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September 15, 2023 The CuratorLeave a Comment on The ADL betrays history and the people it pledges to protect – JNS.org

Leo Frank

The ADL betrays history and the people it pledges to protect – JNS.org

(September 12, 2023 / JNS)

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 by the Bnai Brith following the lynching of Leo Frank. Its founding charter gives as its prime directive to stop by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Secondarily, the organization seeks to end discrimination against all groups of people.

For decades thereafter, the ADL was widely regarded as an august institution, having fought a large swath of scourges that beset the Jewish people, including Henry Fords malign propaganda, as well as Nazis operating in the United States. It was also an active participant in the civil-rights movement of the 1960s.

In market contrast, the ADL now under the leadership of CEO and national director Jonathan Greenblatt has formed an increasingly intertwined alliance with an antisemitic leader whose incendiary rhetoric against Jews in large part led to the worst pogrom in American history.

In 2020, the ADL joined other organizations in the incipient Stop Hate for Profit campaign designed to purge social media of hate and what they deemed disinformation. To join forces for this endeavor, Greenblatt turned to none other than the Rev. Al Sharpton.

In the wake of the Great Depression, when U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sought to form the Securities and Exchange Commission, he tapped the inveterate market manipulator and insider trader Joseph Kennedy as one of his commissioners, and who became its first head. The reasoning was said to be that few knew better of the evils that caused the financial markets to crash.

A similar argument could be made for Sharpton. Kennedys example is in stark contrast to Greenblatts confederate in that he recognized the ruination that he engaged in caused to the nations economy. He thus sought to curtail it.

The only change with Sharpton has been on the surface. His appearance is more polished and his language muted as he basks in the elite strata of society that has been accorded him.

The most recent iteration of the ADLs feigned redemption of Sharpton was the Jewish groups co-sponsoring his National Action Networks March on Washington to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s historic I Have a Dream speech. This is especially ironic in that King was genuinely philosemitic and an admirer of Israel as a beacon of democracy.

The latest March on Washington had the additional unfortunate confluence of transpiring during the same week as the anniversary of the 1991 Crown Heights riots in which Sharpton was a central figure.

Presently on the ADLs website, the March on Washington redux is a featured article. Any reference to the anniversary of the historical tragedy in Crown Heights is conspicuously absent.

The biography of Greenblatt on the organizations site shows no reference to involvement in Jewish communal mattersmuch less combating antisemitismbefore he took over the helm of this historical institution.

Greenblatts predecessor Abe Foxman, a Holocaust survivor, did graduate work at the Jewish Theological Seminary and toiled as a lawyer for the ADL for 22 years before becoming national director of the organization. Though it was well-known that Foxmans political affinities were liberal, he was widely admired for his generally even-handed approach to running the organization. Still, even Foxman had a blind spot when it came to the Crown Heights conflagration.

Foxman initially failed to perceive the violent rioting for the pogrom it was and unduly delayed the ADLs defense of the beleaguered Chassidic community. To his credit, Foxman promptly apologized for this error in judgment.

There is no sign that Greenblatt will say that he is sorry for being in league with a man who egged on the shedding of Jewish blood. The head of the ADL also does not appear at all perturbed by his allys subsequent vile verbal attack on the Jewish owner of a clothing store in Harlem that inspired a mass murder nor does he seem troubled that when on a trip to Israel said he was in hell.

Some of Sharptons defenders contend that he has had a change of heart, but there is no evidence to substantiate this assertion. The only semblance of an admission on Sharptons part is that he has relayed the anecdote of Coretta Scott King chastising him for using cheap rhetoric to get cheap applause. He also noted that he was supposedly appalled by the Palestinians pay-for-slay policy. Why he just realized that is anyones guess.

On the Jewish calendar, as we approach Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, we are taught that it is a time to perform teshuvah or repentance. It is a requisite of teshuvah that we specifically acknowledge our actions and the harms they have caused.

There is also precious little indication that Greenblatt will engage in teshuvah for the serious harm he has caused the once great organization that he now heads.

During the Crown Heights riots, Rabbi Shea Hecht worked across racial lines to reach a harmonious resolution of the conflict. He subsequently co-chaired the Crown Heights Coalition with African-American Dr. Edison O. Jackson.

Asked about the ADLs current partnership with Sharpton, Rabbi Hecht said, It is shocking, but then again not. The ADL was not there for us when the riots happened. Still, in some ways what is going on now is worse. The great sage Hillel the Elder famously asked, If I am not for me then who will be for me? It does not appear that the ADL is fully there for the Jews in Crown Heights. While I believe that anyone can become our ally, it does not appear that this is being done the right way.

