Preamble

We, leaders of the Greater Seattle Jewish community, are profoundly concerned by the dramatic rise of antisemitism in our country and globally, including deeply disturbing incidents in our area. While we represent diverse Jewish religious practices, political perspectives, and backgrounds, we are united in our determination to combat the rise of antisemitism along with other manifestations of hate, as we believe that the toxic effects of all bigotry and prejudice pose a threat not only to targeted communities like the Jewish people, but to all.

Definition and Current Environment Concerns

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition states, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” In the Greater Seattle area, we know all too well that antisemitism can lead to violent and deadly physical attacks against Jews[1]. In the current climate, our ongoing concerns about preserving the safety of our community members and institutions are significantly heightened.

Antisemitism is found across the ideological spectrum. Where once antisemitism was expressed primarily in bold and public ways—for example, through actions of openly antisemitic groups—today, in addition to the persistence of such threats and attacks, it is often obscured and therefore more difficult to root out. Particularly alarming is the extent to which expressions of antisemitism move from the political fringe into the mainstream as a result of license to perpetrate this hatred with impunity. On the right, antisemitism can increasingly be found under the cloak of hateful alt-right ideologies and white nationalism. On the left, it can increasingly be found under a cloak of virulent antagonism toward Israel. At the same time, it is important to note that criticism of Israeli government policies is not inherently antisemitic, independent of specific indicators of antisemitic attitudes, prejudice, and bias.

Specific Indicators

Among the key indicators of antisemitic attitudes, prejudice, and bias are:

• Direct physical attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions;
• Deploying stereotypes or depicting sinister activity by Jews—particularly to suggest Jewish control over others through the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions;
• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the degradation, harming, or killing of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or extremist view;
• Blaming Jews as individuals or as a group for perceived wrongdoing committed by someone who happens to be Jewish;
• Denial of the Holocaust or accusing Jews of exaggerating the Holocaust; and
• Utilizing the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., blood libel or blaming Jews for killing Jesus).

In addition, antisemitism arises in discussions or actions related to Israel, specifically by:

• Accusing Jews of dual loyalty;
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel;
• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination in their own sovereign country; and
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

Examining Criticism of Israel

There are times when Israel is held to a higher standard than other countries. This higher standard can stem from a focus on the longstanding American-Israel alliance, Israel’s robust democracy where citizens freely shine a light on policies with which they disagree, or American Jews’ special relationship with and aspirations for Israel as a significant component of Jewish identity. There are also times when applying a standard to Israel not demanded of other nations is rooted in deep prejudice against the very existence of Israel and manifests as repeated, extremely critical judgments and actions against Israel, and is experienced by members of the Jewish community as antisemitism.

Role of Civic Leaders in Standing up to Antisemitism

The history of antisemitism is clear.  It breeds fastest in times of political and economic instability and the breakdown of democratic protections. As with other forms of hate, swift and forceful action coupled with education about the history and dangers of antisemitism are required at every level of leadership when antisemitism rears its ugly head. Such leadership is essential to prevent its spread, to provide strong support to a community which is vulnerable, and to combat a toxic hatred that will harm not only the Jewish community but all of us. We urge our leaders to rise to the challenge.

Conclusion

While we cannot change the hearts and minds of those awash in hatred, recrimination, and the pursuit of violence, we possess power over how we respond, what we can do to proactively lay the groundwork for greater understanding, and what we all can do to transform our community and our world.

Community Statement Signatories

We, the undersigned organizations, strongly endorse the consensus statement above. Consensus statements, by their nature, reflect broad agreement even while we as individual organizations may have our own specific perspectives. We sign because we believe the growing problem of antisemitism is too troubling to remain silent and because acting together can make a greater difference. This statement addresses specific and urgent Jewish community concerns and provides a tool to assist non-Jewish leaders in creating greater awareness of and appropriate and thoughtful responses to incidents of antisemitism.

1. Anti-Defamation League, Pacific Northwest
2. American Jewish Committee, Seattle
3. Ashreichem Yisrael
4. Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue
5. Bet Chaverim
6. Camp Solomon Schechter
7. Capitol Hill Minyan
8. Congregation Beth Hatikvah
9. Congregation Beth Shalom
10. Congregation Ezra Bessaroth
11. Derech Emunah
12. Emanuel Congregation
13. Havurat Ee Shalom (The Vashon Havurah)
14. Hebrew Free Loan Association of Washington State
15. Herzl-Ner Tamid
16. Hillel, University of Washington
17. Holocaust Center for Humanity
18. Island Synagogue
19. Israeli American Council – Seattle
20. Jewish Community Relations Council
21. Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle
22. Jewish Family Service of Seattle
23. Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
24. Jewish National Fund
25. Jewish Prisoner Services International
26. Kline Galland & Associates
27. Kol Ami: A Center for Jewish Life in the Northwest
28. Minyan Ohr Chadash
29. National Council of Jewish Women
30. Northwest Yeshiva High School
31. Samis Foundation
32. Seattle Hadassah
33. Seattle Hebrew Academy
34. Seattle Jewish Chorale
35. Secular Jewish Circle of Puget Sound
36. Sephardic Bikur Holim
37. StandWithUs
38. Stroum Jewish Community Center
39. Temple B’nai Torah
40. Temple Beth Am
41. Temple Beth El
42. Temple Beth Hatfiloh
43. Temple Beth Or
44. Temple De Hirsch Sinai
45. The Tribe Motorcycle Club of Seattle
46. Torah Day School of Seattle
47. URJ Camp Kalsman
48. Vaad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle
49. Washington State Jewish Historical Society

[1] In 2006, a Washington extremist harboring antisemitic views and anger about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict forced his way into the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, killed one staff person, and seriously injured five more.

Click here to sign the pledge.