Dear Christian Leader,

Yesterday, January 27th, was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This annual day of observance is the result of UN General Assembly resolution 60/7, adopted on November 1, 2005. January 27th marks the date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau - the largest death camp operated by the Nazis during WWII - built to facilitate the extermination of the Jews of Europe.

It is entirely appropriate to designate such a day to commemorate the deliverance of survivors from the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. However, it is not enough to acknowledge the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators one day of the year if we are not willing to be vigilant and ready every day of the year to counter the same forces that fueled the Holocaust when they manifest in our world today.

The Nazis and their collaborators demonized, dehumanized and murdered Jews simply because they were Jews. They employed any number of false justifications as to why the Jewish people needed to be annihilated - charges that included blaming Jews for the crises of the time. However, the reality was that Jews needed to be eliminated just because they were Jews. In other words, antisemitism was the motivation and driving force behind the Holocaust.

According to the working definition of antisemitism, issued by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA):

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

IHRA's website accurately states that antisemitism was the root of the Holocaust and it is "a persistent scourge." And, as all of us who learn from history know, crises such as pandemics, political and social unrest, and economic hardship have always provided fertile ground for antisemitism to grow. These crises also fuel opposition to the State of Israel - opposition that is nothing more than antisemitism when it denies the Jewish people the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland.

For the last few years, as we have been immersed in health, political, social and economic crises, antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment have been increasing at an alarming rate in the US and worldwide. Therefore, we must increase our vigilance and our activism on behalf of the Jewish people and the Jewish State.

As engaged Christian leaders, we know you are concerned about the alarming rise of antisemitism we see in our society, in the media, on college campuses, and yes - even in parts of the church. And we know that you would like to be effective in combatting this ancient and senseless hatred and ensuring that "Never Again" really means Never Again!

In order to strengthen you for the fight, CAMERA's Partnership of Christians and Jews, in cooperation with Pastor Mario Bramnick and the Latino Coalition for Israel, is hosting a workshop designed to equip you with practical methods to counter antisemitism in the media and in everyday situations in which you find yourself. CAMERA's experts on the subject - Sarit Catz and Dr. Jonah Cohen - will provide insightful instruction that will enable you to refute baseless propaganda propagated against the Jewish people and the Jewish State.

Please join us for this ground-breaking event
designed to bring Christians and Jews together to fight antisemitism!

Thursday, February 9, 2023
6:30 PM Dessert Reception
7:00 Program

Congregation Beth Ami
1401 NW 4th Ave
Boca Raton, FL
 
REGISTRATION is FREE but REQUIRED

REGISTER HERE

This program is made possible through the generosity of
the Dr. Allen and Lillian D. Menkin Family Foundation.

For those of you who are not in south Florida,
we are planning to hold this same kind of event in other cities in the US.

If you are interested in having a similar program in your area,
please contact Tricia at tricia@camera.org.