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The ADL betrays history and the people it pledges to protect - JNS.org

Leo Frank

OPINION: Authenticity isn’t a box-ticking exercise it honours … – Jewish News

In our rapidly evolving media-saturated age, the demand for authentic representation in film, television, and theatre has intensified. Debates surrounding JewFacea term highlighting the issue of casting non-Jewish actors in quintessential Jewish roleshave grown particularly heated.

Amid these discussions, its crucial to understand why authenticity is pivotal in representation. Authenticity isnt a mere box-ticking exercise; its about capturing the essence, emotions, and lived experiences of a community.

To delve into this nuanced topic, I spoke with Yuval Shwartsman, an Israeli actor who is masterfully portrays Leo Frank on stage in the renowned musical Parade.

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The story of Leo Frank, unjustly accused of a young girls murder in 1913 Georgia, is a stark reflection of the deep-seated anti-Semitic sentiments prevalent in the American South. Its not just a tale of one mans ordeal; it reflects a societal attitude steeped in prejudice.

Yuval Shwartsman as Leo Frank

Shwartsmans depiction transcends mere characterization, adding layers of authenticity. He taps into the rich fabric of Jewish history and culture, giving Leos role a depth that deeply resonates with audiences. The story, saturated with sensationalism and reflective of the eras prevalent anti-Semitism, mirrors many of todays societal issues. The subsequent rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the birth of the Anti-Defamation League serve as potent reminders of the lasting impact of such events.

How, then, does Shwartsman, with his deep-rooted Jewish heritage, relate to the tangible anti-Semitism Frank experienced? Being raised Jewish, especially in Israel, grants a unique viewpoint, Yuval shared. Our shared history, intertwined with my familys tales from Moldova up until the 1970s and my personal experiences, offers me a rich understanding.

Leo Frank at his trial.

The Guildford School of Acting (GSA) has become a magnet for Israeli actors keen to hone their skills. Shachar Shamai, the visionary behind Jewish Cabaret, brilliantly fuses humor and music to explore and uplift Jewish identity, highlighting its diverse facets. Similarly, Michael Einavs Audition series on YouTube humorously critiques deep-rooted casting stereotypes, exposing the entertainment industrys inherent biases.

Another astute GSA alumna, whom Ill refer to as Rae, drew attention to Falsetto, a West End production criticized for seemingly marginalizing authentic Jewish voices. Authentic representation isnt just important; its essential, she expressed. While character portrayal is an art, truly understanding and internalizing their essence demands depth. Its not that all Jewish characters must be played by Jewish actors, but a production requires Jewish insight within its team.

The challenges extend to Hollywood. Recent debates around Bradley Coopers decision to use a prosthetic nose in the Bernstein biopic, Helen Mirrens celebrated yet scrutinized role in Golda, and the criticisms from some Jewish fans regarding Marvels portrayal of the Jewish identities of superheroes Moon Knight and Wanda Maximoff underscore the industrys broader representation struggles. Such choices, while artistically noteworthy, spark deep reflection on balancing artistic freedom with cultural genuineness.

Rabbi Alex Goldberg

From my perspective, Shwartsmans poignant portrayal took me back to a Hollywood set I once toured. The overt inaccuracies in a Shabbat dinner scene underscored the industrys occasional oversight of genuine cultural subtleties.

Once we replaced a Jesuit prayer book with a Jewish one, removed inappropriate food items, and instructed renowned actors on the Kiddish, the scene became flawless. Clearly, consensus in representation remains a challenge.

Ive witnessed both Jewish and non-Jewish actors bring the character of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof to life compellingly, proving that talent is boundaryless. Authentic representation isnt just about casting; it emphasizes grasping and honouring cultural nuances, avoiding the dangers of cultural appropriation.

The backlash against JewFace and similar representational missteps is not just about political correctness. Its a call for respect, understanding, and acknowledgment of a communitys history, pain, and joy.

Representation matters because stories are powerful. They shape perceptions, influence beliefs, and have the potential to either perpetuate stereotypes or challenge and dismantle them.

Therefore, the onus lies with filmmakers, producers, casting directors, and actors to approach roles with the diligence, respect, and depth they demand.

By weaving authenticity into the heart of narratives, we not only enhance the quality of art but also amplify its impact, ensuring it resonates on a universally human level.

In a world striving for inclusivity and acceptance, its high time the entertainment industry heeds these calls for genuine representation, as it holds the power to foster connections, understanding, and mutual respect. As Yuval wisely put it, Raw talent can enthrall, but when coupled with genuine connections, stories rise above mere visuals to touch hearts and linger in shared memories.

The thunderous applause during Parades preview night wasnt just for the skill displayedit celebrated the authenticity, depth, and passion actors like Yuval bring to their roles. As the entertainment realm evolves, the conversation must shift from mere representation to a profound, enriching understanding, steering clear of reductive tropes like JewFace.

