Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation is taking a stand on protecting the Jewish community from rising antisemitism. While this commitment to our community and to Jews around the world is not new, members of the congregation and its board were recently inspired by the "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign, launched by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.

"I first saw commercials for Stand up to Jewish Hate on television," said Jeff Fischer, a founding member of SOJC. "I was amazed at the simplicity of the message, yet I felt it was quite powerful."

In one commercial, a small blue square appears on a black background. The blue square takes up only 2.4 percent of the viewer's screen, representing how Jews are only 2.4 percent of the United States population. The commercial explains that despite this, Jews are victims of more than 55 percent of religious-based hate crimes in the U.S., and the square grows to fill half of the screen to illustrate the discrepancy.

"Who knew the elegance of a simple blue square logo could radiate such a profoundly unifying, positive message," said Ben Bolusky, co-president of the SOJC Executive Board.

The campaign's website explains, "Stand Up to Jewish Hate is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about antisemitism and hatred against Jews and to encourage all people to post and share the Blue Square to stand up against intolerance." The website also includes resources to learn about antisemitism and to report hate crimes.

While fortunately SOJC members feel safe overall, reminders of the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. are easy to find. Recently, a white supremacist group bearing Nazi flags held a demonstration at the entrance to Walt Disney World, just two miles down the road from SOJC. Incidents like that only highlight the importance of having and maintaining a home base for Jewish community - a place where Jewish people of all ages know we are safe to gather, and where we can teach our children that our culture is not a source of fear and derision but something to take pride and joy in.

"Antisemitism has drastically risen on the internet as well," said Paige Fennessey, co-president of the SOJC Executive Board. "People are commenting on videos and making their own hate videos with all kinds of slurs against Jewish people. It's horrific... SOJC can be a place for our values to be seen and appreciated by the community. Our children can have a place where they don't have to answer to ignorant statements that either deny or glorify the Holocaust. They can feel secure in their heritage to stand up to hate speech."

"I believe the best way to combat this wave of antisemitism is twofold," said Fischer. "Number one, having a strong Jewish community! We need to be proud to be Jewish, and make sure our houses of worship are secure, yet visible. Make sure our children are not ashamed or afraid of their Judaism, and that schools and college campuses are safe. Number two involves outreach to educate the public. Acts of tikkun olam done by the Jewish community for those of other faith traditions exposes others to those of the Jewish faith in positive ways. Interfaith councils and events involving clergy, lay leaders and congregants with all faiths again allows for educational opportunities where our commonalities as well as our differences may be understood and accepted. It becomes very difficult to hate someone once you have had the opportunity to interact with that person on a personal level."

SOJC board member Vivian Kerstein agreed. "If we, the congregants of SOJC, make it our business to protect this organization and help it grow, it will show our strength in solidarity. My hope is that all Jews and non-Jews stand strong against bigotry of any kind. It is easy to hide away and hope the hate won't directly find you, but this hate can become a virus that tears us all apart. So my hope is that we take a stand and find venues and places that show grace and welcoming love for all people.

"There are many unaffiliated Jews in Orlando and elsewhere in the United States," she added. "My hope as an Orlando Jew is that all will find a home in a Jewish institution to connect to for solidarity and to reopen the beauty of their heritage."

You can find out more about Stand Up to Jewish Hate at https://www.standuptojewishhate.org/, and about SOJC at https://www.sojc.org/.