- A message from the FJMC Committee to Combat Antisemitism
A new FJMC Committee to Combat Antisemitism has been formed, charged with raising awareness of antisemitism and offering clubs specific ways they can contribute to combating this hate. It follows up on our Philadelphia Convention theme of Combating Antisemitism. Our committee will periodically ask clubs and regions to actively engage with their community, to draw attention to antisemitism and its impact on club members and community residents. FJMC is already partnering with organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League to fight antisemitism. We appreciate your comments and suggestions on the goals of our committee.
The past month has witnessed atrocities that we could not have imagined would take place in Israel. It has led to Jews around the world to be subjected to intense threats and intimidation, along with the pain of seeing demonstrations which praise the terrorists who crossed into Israel on October 7th. Tens of thousands of supporters of terrorists gathered in Washington, DC on November 4th, joining vile demonstrations around the world. The Jewish community and friends staged an even larger demonstration on November 14th in Washington, DC to remember the victims of the Hamas massacre and to stand with Israel in the fight against antisemitism.
Here are four steps we are asking club presidents to share with their club members to combat antisemitism as the FJMC’s Call to Action:
FJMC’s Convention 2023 theme was combating antisemitism and the role that clubs and their members can play in this fight. We call on our clubs and members to demonstrate their rejection of this startling explosion of antisemitism. It has been most visible on college campuses. We ask you to take the following action:
1. Write / email the president of your local college(s) asking whether they have responded to the recent letter written to them by the Anti-Defamation League and the Brandies Legal Center. We have attached the ADL letter and also a template which you may use as a cover letter to send with the ADL letter. Emailing the two letters is encouraged.
2. Send your members the link provided by ADL, which urges that the US Department of Education to make colleges Safe from Antisemitism, https://www.adl.org/resources/letter/adl-and-brandeis-center-letter-presidents-colleges-and-universities.
3. Send your members the link provided by the American Jewish Committee to demand University Presidents Act Against Antisemitism, https://actnow.ajc.org/ptTStGJ?ms=wb_-_20231105_TakeAction.
4. Offer support to fellow congregants with children in colleges. Reach out to Jewish student organizations on your local campus to express support and stand with these students. Please share your success stories where universities have taken concrete action to protect Jewish students from the threat of anti-Semitic actions.
Irv Varkonyi, Chair, FJMC Committee to Combat Antisemitism
Mitch Daks, Steve Marx, Barry Oslick, Eric Litvak
For more information about the FJMC Committee to Combat Antisemitism, please contact Committee Chair Irv Varkonyi at ivarkonyi@fjmc.org.
The Florida Region of FJMC stands with Israel. We are part of a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn more about how your Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Get to know more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit and LIKE our Florida Region FJMC Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
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