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OPINION: Authenticity isn't a box-ticking exercise it honours ... - Jewish News

Leo Frank

Musk defames the ADL – The Hill

If ever there was a case to be made against the wild excesses of social media, consider Elon Musk’s latest attack on one of the most venerable civil rights organizations in America, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, last week, Musk “liked a tweet by an Irish white supremacist calling on the platform to #BanTheADL” and then “asked users whether he should put such a ban to a poll.” The hashtag been used increasingly by white nationalists and raging antisemites. On September 4th, he threatened to sue the ADL for his own company’s revenue losses.

For the uninformed, the Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to “stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” The mission was made clear in the trial that same year of Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman convicted of the rape and murder of a 13-year-old female employee in Georgia. Frank’s trial is a case study in antisemitism advanced and accelerated under the cloak of law. When the governor reduced Frank’s death sentence to life in prison, a hate-filled mob, including many paragons of the community, dragged Frank from his prison cell and lynched him.

For over a hundred years, the ADL has commanded the respect of Republicans and Democrats, the left and the right, Jews and gentiles, leaders foreign and domestic. It hasn’t confined itself solely to combatting antisemitism, but has fought for civil rights across the board. The organization stood with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. It helped to mobilize support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. In the 1980s, it worked with the Japanese and Asian and Pacific American communities to highlight Japanese relocation and incarceration in internment camps during World War II.

Who can impeach the unimpeachable? Sully the virtuous?

Elon Musk. He’s found a new low, appearing to be anti-anti-defamation.

It should come as no surprise. History informs us that the propagation of bigotry rests on a strategic imperative: discredit and defame those who expose the bigots. Soften them up so their claims have no sting. It makes the ADL a tempting target. The organization has tracked and uncovered massive spikes in racist, antisemitic and homophobic content and harassment since Musk bought Twitter (now known as X) last year and restored extremist accounts banned under the previous management.

It’s a disturbing, destructive fight. In May, Musk clashed with the ADL after it took him to task for echoing antisemitic tropes in his attack on George Soros, the liberal Jewish megadonor. In July, he sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate for its reports on Twitter.

In one of the most chilling of Musk’s diatribes, he claimed that the ADL has been “hijacked by the woke mind virus.” You don’t have to be a historian of 1930s Nazi propaganda to feel queasy at the parallel, intended or not: Jews are somehow alien, contaminated, bound together in some supernatural force that threatens our very way of life. I’m not saying that Musk supports Nazis or neo-Nazis, but he seems to have no problem flirting with the rhetorical invective they’ve employed: Soros, internationalists, viruses — we’ve heard it all before.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s CEO, responded to Musk’s recent attacks about banning the group from X, pointing out the connection between the #BanTheADL hashtag and “in the real world when masked men marched in Florida on Saturday brazenly waving flags adorned with swastikas and chanting ‘Ban the ADL.’” Greenblatt was referring to an antisemitic demonstration by neo-Nazis and white supremacists outside Disney World.

Musk, of course, condones it all under the banner of free-speech absolutism. It’s a maddeningly hypocritical defense. How can it be that one of the smartest entrepreneurs on Earth doesn’t comprehend the glaring, laughable disconnect: arguing for absolute free speech while flirting with a ban of the ADL?

The argument of “free-speech absolutism” was swiped aside by the dictum of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in the Supreme Court decision on Schenck v. United States in 1919. The opinion held that the defendant’s speech opposing the draft during World War I was not protected under the First Amendment because it presented a clear and present danger. “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.”

In the case of Elon Musk, the clear and present danger is even more serious. He owns a social media empire tantamount to owning all the theaters, plus the fire departments, plus the manufacturers of matches and gasoline.

So much power concentrated in the hands of one person requires, if not decency, at least accountability. Even Musk’s Teslas have self-correcting navigation to ensure they don’t veer dangerously across guardrails. Elon Musk requires the same.

Steve Israel represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives over eight terms and was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. He is now director of the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. Follow him @RepSteveIsrael.

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Musk defames the ADL - The Hill

Mary Phagan

Top 10 Broadway Musicals That Seem Great for Kids but Aren’t – Listverse

Musical theater can be a magical thing for a child. The first time they see Wickeds Elphaba rise to the top of the theater, or the chandelier come crashing down in Phantom, can be a memory theyll never forget.

Of course, some shows might not make such a great impact. Occasionally, parents have a tendency to make rash decisions, and some of those end up turning into nights at the theater with kids, watching shows they probably shouldnt be seeing.

These shows arent necessarily bad for children to see. Still, because of somethingits title, famous song, etc.parents may be misled into believing the musical is something its not. And that can lead to an uncomfortable performance for all involved.

