. This means developing a robust statewide strategy that condemns antisemitism as a unique form of hate. Government leaders must also speak out forcefully and unequivocally against antisemitism, regardless of which side of the political aisle it comes from, but especially when it comes from their own party. Selective condemnation sends a message that some forms of Jewish hatred are acceptable.
School and district administrators need to adopt clear protocols to address antisemitism in schools, provide guidance on reporting and responding to incidents, and promote education and awareness to prevent the spread of hate, including comprehensive lessons on the Holocaust and its implications for understanding antisemitism today.
Law enforcement should receive specialized training so they can recognize and respond to antisemitic hate crimes.
And all of us need to push back on the antisemitic
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In early June, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security
The Jewish community is demoralized and fearful. Silence in the face of antisemitism only emboldens those who spread hate.
Our lives may depend on it.