JewBelong

Last updated
JewBelong
Formation2013;11 years ago (2013)
FounderArchie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart
Type Nonprofit
Legal status 501(c)(3) organization
PurposeCultural education and political advocacy
Methods Billboards
Revenue (2022)
$4.95 M USD
Expenses (2022)$3.45 M USD
Website https://www.jewbelong.com

JewBelong is a nonprofit organization that is known for its billboards featuring slogans celebrating Judaism and countering antisemitism. [1] [2] It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). [3] It is registered since 2017 in Montclair, New Jersey.

Contents

History

JewBelong was founded in 2013 by Archie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart, two Jewish marketing professionals who'd previously led Manhattan Mini Storage's viral billboard marketing. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

JewBelong was founded with the stated mission of welcoming "disengaged Jews" back into Jewish religious and cultural life. [4]

Their website, which also hosts a variety of free resources for Jewish holidays, culture and customs, was their primary function until late 2019 and early 2020.[ citation needed ]

Antisemitism awareness campaigns

Beginning in late 2019 and early 2020, JewBelong expanded its programs to include antisemitism awareness campaigns, citing a rise in antisemitic events like the chants of "Jews will not replace us" at the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and the shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and at a Jersey City kosher grocery store in October 2018 and December 2019, respectively. [9] [10] [11]

One of JewBelong's early antisemitism-related campaigns was a digital display in Times Square, New York. JewBelong's messages included, "We're just 75 years since the gas chambers. So no, a billboard calling out antisemitism isn't an overreaction. #stopantisemitism" and "3,500 years of antisemitism doesn't make it right." [12]

Controversies

JewBelong has gained some notoriety for its "edgy" advertisements, particularly billboards. [13] [14] [15] [16]

JewBelong posted the following on Instagram: "Trust Me. If Israel Wanted to Commit Genocide in Gaza, It Could." Slate 's Emily Tamkin's called the post "menacing." JewBelong ultimately deleted the post the same day. [17]

In 2023, JewBelong funded billboard ads that said, "You don't have to go to law school to know that anti-Zionism is antisemitism." In Berkeley, California, the billboards were subsequently vandalized with the phrases, "Jews4FreePalestine" and "Free Palestine". An anonymous anti-Zionist group claimed credit for vandalizing the billboard with anti-Israel graffiti. The Berkeley Police Department investigated the incident as a hate crime. [18] [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is a civil rights group and Jewish lobby group established on November 11, 1906. It is one of the oldest Jewish advocacy organizations and, according to The New York Times, is "widely regarded as the dean of American Jewish organizations".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Voice for Peace</span> American anti-Zionist advocacy group

Jewish Voice for Peace is an American anti-Zionist left-wing Jewish advocacy organization that is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shmuley Boteach</span> American Orthodox rabbi and writer (born 1966)

Jacob Shmuel Boteach, known as Shmuley Boteach, is an American rabbi, author, and media host.

The Community Security Trust (CST) is a British charity whose purpose is to provide safety, security, and advice to the Jewish community in the UK. It provides advice, training, representation and research.

StandWithUs (SWU) is a nonprofit right-wing pro-Israel advocacy organization founded in Los Angeles in 2001 by Roz Rothstein, Jerry Rothstein, and Esther Renzer.

Antisemitism at universities has been reported and supported since the medieval period and, more recently, resisted and studied. Antisemitism has been manifested in various policies and practices, such as restricting the admission of Jewish students by a Jewish quota, or ostracism, intimidation, or violence against Jewish students, as well as in the hiring, retention and treatment of Jewish faculty and staff. In some instances, universities have been accused of condoning the development of antisemitic cultures on campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of antisemitism in the United States</span>

Different opinions exist among historians regarding the extent of antisemitism in American history and how American antisemitism contrasted with its European counterpart. In contrast to the horrors of European history, John Higham states that in the United States "no decisive event, no deep crisis, no powerful social movement, no great individual is associated primarily with, or significant chiefly because of anti-Semitism." Accordingly, David A. Gerber concludes that antisemitism "has been a distinctly minor feature of the nation's historical development." Historian Britt Tevis argue that, "Handlin and Higham’s ideas remain influential, and many American Jewish historians continue to present antisemitism as largely insignificant, momentary, primarily social."

Antisemitism—prejudice, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews—has experienced a long history of expression since the days of ancient civilizations, with most of it having originated in the Christian and pre-Christian civilizations of Europe.

Antisemitic incidents escalated worldwide in frequency and intensity during the Gaza War, and were widely considered to be a wave of reprisal attacks in response to the conflict.

Antisemitism in Canada is the manifestation of hostility, prejudice or discrimination against the Canadian Jewish people or Judaism as a religious, ethnic or racial group. This form of racism has affected Jews since Canada's Jewish community was established in the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-Defamation League</span> International Jewish organization

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is a New York–based international non-governmental organization that was founded to combat antisemitism, bigotry and discrimination. ADL is also known for its pro-Israel advocacy.

