Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Welcomes Launch of National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
On Thursday, May 25th, the White House announced their comprehensive, “whole of society” strategy for countering antisemitism, with a live stream launch featuring President Biden’s outgoing Chief Domestic Policy Adviser Susan Rice, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.
The strategy comes as antisemitic incidents and crime continue to rise at unprecedented rates, including an alarming 20% increase in antisemitic hate crimes and 36% increase in overall antisemitic incidents in 2022 alone. It also arrives as Jewish American Heritage Month draws to a close.
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas applauds the White House for crafting a broad plan to address rising antisemitism that embraces many of our policy priorities, including increased funding for nonprofit security that helps houses of worship protect themselves, full funding for the Jabara-Heyer No Hate Act, and ensuring quality Holocaust education. We look forward to working with the administration to move these initiatives forward in our community,” said Igor Alterman, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas President and CEO.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) has been a decades-long leader in countering antisemitism, with ongoing efforts in each of the four pillars the White House has outlined in its plan. Through our Community Relations Department, JFGD helps educate our community about the threats of antisemitism, and build and strengthen understanding between and relationships among the diverse faith and ethnic communities in the Dallas area. We do so by raising awareness of the rise in antisemitism, engaging our community in peer-to-peer dialogue, and standing firmly against hatred and bigotry of all kinds.
Our Community Security Department also works daily to ensure the safety and security of our local Jewish community. JFGD offers a range of resources and services to help Jewish organizations in the Greater Dallas area strengthen their security measures and protect their constituents. These resources include access to a community-wide emergency communication system, training and readiness preparation, engagement with our law enforcement partners, and target hardening.
With the rise of antisemitic incidents and recognition that hatred against one community impacts all communities, we thank the Biden Administration for this historic acknowledgment of the threats of antisemitism and commitment to take concrete steps to assess and address antisemitism. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to build a safer and more inclusive society for all.