So lets head backstage and look at ten Broadway musicals that arent the ones you want your kids watching.

Related: Top 10 Broadway Musicals Youve Never Heard Of

Although its one of the most famous musicals of all time, it might not be the best way to introduce your child to the world of theater.

Cats has a famously convoluted plot that may be difficult for most kids to understand. (Im 23 and barely understand it myself.) In general, the idea is that a group of cats in London are each competing to go to the Heaviside Layer, which is their version of heaven.

Although the show can certainly be a lot of fun, its quite confusing, and a child may not understand whats happening. To top it off, in an effort to transport the audience from a theater to this magical world where cats seem to rule the earth, most productions utilize heavy makeup and interact with the audience when they can, which can be unsettling, to say the least.[1]

The original Broadway production of Spring Awakening starred Jonathon Groff and Lea Michele, both cast members of the hit TV series Glee. Although Glee isnt necessarily a show for children, it was popular with tweens upon its first release and remains so today.

Naturally, these tweens might find themselves drawn to a Broadway musical that featured both Groff and Michele, but Spring Awakening may not be the best idea. Based on the play of the same name from the 1890s, the show is about a young girl (played by Michele) who is raped by a boy (played by Groff). She becomes pregnant and must get a botched abortion, which ends up killing her.

Side plots include incest and sexual abuse from parents, as well as suicide: Pretty far from Groff and Micheles time on Glee, when they just had to worry about their glee club making it to nationals.[2]

Along with Cats, Hair is one of the most pivotal and famous musicals of all time. But despite this distinction, few people know much about the actual plot. Its not just zany singers in wigs: The show is a political art piece criticizing warthe Vietnam War specifically.

Our main characters do drugs, have sex, and swear throughout the entire show. It is integral to the plot, which aims to show what hippie tribes were really doing and talking about during the age of Flower Power.

But the main reason parents should try to steer clear of Hair is one particular scene in which the actors are presented fully nude. This might not be a big deal to some families, but its definitely something to be aware of before bringing the kids (or the in-laws!).[3]

Dont let the name fool you: Parade is not a lighthearted night at the theater.

The titular parade isnt the fun-filled extravaganza youd expect. Rather, it refers to the parade that the people of Atlanta, Georgia, plan to throw once Leo Frank is hanged for raping and murdering a young girl.

Based on true historical events, Parade follows Frank as hes accused of this heinous crime and the gross injustice that follows. Besides the devastating story of Mary Phagan, the girl whos been murdered, Parade also takes a look at the extreme anti-Semitism that caused Frank to be accused and his trial to be sensationalized and botched.

All in all, this is one of the heaviest and most heart-wrenching shows to be mounted on the Great White Way and one that adults still have trouble fully comprehending. Anyone whos done a bit of research on the show would know that going in, but if someones bought tickets based on the title alone good luck.[4]

I know, its almost sacrilegious to say that the iconic West Side Story isnt great for young ones, but its true.

Plenty of kids media is based on Shakespeare. Take Gnomeo and Juliet, for example. But while Gnomeo and Juliet takes Shakespeares tragedy and turns it into a garden trinket-themed farce, West Side Story somehow makes it even more violent.

Everyone knows the main songs from the show: Maria, One Hand, One Heart, and I Feel Pretty. These songs may seem hopeful and innocent, but the plot is not. The love story is only one part of the show, as the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks results in extreme racism and violence, culminating with the violent death of the protagonist. And thats not even mentioning the several references to rape, including one where the beloved character Anita is almost sexually attacked by the Jets.

So maybe stick with the gnome version for the first few years.[5]

Yet another misleading title.

The fun home in question is short for a funeral home, where the main character, Alison, lives with her brothers and parents.

This musical is a biography of writer and artist Alison Bechdel. Today, shes a lesbian icon, but in her youth, she was just a young girl struggling with her sexuality.

She and her brothers romp around the funeral home, playfully introducing the audience to aneurysm hooks and smelling salts. And while there are some sexual overtones from Alisons first girlfriend, Its not the fun home or sex that makes this show a little too adult for young ones.

Turns out Alisons father is also struggling with his sexuality and deals with it by going out cruising and hooking up with barely legal men. Alison tries in vain to get her father to both accept her and himself, but in the end, he chooses suicide over facing the truth.

Not very fun. [6]

Dont let the exclamation point fool you: Oliver! is no walk in the park.

People often assume this adaption of Dickenss Oliver Twist is a childrens show. Its an easy mistake to make, considering the show is named after a young boy, and much of the cast is made up of children. And Im not saying that children dont enjoy or shouldnt see Oliver!just that some people may not be aware of how dark the content truly is.

