With a concerning rise in anti-Jewish vandalism and harassment taking place not only around America, but across Dallas and the state of Texas, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD), in partnership with the national nonprofit organization JewBelong, is looking to challenge area residents to fight rising antisemitism and hatred in their community.

The two groups have installed three prominent billboards around the Dallas metro area this week, stating the following messages:

• “Can a billboard end antisemitism? No, but you’re not a billboard.”
• “We’re just 75 years since the gas chambers. So no, a billboard calling out Jew hate isn’t an overreaction.”
• “Does your church need armed guards? ‘Cause our synagogue does.”

The Anti-Defamation League reported in April of this year that it received more than 2,700 reports of assault, harassment, and vandalism in the U.S. during 2021, the highest total since it began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. Over the last couple years, high-profile anti-Semitic incidents in Texas have included bomb threats, swastikas being drawn in public places and hostage situations.

The billboards in the Dallas area appear at the following locations:

• Central (75) S/O Royal E/S F/N
• LBJ (635) .5 miles W/O Hillcrest S/S F/E
• D.N. Tollway S/O Lovers Lane W/S F/N

JewBelong, founded in 2017 by marketing executives Archie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart, offers

online community and educational resources to spark conversations around Jewish issues and religious tolerance. The group is known for its attention-grabbing outdoor marketing campaigns and billboards, which have appeared in campaigns across the country.

“Antisemitism has become tolerated and normalized across the country,” says JewBelong co-Founder Archie Gottesman. “The type of hate leveled against Jews followed by the deafening silence from supposedly good people should be abhorrent to anyone who stands for justice. You don’t have to be a historian to know that being quiet about hate doesn’t stop the haters, it emboldens them. We need to call out Jew hatred wherever we see it.”

Starting in 2021 following the increase of antisemitism in the United States, JewBelong's #EndJewHate awareness campaign has appeared in dozens of cities and states across the U.S. in major cities including Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Miami as well as internationally in Toronto, Canada.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) is the leading fundraising agency on behalf of the Dallas Jewish community. JFGD’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Community Security Initiative work daily to advocate for and ensure the safety and security of the Jewish community.

“In Dallas, the Jewish community is thriving. Yet even here, we are not spared from anti-Semitic attacks. The events of Colleyville, for example, show that we must remain vigilant and educate a new generation of allies. The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas puts unparalleled efforts to combat antisemitism and stands against hatred and bigotry of all kinds,” said Igor Alterman, President and CEO of the Federation. “Together, we fight ignorance, bring awareness, and advocate for a safer place for future generations of Texans.”

# # #