As the Biden administration begins its first 100 days in office, Kenneth L. Marcus reflects on Biden’s new tools to combat global Jew-hatred, the best ways for the new administration to address domestic terrorism, and the outgoing administration’s last OCR report. Alyza D. Lewin speaks out on Zionism’s centrality to Jewish identity, as well as campus anti-Semitism, and the definition of anti-Semitism. Also in this issue, read up on January’s federal guidance on the Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism. Read the entire Brandeis Brief here. Articles Here is what Biden should do to address domestic terrorism (JTA) Kenneth L. Marcus The Capitol riot signaled a threat to undermine American democracy. In this article, LDB Founder and Chair Kenneth L. Marcus explains why it is also a threat to all of us – and what the Biden administration should do about it. “After the Capitol riot, this must be priority No. 1.” Read More Zionism is central to Judaism Samantha Crane, Brandeis Blog LDB President Alyza Lewin joined Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Brooke Goldstein, and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt for a discussion on how Jewish peoplehood includes a deep historical and theological connection to the Land of Israel on the Edwin Black Show webinar series. The discussion touched on a new anti-Semitism, excluding Jews from progressive circles based on their celebration of ethnic Jewish pride and identity. Read More Watch the Presentation ED’s Office for Civil Rights clarifies the Executive Order on combating anti-Semitism Toby Irenstein, Brandeis Blog On January 19, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued important new guidance on how the Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism can be used effectively, without restricting free speech, and how it affirms that “actions that target and scapegoat particular individuals or groups based on ethnic or ancestral characteristics for ‘spreading disease’ are intolerable, and schools should take special care to ensure that all students have a learning environment free from bias or discrimination.” Read More “Biden has new tools to fight anti-Semitism” (JNS) Kenneth L. Marcus President Biden has important new tools to combat global anti-Semitism, now that the State Department Special Envoy on Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism is elevated to ambassadorial status and the European Commission has issued an excellent new handbook on fighting anti-Semitism. In this new article, Kenneth Marcus explains steps the Biden administration can take to readily address shape-shifting anti-Semitism in America and abroad. Read More Alyza Lewin Discusses anti-Semitism in the United States with American Christian Leaders for Israel Toby Irenstein, Brandeis Blog American Christian Leaders for Israel’s series of informative webinars on anti-Semitism hosted Alyza Lewin, Dr. Susan Michael, and Liora Rez for a discussion on effective approaches to recognizing and combating anti-Semitism in the United States. In her remarks, Lewin emphasized the importance of defining anti-Semitism, focusing on how students on campus feel the brunt of anti-Semitism activity when they express their ethnic identity as Jews through Zionism. Read More Watch the Presentation Ten surprising highlights from OCR’s New Annual Report (FedSoc Blog) Kenneth L. Marcus The Trump Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights released its annual report of last year’s accomplishments on January 13th. The report demonstrated impressive increases in OCR’s efficiency and impact, in investigating sexual violence, anti-Semitism, race cases, LGBTQ cases, and COVID-19. Moreover, the report discusses how the OCR completed its Title IX rulemaking, pursued civil rights claims by students of any background, and continued its regulatory reform project. Kenneth Marcus explains how these ten highlights underscore OCR’s impressive growth in efficiency and effectiveness over the last four years. Read More