While the year 2022 saw continued progress in the battle against antisemitism and in developing thriving Jewish life, multiple areas, new and old, challenged the Jewish community.
Troubling trends included a humanitarian crisis and surge in antisemitism, as the result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the United Nations continued bias towards the state of Israel.
Ukraine and Russia conflict causes refugee crisis, surge in antisemitism
In February, Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and causing Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II.
Under the leadership of WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, WJC continued to work closely with, and actively support, our affiliated communities in Ukraine and those countries bordering it, in order to provide humanitarian relief and help refugees who crossed the borders. Special targeted assistance was also provided to Jewish community members of the Association of Jewish Communities of Small Towns of Ukraine (Kyiv and Cherkasy regions), who also members of Vaad. The Vaad, together with the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine, also organized a program of assistance to small national communities that were experiencing difficulties because of the hostilities.
As has been historically common in times of great uncertainty, antisemitism surged during the conflict. A report by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) found that disinformation and hatred against Jews has “flourished” online since the start of the conflict.
In addition to the increase in online manifestations of hatred against the Jewish people, several antisemitic statements were made by senior Russian officials, including comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Hitler had Jewish origins, as well as Assistant Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Alexi Pavlov calling the Chabad Lubavitch movement a “neo-pagan cult.” WJC President Lauder condemned both of those statements and worked closely with Jewish community leaders in Russia and Ukraine to monitor antisemitism and ensure the safety of the local Jewish community as much as possible.
WJC and its leaders around the world have warned of the possibility Jews being scapegoated during or after the conflict. WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern cautioned that "the impact of the war in Ukraine, the rising cost of living, and economic uncertainty will surely all add fuel to the fire of antisemitism that will attack us."
With help of celebrities, antisemitism enters mainstream
Antisemitic conspiracy myths were pushed into the mainstream in 2022 by celebrities, athletes, and politicians. Jewish communities continued to face serious threats to their existence and well-being and require significant support in order to ensure their ability to conduct communal activities and safeguard the physical security of their members.
The following are just a few examples of high-profile antisemitic incidents:
- In January, a 44-year-old British Pakistani man armed with a pistol took four people hostage in the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Fortunately. hostages were eventually able to leave the synagogue safely, and the perpetrator was neutralized. According to the FBI, the perpetrator demanded that Aafia Siddiqui, an alleged al-Qaeda operative, be freed in exchange for the hostages. A livestream of the synagogue's services broadcast much of the ongoing situation, including the perpetrator’s statement that he chose to take hostages in a synagogue because the U.S. "only cares about Jewish lives" and because "Jews control the world. Jews control the media. Jews control the banks."
- In June, a German, high-profile art event allegedly solicited participants who supported a boycott of Israel. Exhibits included a pig labeled “Mossad” and an Orthodox Jew labeled “SS.” While the antisemitic vitriol was shocking, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on the organizers of the event to share the German government’s understanding that recognition of the State of Israel is non-negotiable, and that a boycott of Israel is tantamount to denying its right to exist. WJC Executive Vice President Stern praised Steinmeier for his demonstration of moral clarity, writing to him, “Your words will be heard by the Jewish community worldwide, in Germany, Israel and beyond. I trust that the course you have set with this speech will set the tone, not only for Germany and the world of art and culture, but also for the international community.”
- Berkeley Law students voted to ban speakers who support Israel's right to exist. WJC President Lauder responded that across America, "student groups are intimidating Jewish students on campus, likening Zionism to discrimination. Their goal is simple: to malign and vilify Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East."
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Since early October, rapper Kanye West had made several antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks, including blaming “Jewish media” and “Jewish Zionists” for numerous alleged misdeeds, stating that “Jewish people have owned the Black voice” and that “the Jewish community, especially in the music industry…they’ll take us and milk us till we die.” As the year came to a close, West continued to make antisemitic remarks, including praising Adolf Hitler.
- Later in October, there were antisemitic manifestations and displays in Jacksonville, Florida, including one saying ‘Kanye was right about the Jews”. WJC President Lauder called on “lawmakers and law enforcement agencies [to] act against decisively and unambiguously to condemn these displays for what they are – hate speech and incitement to violence – and take all appropriate and necessary actions to prosecute those responsible.”
Bias continues against State of Israel at the UN
Bias in the international community and international institutions continued against the State of Israel, with special sessions condemning the Middle East’s only democracy and the continual implementation of anti-Israel agenda item 7.
In March 2022, United Nations Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk accused Israel of apartheid in a report submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. WJC Executive Vice President Stern condemned the report calling it “politicized and one-sided report, brimming with inflammatory rhetoric.”
“The report lacks serious legal backing and presents a false narrative that ignores Palestinian acts of terrorism as well as Israel’s obligation to defend all its citizens. It does not offer a realistic or constructive path forward, and reveals no actual interest in promoting the human rights of Palestinians or in advancing peace through a lasting, two-state solution,” Stern added.
WJC also condemned antisemitic statements made by members of the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry against Israel, one of whom claimed Jews control social media and questioned Israel’s standing as a UN member.
WJC President Lauder condemned the statements saying, “Any United Nations investigation must be carried out by individuals of the highest moral standing. Unfortunately, this past week has shown us that the members of the Commission of Inquiry are unfit to carry out their sensitive duties.”
Regrettably, the results of the Commission of Inquiry, which were published in October, were equally inflammatory and one-sided, and failed to reflect the complexity of the situation regarding the Israeli– Palestinian conflict or to provide any constructive recommendations for a way forward. The biased report did not mention even once the terrorist organization Hamas, which is controlling the Gaza Strip and consistently puts Israeli and Palestinian lives in danger by indiscriminate attacks that threaten the security of the entire region.
WJC President Lauder reacted to the report by noting that it does not just do a disservice to Israel and the Jewish people, but is “an affront to history and truth. Further, it seriously undermines the values of universality, impartiality and objectivity that the Human Rights Council needs to abide by and puts into question the reputation of the United Nations as an honest broker in the conflict.”
