Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Words ‘not enough’ to end anti-Semitic threats
Voices of outrage are finally being heard about the rising attacks of anti-Semitism in South Florida and elsewhere.
The outrage is needed, but the wave of intimidation against Jewish communities will require more than voices. Action and leadership are needed from the White House on down.
Monday’s threat to the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie — which turned out to be a hoax — was the fifth such incident in South Florida in recent weeks. Anti Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that nationally, there have been about 90 threats so far this year, including the vandalizing of a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis.
Even if the threats are just anonymous phone calls from cowards, they are stoking fear in Jewish communities — along with occasional evacuations.
The FBI believes the incidents are part of a coordinated effort. Attorney General Jeff Sessions pledges to use the resources of the Justice Department to assist in prosecutions — strong words that are good to hear.
We’d also like to see strong leadership from President Trump, who was way too silent on the issue until last week, when he said “anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish communities and community centers are horrible and painful.”
“We are glad he spoke out,” Yael Hershfeld, interim director of the Anti-Defamation League’s regional office in Boca Raton, told us. “But words are not enough. We need action.” Anti-Semitic incidents have spiked since Trump was elected, a troubling trend. However, it is too simplistic to blame his volatile campaign for the xenophobia and hatred we are seeing now. Anti-Semitism has been with us for thousands of years. It won’t be eradicated any time soon.
But hatred is learned, and can start early in life. In the same way hatred is learned, it can be unlearned. That means more anti-discrimination programs are needed in schools. More family members need to call out bad behavior when they hear the language of bigotry spoken at home. More workplaces should offer diversity training that helps people see our differences not as a threat, but as the strength they are.
What’s also needed, unfortunately, is more of a security mindset around Jewish institutions. Security and vigilance must be ongoing, not just after an incident.
In recent days in South Florida, we’ve seen swastikas scratched into cars in a Jewish neighborhood in Miami Beach and a swastika spray-painted on a car in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Boca Raton. Bomb threats also have been called into JCCs in Kendall, Miami Beach, Pinecrest and Palm Beach Gardens.
Thankfully, all were hoaxes. But these abhorrent acts have increased tensions in Jewish communities. And they show why Jewish institutions need to nurture strong relationships with local law enforcement.
As president, Trump’s words should set the tone on all this. So far, he hasn’t done a good job. On Tuesday, he even outrageously appeared to hint the incidents might be happening to “make others look bad.”
During a press conference earlier this month, a journalist from an ultra-Orthodox publication stood and asked a question. He said he wasn’t accusing Trump of being anti-Semitic, but he wanted to know what the government was doing about the situation.
Trump cut him off mid-question and told him to sit down. He called the journalist a liar for failing to ask a “fair question.” Later that day, the president said antiSemitism was being stoked by his political opponents.
If you want to know why many in the Jewish community are outraged, Trump’s actions that day explains plenty. These threats aren’t about him. They’re about about bigots who believe today’s political climate makes it okay to communicate hateful, hurtful and scary threats.
Rather than lob another bomb at the media, the president should have taken the moment to condemn the hate-mongers and underscore America’s values.
For now, the ADL is calling on Trump to come up with a specific, viable plan to address the threats. The sooner the better.