The plot follows Oliver, abandoned at birth, as he weaves his way through Victorian London. The original book was written as a critique to show how horribly poor people and orphans lived on the streets in those days, and it certainly shows. Oliver is put through trials and tribulations, such as being kept in a coffin, being sold to whoever wants him, and eventually surviving a brutal murder attempt.

Nancy, a prostitute, is one of the only true friends Oliver makes in his time on the streets. So, of course, she winds up brutally murdered by her boyfriend, leaving Oliver alone to grieve at the end of the show.[7]

Theres a reason the kids are played by adults in this one.

This musical focuses on a group of children who are brought together by, you guessed it, a spelling bee. Each one loves spelling, and each has a reason for why they absolutely need to win.

Although the show starts off fairly tame, with the kids arguing about the difficulty of spelling and getting to know each other, it quickly takes a darker turn. From learning that one childs family openly mocks him for his stupidity to two girls breaking down over the pressure they face at home and from school, Putnams characters become three-dimensional faster than you can spell character development.

When contestant Olive is asked to spell the word chimerical, which means wildly fanciful, she begins a daydream song in which her parents repeat I love you and apologize for abandoning her. At the end, of course, her parents (who did not come to the bee) fade away, leaving her alone onstage after one of the most heartbreaking songs in musical theater. It is during this song that the audience also learns Olive may be being abused by her father at home.

But dont worry, its not all sad. Just look at the Act 2 opener: My Unfortunate Erection.[8]

Into the Woods might be fine for kids as long as you leave after Act I. In fact, this is so true that the officially licensed junior version of the show only includes the first hour and a half.

Anyone familiar with Stephen Sondheims other works would know that he generally writes complicated plays that tackle intimate issues that children wouldnt find particularly interesting. To be fair, though, with main characters like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Prince Charming, and Rapunzel, its easy to see why parents take their kids along to see Into the Woods.

Theres nothing that necessarily makes Into the Woods inappropriate, per se. No foul language or graphic scenes of violence or sex. But unless your kids are mature enough to watch Prince Charming cheat on Cinderella and Red Riding Hoods mother die, its best to steer clear.

Its a fairy tale with no happy ending and some lessons that are hard to swallow no matter how old you are.[9]

Much like cartoons, puppetry has become nearly exclusively associated with childrens entertainment. But as TV shows like South Park have shown us, animation can be very adult.

Avenue Q is to puppets what The Simpsons was to TV: Proof that any art form can be made for grown-ups. With cuddly, fuzzy main characters splashed across advertisements, its an easy mistake for parents to think Avenue Q is a family-friendly Sesame Street-type of show. Which it is in a way.

But instead of teaching kids to tie their shoes and count to ten, this musical instructs adults what to do with a useless college degree, how to use the internet to find porn, and how to address your roommates sexuality. The show is a satire of Sesame Street, but unfortunately, not everyone does their homework before seeing a show. So many parents have unsuspectingly brought children that the official website of the original Broadway production had to add a disclaimer that young children should not attend.[10]

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Top 10 Broadway Musicals That Seem Great for Kids but Aren't - Listverse

Leo Frank

Editor’s notes: Why they attack the ADL – The Jerusalem Post

In August 2020, a coalition of 100 progressive organizations launched a campaign under the hashtag #DropTheADL.

We are writing to ask you to reconsider the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as a partner in social justice work, the groups wrote in an open letter titled, The ADL is not an ally.

The American Jewish civil rights group and antisemitism watchdog, they alleged, has a history and ongoing pattern of attacking social justice movements led by communities of color, queer people, immigrants, Muslims, Arabs, and other marginalized groups, while aligning itself with police, right-wing leaders, and perpetrators of state violence. More disturbing, it has often conducted those attacks under the banner of civil rights.

This largely unpublicized history has come increasingly to light as activists work to make sense of the ADLs role in condemning the Movement for Black Lives, Palestinian rights organizing, and Congressional Representative Ilhan Omar, among others, the groups charged.

Notably, many of the coalition members which included such groups as American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Movement for Black Lives have been repeatedly accused of antisemitism, and several have been listed by the United Arab Emirates as terrorist organizations due to their ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and its terrorist offshoot, Hamas.

At the time, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that the #DropTheADL campaign uses innuendo and untruths to libel our organization and assert that we somehow are not a civil rights organization.

An obvious falsehood, one disproved by more than a century of activism, he noted.

Fast forward three years, to this past week.

Elon Musk arguably one of the most visible and influential people in the world has been amplifying a campaign by far-right figures and groups to have the ADL removed from the social media platform he owns, while engaging in his own obsessive tirade against the group.

Musk has long had what might be described as a vendetta against the ADL, which appears to stem from its criticism of his decision to reinstate former President Donald Trumps account on Twitter, now known as X. His tone has alternated between the playful and the ominous, but the overall thrust has been that the ADL is stifling free speech and engaging in defamation of its own.

