☆ Explicit antisemitic imagery in local pro-Hamas flyer deeply disturbs Jewish leaders
Detail from a San Jose pro-Hamas flyer, posted by JCRC Bay Area on X (formerly known as Twitter)
On 1.3, KTVU broke the story that the Bay Area's Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) had spoken out against antisemitic imagery in a flyer promoting a pro-Hamas rally in San Jose. The flyer featured the defacement of a photo of County District Attorney Jeff Rosen (who is Jewish): Rosen's eyes were x-ed out, and the Arabic word for “uprising” written across his forehead. The caption to Rosen's photo read, “Resist against Zionism by any and all means necessary.” The flyer said the rally (to be held at Rosen's office) was sponsored by: Silicon Valley for Palestine, B.L.A.C.K. Outreach San Jose, FRSO San Jose, and HERO Tent. In this Opp Now exclusive, JCRC Bay Area, Chabad House (Almaden), Stanford University's Chabad, and American Jewish Committee (AJC) San Francisco analyze the incident.
Jeremy Russell, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area Director of Marketing and Communication:
The images are deeply disturbing and violent. It’s unclear why anyone chose to target DA Rosen in this way, but the fact that he’s Jewish almost certainly played into their decision. The groups behind it are quite marginal, so perhaps that’s why it hasn’t been reported more, but the imagery sends up a ton of red flags. In our recent survey of Bay Area Jews, 61 percent of those surveyed reported feeling less safe since October 7, and 36 percent reported personally experiencing or directly witnessing antisemitism.
Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, Chabad House (Almaden) founder and director:
It's very sad to see. It's shocking and disturbing to see such a thing happen here. The flyer shows their true colors. This is antisemitism at its finest.
Our DA Jeff Rosen is a kind, good person who works tirelessly for justice and peace. It's sickening to see him being targeted like this just because he is Jewish.
The response to this is clear. The way to combat darkness is not by pushing it away with brooms and sticks, but with light. We've got to add more light—more goodness and kindness—and do our part to make our city and county a brighter place. When we do our part, we can bring more light to the entire world, and that will make the darkness disappear once and for all.
We pray for a time of true peace as foretold by the prophets, a day when “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” May we witness that today with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
Rabbi Dov Greenberg, Chabad at Stanford University executive director:
The new antisemitism is underpinned by three distinct principles:
Anti-Zionism: This principle denies the Jewish people the right to their own state, in stark contrast to the existence of over 100 Christian states and over 50 Muslim states.
Demonization of Israel: Israel, comparable in size to New Jersey, is falsely portrayed as a major human rights violator, despite being the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
Targeting Jews and Jewish Institutions: Every Jew and Jewish institution is labeled as Zionist, thereby becoming targets for hate and violence.
This perspective is encapsulated in this poster that singles out a Jewish individual in California, calling him a “Zionist” and advocating for his eradication by any means necessary. This dangerous rhetoric mirrors the propaganda of figures like Hitler, serving as a grim reminder of the enduring nature of such hatred.
Oleg Ivanov, American Jewish Committee (AJC) San Francisco assistant director:
AJC is outraged by the vicious antisemitic targeting of Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. Purporting to seek peace, these "activists" instead spew hatred directed at the son of a Holocaust survivor and a relentless pursuer of justice.
KTVU's news coverage (1.3.2024):
The Jewish Community Relations Council is condemning a flyer advertising what is described as an antisemitic rally.
The flyer promotes a "Fight Back for Palestine" event that was scheduled to take place last week in San Jose outside the DA's office.
In a social media post, the JCRC said it is "deeply disturbed" by a picture of Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen on the flyer who is pictured in the lower, right-hand corner with his eyes crossed out.
JCRC officials also noted that of particular alarm to them is the use of an upside-down red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas for identifying enemies.
When contacted for a response, Rosen's office sent KTVU a video [Editor's note: Watch the video here] from Dec. 15, when Rosen called for peace at a community event.
The event was put on by Silicon Valley for Palestine and three other groups. The organizers did not respond for comment.
Read the whole thing and watch the KTVU news story here.
Related:
UC regent rebukes Ethnic Studies Council for pro-Hamas statement “rife with falsehoods about Israel”
Perspective: Recent Stanford scandal “profoundly troubles the Jewish community”
UC profs: Technical accuracy matters less than (some) students' feelings
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