Armed with information to fight hate

The FJMC’s Committee to Combat Antisemitism

By Irv Varkonyi

Are you ready to respond to the questions below if asked?

1. What is The Difference Between Criticism of Israel and Antisemitism? Criticism of Israel is not automatically antisemitism. But it can be antisemitic, depending on the language and intent, when the accusation is based on race and religious beliefs.
2. Is there legitimate criticism of Israel? And when does it cross into antisemitism?  When criticism targets Jews collectively for actions of Israel, or uses antisemitic stereotypes or conspiracies, or denies Jewish people the right to self-determination, or applies double standards, it may be antisemitic.
3. A Rule of Thumb to help: If the criticism focuses on policies, it’s political speech. If it targets Jews as a people, it’s antisemitism.

Sources, ADL, Blue Square Alliance, Spertus Institute

In response to growing antisemitism, FJMC International formed its Committee to Combat Antisemitism shortly before our Philadelphia Convention in 2023. This was the summer before the massacre of 1,200 residents of Israel and the kidnapping of 250 others on October 7. Overt antisemitism had already been growing with events around the world, such as the murders at the French Charlie Hebdo magazine in 2015, the Charlottesville Rally to Unite the Right in 2017, the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh in 2018 and, of course, the seemingly endless murder of Israelis over so many decades before and after the founding of the nation.

Since Philadelphia, our committee has sought to engage our clubs and regions to support their communities’ fight against antisemitism, when faced by incidents such as the defacing of synagogues with the Nazi swastika; the rampant college campus, secondary- or grade-school demonstrations supporting Hamas terrorists; the physical assaults on Jews in New York; or the murders of Israelis on U.S. soil, such as Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinksy and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

We encourage you to reach out to our committee, the Anti-Defamation League or your local resources such as your Jewish Community Relations Council and local law enforcement to provide support for your regions and clubs. The FJMC website contains an antisemitism page, https://fjmc.org/initiatives/combating-antisemitism, that can assist your regions and clubs. Some of its content includes:

• The FJMC Committee to Combat Antisemitism’s mission, with our commitment and strategy; and
• Webinar recordings of our interviews with experts and participants in the fight against antisemitism, including:
  • A survivor of Kristallnacht, the terrible two days of devastation against German Jews on Nov. 9-10, 1938;
  • Samantha Vinoker-Meinrath, author of “Gen Z, Growing up during a resurgence of hate”; and
  • Dave Roytenburg’s perspectives on antisemitism in Canada.

We have developed workshops that clubs and regions can use to enhance awareness of the impact of antisemitism on Gen Z; training workshops, with ADL, to advocate against antisemitism; and information on Spertus College’s programs that train professional and lay Jewish leaders to combat antisemitism.

Among FJMC’s partners are:

• Anti-Defamation League, https://www.adl.org

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact.

• Blue Square Alliance, https://www.bluesquarealliance.org/blue-square-alliance-b/?nab=1

Robert Kraft founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019 and launched Blue Square Alliance Against Hate in 2025 to inspire Americans to stand up to Jewish hate and all hate. We have Blue Square pins and wristbands for your clubs.

• Jewish War Veterans, https://www.jwv.org

The Jewish War Veterans (JWV) is the premier voice for Jewish uniformed service members and veterans in the United States. The JWV affirms that Jewish men and women serve honorably and heroically in the military forces of the United States of America during peacetime and war. The JWV defends the rights and benefits of all service members and veterans, combats antisemitism and supports the State of Israel.

We welcome you to join our Committee.  We currently have representatives from Connecticut Valley, New York Metro, Middle Atlantic, Seaboard, Florida, Texas, Midwest, Western and Ansh-Eh Zafon regions. Please contact us at .

Irv Varkonyi is chair of the FJMC Committee to Combat Anti-Semitism.