<i>Kosher Jesus</i> 2012 book by Shmuley Boteach

Kosher Jesus (2012) is a book by the Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, focusing on the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. The book examines the rabbinic origins of the teachings of Jesus within the context of Second Temple Judaism in the 1st century and the New Testament, and compares scholarly views on the historical figure of Jesus with the theological ideals expressed by the Jewish writers of early rabbinic literature.

Evidence for the presence of Jewish communities in the geographical area today covered by Austria can be traced back to the 12th century. In 1848 Jews were granted civil rights and the right to establish an autonomous religious community, but full citizenship rights were given only in 1867. In an atmosphere of economic, religious and social freedom, the Jewish population grew from 6,000 in 1860 to almost 185,000 in 1938. In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany and thousands of Austrians and Austrian Jews who opposed Nazi rule were sent to concentration camps. Of the 65,000 Viennese Jews deported to concentration camps, only about 2,000 survived, while around 800 survived World War II in hiding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Students for Justice in Palestine</span> Pro-Palestinian BDS activism organization

Students for Justice in Palestine is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. It has campaigned for boycott and divestment against corporations that deal with Israel and organized events about Israel's human rights violations. In 2011, The New York Times reported that "S.J.P., founded in 2001 at the University of California, Berkeley, has become the leading pro-Palestinian voice on campus."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany</span>

Comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany occur frequently in some veins of anti-Zionism in relation to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The legitimacy of these comparisons and their potential antisemitic nature is a matter of debate. Historically, figures like historian Arnold J. Toynbee have drawn parallels between Zionism and Nazism, a stance he maintained despite criticism. Scholar David Feldman suggests these comparisons are often rhetorical tools without specific antisemitic intent. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) sees them as diminishing the Holocaust's significance.

Documenta fifteen, stylized as documenta fifteen, is the 15th edition of Documenta, a major international contemporary art exhibition held every five years in Kassel, Germany.

Following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, there has been a surge of antisemitism around the world. Israeli Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer has stated that Israel is bracing to expect a large wave of Jews migrating to Israel due to the rising antisemitism around the world.

Within Our Lifetime - United For Palestine (WOL), is a pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist activist organization primarily active in New York City. The group, which notably expresses support for Hamas and the Palestinian resistance against Israel, has been one of the key organizers in the city's ongoing Israel-Hamas war protests.

Jews have faced antisemitism and discrimination in universities and campuses in the United States, from the founding of universities in the Thirteen Colonies until the present day in varying intensities. From the early 20th century, and until the 1960s, indirect quotas were placed on Jewish admissions, quotas were first placed on Jews by elite universities such Columbia, Harvard and Yale and were prevalent as late as the 1960s in universities such as Stanford. These quotas disappeared in the 1970s.

References

  1. Fox, Mira (2022-05-25). "JewBelong's billboards are everywhere. But who are they and what are they selling?". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. Brown, Maya (2022-02-06). "A group is putting up billboards calling out anti-Semitism in Florida". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Jewbelong Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 "Can a Clever Ad Campaign 'Save Judaism'?". The Forward. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  5. "Co-Founder of JewBelong Says, "Come on in, the Water's Fine!" | Journeys: Jewish Living, Jewish Meaning" . Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. California, Lillian Ilsley-Greene | J. The Jewish News of (2023-02-03). "Anti-Zionist Jewish activists claim credit for billboard defacement". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. "'We need allies': What NJ Jewish leaders want you to do about rising antisemitism". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  8. "At St. Petersburg Chabad, a response to antisemitism: 'Dispel that darkness'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. WOLF, RACHEL (2019-12-21). "Activists rally against antisemitism with JewBelong". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  10. BOTEACH, SHMULEY (2021-07-12). "Amid antisemitism and disasters, we must face our fears - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  11. Lavalle, Jules (2021-06-06). "Archie Gottesman, Stacy Stuart and JewBelong Launch Multi-Media Campaign Against Antisemitism". The Hollywood Times. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  12. BOTEACH, SHMULEY (2021-07-12). "Amid antisemitism and disasters, we must face our fears - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  13. "Group launches billboard campaign to fight antisemitism in Tampa". WFLA. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  14. "Billboards around San Antonio raise awareness of rising anti-Semitism". kens5.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  15. Goss, Emma (2022-06-06). "Who is paying for these 'JewBelong' bacon billboards in the East Bay?". J. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  16. Heller, Sasha (2022-08-11). "New Provocative Ad Campaign Targets Antisemitism". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  17. Tamkin, Emily (2022-08-11). "What Is JewBelong's Deal?". Slate. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  18. "Berkeley billboards raising awareness about antisemitism left defaced, nonprofit says". ABC7 San Francisco. 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  19. Jones • •, Velena. "New Billboard About Antisemitism Sparks Debate in Berkeley". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  20. Goss, Emma (2023-01-24). "JewBelong billboards vandalized with 'Free Palestine' in Berkeley". J. Retrieved 2023-02-12.