Jewish Federation holding rally against anti-Semitism

With a sharp increase in anti-Semitic attacks occurring in U.S. cities, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is holding a “Stand Against Anti-Semitism” rally Tuesday.

The June 1 rally will be held at the City-County Building Downtown starting at 6 p.m.

Since the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip began May 10, reports of anti-Semitic attacks in U.S. cities have risen 63%, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

They include reports of a Jewish man being punched, kicked and pepper-sprayed in Times Square in New York by a group making threats against Jews and Israel and of a window being broken at a synagogue in Skokie, Ill., where the attackers left a sign that read “Freedom for Palestine.”

In Los Angeles, Jewish customers eating dinner at a restaurant were assaulted and sworn at by men waving Palestinian flags. Prosecutors have labeled it a hate crime.

“It’s clear in the United States that some of the rhetoric has spilled over into outright anti-Semitism,” said Adam Hertzman, marketing director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “Regardless of your view of the current government of Israel, it is never appropriate to blame somebody for a government’s policies based on their religion.”

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that started May 21.

There have not been any violent physical attacks in Pittsburgh stemming from this most recent round of warfare. Wasi Mohamed, former executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, believes it has to do with the strong connections built between the Muslim and Jewish communities in the wake of the Oct. 27, 2018, Tree of Life shooting.

”We’ve been really intentional about the kind of relationships that we’ve been trying to build with learning about anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” said Mohamed, who’s now a senior policy officer at The Pittsburgh Foundation. “I don’t think there’s a place for it in Pittsburgh. I don’t think it’s accepted either in public spaces or private places when people hear that now. We’re too aware of the consequences of that kind of rhetoric to not condemn it.”

Mohamed said that while he’s very active in initiatives for Palestinian human rights, there is no room in the movement for hatred of others based on their religion. And he said the Jewish community in Pittsburgh feels the same way.

“As Pittsburghers, we believe there’s no room for anti-Semitism at all and it’s nice that we all stand against it together,” he said. “As Muslims we’re no strangers to this kind of violence. When there’s spikes in news about ISIS, the anti-Muslim attacks will spike. All of a sudden there’s a domestic impact of a foreign policy issue. And it’s been great to see our Jewish brothers and sisters and everyone coming together.”

Hertzman hopes Tuesday’s rally creates awareness of the dangers that can result from anger over political issues.

“As a community that experienced the worst act of anti-Semitic physical violence in U.S. history, we have learned all too well, sadly, the price of failing to speak out against anti-Semitism,” said Hertzman. “I hope that when we gather to stand against anti-Semitism on Tuesday, we’ll educate the broader Pittsburgh community about the need to report anti-Semitism. We’re not going to stand silent when these hateful messages are spread.”