Brandeis Center President Alyza D. Lewin joins other esteemed guests on The Edwin Black Show Nov 2. at 3pm ET via Zoom. To join, just click this link. Kristallnacht 2.0: Part III Jewish people across the world have long wondered when and where the next Kishinev, Kristallnacht, or Farhud would occur. The answer (as we correctly speculated during our June 2023 Farhud Remembrance show) was Israel. It happened on October 7, 2023, as Israelis were wrapping up their Sukkot celebrations. Some 2,000 Hamas fighters attacked, killing and raping innocent civilians, kidnapping grandmothers and children, and live-streaming their barbarous acts. Violent pro-Palestinian—and outright pro-Hamas—demonstrations have erupted everywhere, from campuses to streets. Jews across America are beginning to ask the unthinkable question and ponder the unthinkable prospect: can it happen again—this time in America? Holocaust education leader Yossie Hollander, eminent civil rights attorney Nathan Lewin, and crusading Brandeis Center President Alyza Lewin join Edwin for part three of the discussion that nobody ever wanted to have, with special reports by Alan Dershowitz and Juda Engelmayer.
Live From Jerusalem: Don’t miss Brandeis Center President Alyza D. Lewin on the Edwin Black Show on July 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm EDT via Zoom. Join Edwin Black, Alex Traiman, Alyza D. Lewin, Avi Bell, and friends for insider insights into Israel — live from the rooftop garden of the Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria. To watch the show live, visit TheEdwinBlackShow.com and click “Join the Show” right from the homepage.
LDB President, Alyza Lewin, joined Jewish community leaders Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chairman of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, on the Edwin Black show to discuss the “Explosion of anti-Semitic Speech and Campus Hate.” The theme of the show is more prevalent now than ever before especially with instances at schools like Tufts University and University of Illinois this year. This is an important conversation to engage in as Ms. Lewin eloquently pointed out in the podcast, one of the leading issues of combating anti-Semitism is identifying it in all its forms. The podcast excellently describes and explains what anti-Semitism is, how it has changed over time and what to do about it today specifically in an era of great technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic. Black opened the conversation with a comprehensive explanation on today’s latest manifestation of anti-Semitism being, “A toxic mix of traditional neo-Nazi and clan style hatred, mixed with Liberal fascism which has become infected with the most vile Palestinian, anti-Zionism and anti-Israel demonization.” Rabbi Cooper expanded on this in his articulation of how social media has led to an increase in hate crimes and how COVID-19 has made combatting anti-Semitism an increasingly difficult task. With social tensions higher than ever many Jewish institutions whether specifically targeted or not have felt the impacts of riots and civil unrest that carried out over the summer months and into the fall. Hoenlein also shared in this concern, but noted anti-Semitism was already on the rise before COVID-19, however it only amplified the polarization on both the left and the right making matter worse. LDB President, Alyza Lewin expressed similar concerns as she described her experiences while working with students on college campuses whose encounters with anti-Semitism often come in the form of exclusion and even demonization for remaining true to their Zionistic and Jewish values. Lewin pointed out the historic pattern of anti-Semitism. In each century, the Jewish people are blamed for whatever is that particular generation’s greatest evil or misfortune. Sadly, today is no exception as college students experience anti-Semitism that follows the same pattern. Lewin explained that racism is viewed by many as today’s greatest evil and Israel, the Jewish homeland, is often falsely maligned as the world’s worst offender of that evil. Students who express support for Israel as part of their Jewish identity are then condemned as “racist.” Often students feel compelled to hide or shed their Jewish Zionist identity to be accepted. Lewin concluded that to effectively combat campus anti-Semitism, Jewish students must articulate that when they are pressured to disavow Israel as a part of their identity in order to be accepted, that is unlawful harassment and discrimination. The conversation illuminates where anti-Semitism stands today and reminds people the importance of understanding and identifying anti-Semitism in all its forms. *This event originally aired in August 2020. A recording of the event was recently published on the Edwin Black YouTube channel and can be viewed here.