When Musk compared Jewish billionaire and left-wing donor George Soros to a comic book villain and wrote that he wants to erode the very fabric of civilization and hates humanity in May of this year, Greenblatt accused him of emboldening extremists who engage in antisemitic conspiracy theories.

ADL should just drop the A, Musk responded.

Last Tuesday, Greenblatt met with X CEO Linda Yaccarino to discuss the ADLs concerns about hate speech on the platform. I appreciated her reaching out and Im hopeful the service will improve, he tweeted the next day. ADL will be vigilant and give her and Elon Musk credit if the service gets better... and reserve the right to call them out until it does.

Within hours, the hashtag #BanTheADL appeared on the platform and was swiftly circulated by an assortment of neo-Nazis and white supremacists. By the next day, it had become the top trending topic on the platform.

Rather than shutting down the conversation, Musk amplified it.

The ADLs favorite tactic is financially blackmailing social media companies into removing free speech on their platforms, tweeted Keith Woods, an Irish white nationalist who has described himself as a raging antisemite. Why should they have a platform on X to hold Elon Musk to ransom? Its time to #BanTheADL.

Musk expressed his approval for Woods sentiment by liking the tweet, and then went on to share a tweet by another activist lauding the #BanTheADL campaign.

Perhaps we should run a poll on this? Musk wrote last Saturday.

In the days since, as the platform has been flooded with tweets bearing grossly antisemitic messaging and the hashtag #BanTheADL, Musk has been sharing articles attacking the ADL from both the right and the left and liking videos mocking its approach to combating hate speech online.

On Tuesday, he threatened legal action.

To clear our platforms name on the matter of antisemitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League, he tweeted. Oh, the irony!

Between #BanTheADL and #DropTheADL, the organization is under assault from both the far right and the hard left. The question is why and why now.

As one of the oldest anti-hate groups in America and one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in the world, the ADL has long been at the forefront of efforts to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate, as well as defending Jews and other minority groups across the globe. Founded in 1913, after the contentious and wrongful conviction of Jewish factory superintendent Leo Frank in the murder of one of his Christian employees, the ADL has positioned itself as a leader in efforts against purveyors of hate and intolerance in America, from Henry Ford to Kanye West.

For decades, the ADL was synonymous with its longtime director, Abe Foxman, a fiery orator and vocal advocate. In 2015, Foxman stepped down and was replaced by Jonathan Greenblatt, a successful entrepreneur and business executive who had previously served in the Clinton and Obama administrations.

While some have charged that the organization has veered to the left in recent years Musk said this week that it had been hijacked by [a] woke mind virus others accuse it of being unduly protective of Israel and critical of its detractors under the guise of civil rights.

The truth is that the ADLs identification with the Jewish community and its tendency to shed light on uncomfortable truths make the organization an easy mark for those looking to attack Jews but wary of saying so out loud.

This isnt actually about the ADL, Greenblatt told me this week. As often is the case, were simply a stand-in for the Jews or the Zionists.

This is not about banning the ADL, per se though trying to disempower and disarm ADL in this moment of surging antisemitism is deliberate and evil its really about banning the Jews ability to defend themselves and trying to make all of us cower, to intimidate us, to make us afraid, he said.

Hes right.

That the attacks on the ADL are coming from both the far right and hard left perfectly illustrates the bipolar nature of contemporary antisemitism. Long considered the province of the extreme right, Jew hatred today is also rampant in many corners of the progressive left, where Israel and Zionism are scorned with unparalleled fervor. As perhaps the most visible Jewish organization in America, and one that is both unabashed and effective in its advocacy for the Jewish community, the ADL serves as a convenient target for the fire currently being unleashed on it from both extremes of the political map.

The ADL is a totem, a symbol. Just as, to antisemites, Israel is the Jew in national form and George Soros and the late Sheldon Adelson are the embodiment of the Jew in human form, the ADL is the Jew in organizational form too powerful, too loud, too unwilling to take their abuse lying down.

While no organization is perfect and the ADL has made its share of missteps over the years, the fact that it is being targeted by two parallel campaigns, from the two primary sources of modern-day antisemitism, that share the same goal of silencing and marginalizing it should be the greatest indication that the organization is doing something right.

They attack the ADL because, in their eyes, the ADL represents the Jews. And that should give us every reason we need to support it.

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Editor's notes: Why they attack the ADL - The Jerusalem Post

Leo Frank

OPINION: Holocaust survivor’s message is a call to action for us all – The Atlanta Journal Constitution

A few days before 95-year-old Esther Basch, the Honey Girl of Auschwitz, came to town to share her story as a Holocaust survivor, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta received a bomb threat.

