The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 1,000 rabbis in public policy, this week condemned the terrorist attack upon the Chabad Community Center of Poway, California, and the growing modern strain of anti-Semitism expressed by the shooter.
“Of course, this violence is both despicable and heartbreaking,” said Rabbi Pesach Lerner, President of the CJV, “and we salute Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein for his leadership and bravery, wish a speedy recovery to all the injured, and extend our consolations to the family and friends of Lori Gilbert-Kaye Hy”d. But this violence demands a serious look at the true sources of anti-Semitism in America and around the world, and a concerted effort to combat it.”
On the same day as this murderous attack, The New York Times International Edition published a cartoon from a Portuguese source depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a dog, guiding a blind Donald Trump wearing a Jewish skullcap. Experts immediately noted the similarity in message to a tweet by Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) referring to Israel having “hypnotized the world.”
“The white supremacist shooter expressed nothing but hatred for President Trump, whom he described as a ‘Zionist,’” observed Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Vice President of the CJV, “so trying to blame the President is avoiding the real issue. Certain partisan politicians, including Jewish ones, are silent on condemning this cartoon and the hate it encourages, in exactly the same way they were silent condemning this and similar forms of anti-Semitic expression by Rep. Omar. It is clear that virulent anti-Semitism is securing a foothold in American politics.”