The “Farhud,” Arabic for “violent dispossession,” was a pro-Nazi massacre against Baghdad Jewry that took place from June 1-2, 1941 – coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. This terrible tragedy resulted in the death of hundreds of Sephardi Jews, marked the first step in ending 27 centuries of peaceful Jewish existence in Iraq and Mesopotamia, and ultimately led to the expulsion of 850,000 Jews from the Middle East into Israel. Edwin Black has organized 4 Farhud ceremonies within a 24-hour span. The first of which took place in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. House of Representatives. June 1-2, 2016 marks the Farhud’s 75th anniversary. To commemorate this little-known tragedy, Edwin Black, New York Times bestselling author of “The Farhud: Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust,” will hold four commemoration ceremonies within a 24-hour span, in Washington, D.C., NYC, London, and Israel. The Farhud is often referred to as the “forgotten pogrom,” Black explained, and is a tragedy in itself that Black is trying to correct. It’s “forgotten” because its victims were from the Arab world, and the Holocaust only refers to the attempt to wipe-out European Jewry. As a result, many Jews and non-Jews alike have never heard of the Farhud. Through his book, his Times of Israel article (“The expulsion that backfired: When Iraq kicked out its Jews“), and his nationally-televised commemoration ceremonies, Black has thrown himself into a whirlwind process of Farhud education and commemoration. The first Farhud ceremony took place this morning at the U.S. House of Representatives. LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus addressed the audience on why the State of Israel is important as a remnant of the Farhud. After Jews were vilified and expelled from Arab countries to Israel in the 1940s-1950s, they are again facing the same vilification from the same countries that forced them out today, Marcus explained. Zionism is seen as a criminal movement and Jews are seen as its perpetrators. “It is important to remember the Farhud,” Marcus said, “because anti-Semitism is a continuing fight. We are seeing a resurgence of anti-Semitism now, after years of things improving. We need to make sure this hatred is gone so that we will never again have a Farhud.” LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus addressed the audience on the necessity of the State of Israel for the Jewish people. Marcus was joined by Sarah Stern, President of EMET, Alyza Lewin, President of American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of Bnai Tzedek, among others, for a very informative, meaningful and moving ceremony. Rabbi Weinblatt pointed out that the Hebrew saying, “Kol Yisroel Aravim Zeh La’Zeh,” meaning “all Jews are responsible for each other, and our entire world,” is very fitting for the Farhud. The Farhud helps us understand the roots of what is happening today in the Middle East. Maurice Shohet, President of the World Federation of Jews from Iraq and the son of two Farhud survivors, spoke of the righteous Muslims during the Farhud who protected their Jewish acquaintances. In fact, a Muslim farmer – Salmani Barak – hid Shohet’s mother’s family, and saved their lives. Though 27 candles are typically lit for the commemoration of the 27 centuries of Jewish life that was destroyed, due to House safety rules, one symbolic yahrzeit-style candle was lit by two representatives of the Iraqi Jewish community. It was then snuffed out – to signify how quickly Jewish life in Iraq was snuffed out. Rabbi Haim Ovadia blows 8.5 blasts on the Shofar, in commemoration of the 850,000 Jews that were expelled from the Middle East to Israel. Rabbi Haim Ovadia of Magen David Sephardic Synagogue blew eight and a half blasts into a shofar, to signify the 850,000 Jews that were expelled. The ceremony ended with a beautiful musical rendition of “El Malei Rachamim,” by Rachel Black – traditionally an Ashkenazi hymn, but invoked to show that though the Farhud directly involved Sephardi Jewry, it is a shared tragedy amongst all Jews; and the lighting of candle – for Israel – by Joshua Block, President & CEO of the Israel Project. “In every place where Jews are discriminated against,” said Deputy Head of the Embassy of Israel to the United States Reuven Azar, “we cannot stand idly by, because others will be discriminated against, too. We must study and teach the Farhud.”
LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus will be speaking at the StandWithUs International Anti-BDS Conference for the second year in a row. StandWithUs, an international non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about Israel and combating anti-Semitism, will host this conference from April 9-11 in Los Angeles, California. At the conference, internationally renowned experts will discuss the global boycott movement against Israel and how it targets college campuses, businesses, and more. The conference’s keynote speaker is Alan Dershowitz, a former Harvard Law Professor, Author, and Political Commentator. Other speakers, in addition to Marcus, include New York Times Best Selling Author Edwin Black, Public Relations Expert Philippe Assouline, StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein, Brandeis Center Board of Directors member Richard Cravatts, Brandeis Center Academic Advisory Board member Tammi Rossman-Benjamin and many more. Brandeis Center President Marcus commented, “I am excited to be a part of an incredible and diverse lineup of speakers. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and learning more about new strategies and tactics to help understand the BDS movement.” StandWithUs uses their knowledge to help correct common prejudices about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and promotes discussions and policies that help promote peace in the Middle East. Their website says, “Through print materials, speakers, programs, conferences, missions to Israel, campaigns, social media and internet resources, we ensure that the story of Israel’s achievements and ongoing challenges is told on campuses and in communities around the world.” The exact location of the event will be sent to conference participants upon completion of their reservation. To learn more about the conference please follow this link.
Kenneth L. Marcus LDB President Kenneth Marcus recently went on The Edwin Black Show to discuss the anti-Israeli de-legitimization, or BDS (boycott, divest, and sanction) movement. Mr. Marcus, in particular, was able to address what is happening on college campuses in regards to this BDS movement. According to Mr. Marcus, this problem is something repeatedly presenting itself on America’s college campuses all around the country. What at first may begin as a political sentiment oftentimes, stated Mr. Marcus, turns virulent so to be not just aimed at Israel and Israelis, but also in a sense to Jewish Americans as well. The political movement against Israel transforms into something more foreboding, and is often verbalized in an anti-Semitic fashion, making use of traditional anti-Semitic motifs. The problem is exacerbated because of the disproportionate influence on college campuses of individuals with extreme positions, especially if they are on the far left. It is not the case, Mr. Marcus states, that most professors and students are anti-Semitic. Rather, it’s a relatively small number of anti-Semitic people in a given situation that get much more attention on a college campus than they would in any other faction of American life. Compounding that, anti-Israeli professors are the ones more likely to be teaching Middle East studies and the Humanities. Additionally, they are the ones who are more likely to say it’s okay to introduce your values into the classroom as well as to be politically active themselves. It follows, then, that anti-Israeli professors are engaged in shifting the politics in a way that supports their movement. All of these factors, says Mr. Marcus, lead to greater anti-Israel, and sometimes anti-Semitic, influence on college campuses. (more…)