American Jews are anxious. Antisemitism and Judeophobia, which didn’t used to be overriding concerns in the daily lives of Jewish Americans – and of Jewish leadership and organizations – now dominate the public communal discourse.

This piece doesn’t seek to explain the phenomenon of contemporary antisemitism, as others, like Deborah Lipstadt and Bari Weiss, have done that masterfully already. Nor will I weigh in on which manifestations of antisemitism are most alarming, whether from the right, left, or the Islamic world. Rather, as the president and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network, I am focusing on the Jewish philanthropic response to antisemitism and offering some guidance for funders on what to do, and most importantly, what not to do, based on what is effective versus what is not just ineffective, but destructive.
Based on our collective experience and on our critical observations of the field, we can distill a few principles that funders can follow.

Read the rest of this article below or on eJewish Philanthropy.

The startling spike in antisemitic crimes in Brooklyn in the past few months is part of a larger trend occurring more broadly across the country and the world.

Faith and community leaders representing populations in New York’s diverse neighborhoods have banded together to find solutions and reverse this trend. What are some of the best practices that are working and can they be replicated in other communities nationwide?

In The Jewish Week.

On April 16, Alain Soral, a well-known French anti-Semite, was sentenced to one year in prison by a French court for “negationisme”, Holocaust denial. For those of us familiar with Soral’s eclectic political life, seeing him condemned is satisfying, and also instructive. Alain Soral’s career demonstrates how modern society—and even many Jews—misunderstand anti-Semitism.

Jewish Funders Network views the recent demonstration of Nazis and other white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va., and the acts of terrorism that accompanied it, with outrage, sadness, and contempt. To say that we condemn white supremacy is virtually redundant; to exist as Jews, and to exist as true philanthropists, is to be a living contradiction to Nazism, white supremacy, and all forms of hatred.

JFN stands in solidarity with the ADL and JCCs across the country as they face a wave of bomb threats, and with the Jewish communities of St. Louis and Philadelphia in the wake of vandalous cemetery desecrations.

Haaretz, Apr 20, 2016

Zionism is one of the most inspiring and justice-oriented movements in human history, and we faithful Zionists need to defend its good name.

We are outraged at the continuous campaign of murder being inflicted upon Israelis.

Racism and anti-Semitism remain a stubborn problem in Germany, despite extensive efforts to confront its shameful past. The far right is responsible for the racially motivated murder of 184 people since 1990, with nearly 750 more that can’t be conclusively proven; their political parties serve in two state and 350 municipal legislatures; a campaign of fear and intolerance succeeds in keeping Germany’s eastern states virtually immigrant- and minority-free; and they exploit populism and nostalgia to garner support among young and old alike.