Anti-Semitism, Philo-Semitism and a week to remember

Anti-Semitism, Philo-Semitism, and a week to remember

by Stephen Jenks

Once again last week we saw the dark power of anti-Semitism as two armed assailants attacked a Kosher grocery store in Jersey City, NJ, potentially planning to storm a yeshiva with 50 students directly next door.

At the same time, global anti-Semitism was dealt a blow as the United Kingdom voted for Boris Johnson as their new Prime Minister, rejecting the openly virulent Jeremy Corbyn whose anti-Semitic actions and words led the Simon Wiesenthal Center to name him #1 in their “Top Ten Anti-Semitic Incidents in 2019.”

In the face of all this, President Donald Trump on December 11 signed an “Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism”. This executive order calls on government departments enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to use the working definition of anti-Semitism adopted on May 26, 2016, by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which states, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities…”

The significance of this action was expressed by Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, when he said, “This will target the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement that has grown in recent years. If academic institutions do not act against this antisemitic movement, they will pay a heavy price.”

” What Eagles’ Wings is doing is absolutely crucial to the future success of our country.”

 – Elan Carr – Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism 

Earlier this year, President Trump also appointed Elan Carr as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This past spring, Special Envoy Carr addressed an Eagles’ Wings gathering of pastors and leaders in New York City. He said to the group present, “What Eagles’ Wings is doing is absolutely crucial to the future success of our country.”

While we are saddened by the continued incidents of violence and anti-Semitism, we are gratified that the years of prayer and work are yielding fruit as new strategies are implemented to combat this evil in our generation.

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