The federations building in Midtown was evacuated. After a two-hour investigation, police determined the bomb threat was a hoax.

This incident took place the day before the 108th anniversary of the killing of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was lynched in Marietta by an antisemitic mob.

That anniversary had barely passed before antisemitic flyers, stuffed in plastic bags, were distributed throughout the Cobb County city. Similar incidents had previously occurred in Kennesaw and Acworth, according to news reports.

This was the environment that awaited Basch and her daughter, Rachel Turet, both of whom live in Arizona. They have been touring the country nonstop for the past year to share Baschs message of love how she has managed to forgive the Nazis who imprisoned her and murdered her father and countless others. She came at a time when some people seem intent on fomenting hate.

Last year in the U.S., antisemitic incidents climbed to the highest level in more than four decades, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Incidents increased by 36% over the previous year.

In May, the Biden Administration released the first U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. Meanwhile, in Georgia, where incidents increased 63% over the previous year, state lawmakers in the last legislative session failed to bring to a vote a bill that would have defined antisemitism and included it in the states hate crime law. The change would allow for harsher criminal penalties when Jewish people are targeted in crimes.

Jewish institutions in some cities, including Atlanta, have turned to community-based programs under the direction of Secure Community Network, a nationwide tracking system that helps assess threats and set up protocols.

I appreciate and admire Baschs ability to forgive people who committed unspeakable horrors. But, when we spoke by phone, I was angry and disgusted about the inability of our leaders to address acts of hatred with consequences that might actually serve as a deterrent. I am self-aware enough to know that I have no compassion for perpetrators of hate speech and hate crimes. I wanted to understand Baschs journey to forgiveness.

Antisemitism is growing, a cause of concern for everyone who knows history, she said. It makes me feel very, very sad.

Basch began publicly sharing her story of being held in a Nazi concentration camp after meeting one of the American soldiers who liberated the camp.

When I speak, it feels like a burden is off my shoulders, she said before an event held at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Sandy Springs. I dont remember what I had for breakfast, but I remember every second of my past.

On Baschs 16th birthday, she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz. When they were pulled from their lives, her mother was still carrying the eggs that she planned to use to bake a cake for her.

Basch, who grew up in Czechoslovakia, would later learn her father, a rabbi, was sent directly to his death. It was her father, she said, who taught her to love people, regardless of their race or religion, and to use positive thinking to lead a happy life.

She said miracles kept her alive during her time in Auschwitz and at the labor camps, where she was held for more than nine months before U.S. soldiers liberated prisoners.

When the soldiers invited them to collect whatever they wanted from town, Basch found a jar of honey and used her fingers to lift its sweetness into her mouth. Eating the honey made her so ill that she had to stay in the infirmary for a month to regain her health, earning her the moniker the Honey Girl of Auschwitz.

Survivor accounts like Baschs are increasingly important as the history of the Holocaust fades in our collective memory. Rabbi Ari Sollish, director of the Torah Center ATL, said hearing stories from people like Basch people who have maintained a positive outlook on life can serve as inspiration for us all, particularly those who are young.

The point is not to bring everyone back 80 years, he said. It is about education and positivity and love and sensitivity and how we should be there for each other.

We have seen recent examples of this in the outpouring of support for members of the Jewish community when acts of hatred have occurred in metro Atlanta, Macon and other parts of Georgia.

Basch said she has felt that same kind of support from the people she has met during speaking engagements the neo-Nazi who begged her forgiveness, the children who promise to never forget and the adults who find her forgiveness contagious enough to make changes in their own lives.

If I dont forgive, if I hold a grudge, I only hurt myself, Basch said. I cannot forget the horrors they put me through, but I can forgive.

Read more on the Real Life blog (www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/) and find Nedra on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn) and Twitter (@nrhoneajc) or email her at nedra.rhone@ajc.com.

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OPINION: Holocaust survivor's message is a call to action for us all - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Mary Phagan

Holocaust survivor faces torrent of online abuse on Elon Musk’s X … – Ynetnews

Lucy Lipiner is no stranger to antisemitism. A 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, she was forced to live through one of the worst atrocities to ever take place in human history. Yet her lived experience still hasnt prevented the torrent of antisemitic abuse that she, and all Jewish people, currently are experiencing on social media in particular on Elon Musks X (formerly known as Twitter). This week was no exception.

Lipiner, who boasts just under 30,000 followers on the platform, says she regularly uses social media to engage and push back against the rising antisemitism that she is seeing.

2 View gallery

Holocaust survivor Lucy Lipiner regularly uses social media to call out Holocaust denial and revisionism

(Photo: Tel Aviv Institute)

I was appalled at the rise in antisemitism that seemed more blatant less hidden than in the past and more like what we had seen before the war in Europe. I felt, as a survivor, compelled to speak up, she told Ynet.

And she has definitely spoken up. Lipiner regularly uses social media to call out Holocaust denial and revisionism, using her own personal story from Nazi-occupied Poland, as well as her own collection of family photos from the Holocaust, to share the truth.

From taking on former UFC fighter Jake Shields for spreading antisemitic conspiracies to calling out anti-feminist right-wing pundit Pearl Davis for her antisemitic song, to exposing the antisemitism in UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albaneses tweets, Lipiner is extremely active in the conversation on the X platform.

Lipiner considers anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism.

I also thought the rise of BDS was simply a veiled form of antisemitism in the guise of anti-Zionism, which increasingly felt like nothing less than todays version of age-old hatred of Jews, she said.

This week, when she published a post on X about the anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank, she was met with a massive onslaught of white supremacist antisemitism in response. The result was a community note a fact-checking tool meant to add context to tweets - which incorrectly stated that Leo Frank, the victim of the lynching, murdered and raped a 13-year-old girl. In fact, Frank was wrongly convicted for the rape and murder of Mary Phagan, in a case that is widely believed to be permeated with blatant antisemitism akin to the Dreyfus affair.

I tweeted about the 108th anniversary of the lynching of an innocent Jewish man Leo Frank who was accused of murder amidst a horrifically antisemitic community environment. His lynchers were never brought to Justice. A community note says it all: antisemitism is still alive and kicking today, she said.

Beyond the community note, the responses to her tweet were also antisemitic. One comment read: Gee its almost like they were kicked out of 109 countries for a reason Another: You don't have to be in colonized Palestine to defend the indefensible, you simply have to be a zionist.

While hundreds pushed back and eventually the X platform removed the community note, the evidence of the antisemitic mob remains. Lipiner said that she routinely receives ugly antisemitic threats and messages in her private messages on social media as well, including users mocking her with Holocaust jokes about gas chambers.

Hate-filled trolls seem to enjoy engaging with me. Mostly they deny the Holocaust ever happened or diminish it, compare it to other events- or a favorite of trolls is to co-opt the term Nazi, using it to describe Israel and its right to defend itself against terror, she said.

In another message, Lipiner shared with Ynet, an X user wrote to tell her that she is not a real Jew and that the Torah says the Jews were and are a black race of people. You're not black so stop spreading lies to the public. We are sick and tired of you stealing our history. Not the real Jews is a phrase most commonly used by Black supremacists including Louis Farrakhans Nation of Islam and the Black Hebrews movement - claiming Black people, and not Jews, are the true chosen people of God.

2 View gallery

Holocaust survivor Lucy Lipiner pushes back against antisemitism on social media

(Photo: Tel Aviv Institute)

Yet in the face of such vile conversation, Lipiner isnt backing down; instead, shes doubling down.

The trolls honestly dont bother me. Ive dealt with so much worse, and I guess I must be relevant, she joked. But she is concerned about the level of vitriol on social media, in particular X.

On paper, these platforms may look fair and as if they are searching for the correct balance on the fine line between free speech and hate speech, but in Elon Musks case I think he has shown his true personal feelings and that is influencing what he allows to stand on X, she explained.

Concerns of antisemitism and other forms of cyberbullying have only intensified over the past week, with Musk announcing that he intends to do away with the blocking feature completely.

Despite the challenges, however, Lipiner sees participation in social media as a critical tool.

The role of social media is simple, she said, "to educate, educate, educate. People are reacting to this instantaneous, immediate gratification with less thought than ever before. Slogans carry enormous weight on social media allowing people to latch on to antisemitism and racist attitudes as if its the flavor of the month.

To help push back against the harassment, threats and intimidation, which have become almost expected for a Jewish person on social media today, Lipiner has partnered with the Tel Aviv Institute to help Jewish and non-Jewish influencers combat antisemitism online.

Hen Mazzig, co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute told Ynet: We work with over one hundred Jewish online content creators and influencers, but no one has the stamina that Lucy has to fight antisemitism online. Every time she speaks at our signature content creator laboratories the participants are blown away by her courage, tenacity and tireless dedication to speaking truth to power.

Lipiners best advice for those in the fight against antisemitism is to: Have a thick skin, do your research, be as honest as possible, and always work toward a greater good, even if it seems like an impossible dream.

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Holocaust survivor faces torrent of online abuse on Elon Musk's X ... - Ynetnews

Leo Frank

The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank – Atlanta History Center

The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank Atlanta History Center

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The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank - Atlanta History Center

Leo Frank

The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank – Atlanta History Center

The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank Atlanta History Center

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The Life and Times of Lucille and Leo Frank - Atlanta History Center

Leo Frank

Cobb librarian discusses the lynching of Leo Frank – MDJOnline.com

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