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Israel, the Pro-Israel Lobby, American Jews and the Iran Deal
Jonathan Rynhold Israel, the Pro-Israel Lobby, American Jews and the Iran deal American Jews were deeply divided over the 2015 Iran deal. Such divisions over Israel-related issues were nothing new. But this time the argument was not only particularly vitriolic, it was also especially significant because those in favor of the deal were confronting an Israeli consensus on an issue considered to be vital to Israeli security, a commitment to which was shared in principle by the overwhelming majority of American Jews who were skeptical of the agreement’s efficacy, even as they approved of it. This paper seeks to explain the cause of these divisions over the Iran deal and their political significance for Israel’s relations with American Jewry. Contrary to the terms of the core debate about the relationship of American Jews with Israel, which centers on the extent of American Jewish attachment to Israel, it argues that the key struggle was over the power to determine the political meaning of ‘pro-Israel’ in this critical context and that the divide was primarily a part of a wider partisan divide among Americans in general. In theoretical terms, “the authority to determine the shared meanings that constitute the identities, interests and practices… is perhaps the most subtle and most effective form of power because it encapsulates the institutional power to include or exclude, to legitimize and authorize”1. Strong and resilient shared meanings function as cultural ‘containers’ that serve as an important resource for mobilizing political support. The more robust the cultural container the more the political struggle is likely to be focused on interpreting and appropriating it to advance and legitimize a political agenda, rather than seeking to challenge it head-on.2 The pro-Israel orientation in American political culture is one such shared-meaning and it is centered on the American commitment to Israeli security. -
2019 Magazine
T h e R o b e rt A . A n d S A n d ra S . b o R n S J ew i S h S T u d i e S P Ro g ra m Annual Magazine I Volume 47 I Fall 2019 From the Director “Continuity and change” might serve as the title for almost any year in the life of a Jewish Studies Program (JSP). Every year, we bid a sad farewell to wonderful graduating majors — like our remarkable seniors Harry Aaronson, Michelle Bennett, Naomi Farahan, Jordan Schiff and Margo Wagner. And every year, we are excited at the prospect of new majors entering the program; this fall, we’re particularly pleased that eight talented young individuals — many of them supported with generous scholarships — will be joining the JS B.A. class of 2023 from all over the USA, from Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, and Washington. But this year, “continuity and change” has a deeper resonance for the Program than usual. I can’t think of a stronger symbol of continuity than our celebration of Alvin Rosenfeld’s 50 years at IU. To prepare my remarks for the event, generously hosted by Sandra and Bob Borns in the gorgeous Grand Hall at Union Station – Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis, I looked back through the JS archives. I was struck again by what a remarkable achievement it was to invent this world-leading program in south central Indiana. Of course, it wasn’t Alvin’s work alone – many friends, donors, faculty, and staff played a part — and in April, so many of them were on Mark Roseman hand to share in the moment and to witness President Michael McRobbie bestowing on our founding director the President’s Medal for Excellence, IU’s most prestigious award. -
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Incident Report
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Incident Report: January 2019 to Present November 15, 2020 (Updated 02/22/2021) Prepared By: Rob Goldberg, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs [email protected] The following is a compilation of recent threat incidents, at home or abroad, targeting Jews and Jewish institutions (and other faith-based organization) that have been reported in the public record. When completing the Threat section of the IJ (Part III. Risk): ▪ First Choice: Describe specific terror (or violent homegrown extremist) incidents, threats, hate crimes, and/or related vandalism, trespass, intimidation, or destruction of property that have targeted its property, membership, or personnel. This may also include a specific event or circumstance that impacted an affiliate or member of the organization’s system or network. ▪ Second Choice: Report on known incidents/threats that have occurred in the community and/or State where the organization is located. ▪ Third Choice: Reference the public record regarding incidents/threats against similar or like institutions at home or abroad. Since there is limited working space in the IJ, the sub-applicant should be selective in choosing appropriate examples to incorporate into the response: events that are most recent, geographically proximate, and closely related to their type or circumstance of their organization or are of such magnitude or breadth that they create a significant existential threat to the Jewish community at large. I. Overview of Recent Federal Risk Assessments of National Significance Summary The following assessments underscore the persistent threat of lethal violence and hate crimes against the Jewish community and other faith- and community-based institutions in the United States. -
The Alt-Right on Campus: What Students Need to Know
THE ALT-RIGHT ON CAMPUS: WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW About the Southern Poverty Law Center The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal oportunity will become a reality. • • • For more information about the southern poverty law center or to obtain additional copies of this guidebook, contact [email protected] or visit www.splconcampus.org @splcenter facebook/SPLCenter facebook/SPLConcampus © 2017 Southern Poverty Law Center THE ALT-RIGHT ON CAMPUS: WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW RICHARD SPENCER IS A LEADING ALT-RIGHT SPEAKER. The Alt-Right and Extremism on Campus ocratic ideals. They claim that “white identity” is under attack by multicultural forces using “politi- An old and familiar poison is being spread on col- cal correctness” and “social justice” to undermine lege campuses these days: the idea that America white people and “their” civilization. Character- should be a country for white people. ized by heavy use of social media and memes, they Under the banner of the Alternative Right – or eschew establishment conservatism and promote “alt-right” – extremist speakers are touring colleges the goal of a white ethnostate, or homeland. and universities across the country to recruit stu- As student activists, you can counter this movement. dents to their brand of bigotry, often igniting pro- In this brochure, the Southern Poverty Law Cen- tests and making national headlines. Their appear- ances have inspired a fierce debate over free speech ter examines the alt-right, profiles its key figures and the direction of the country. -
Hate Speech, Pseudonyms, the Internet, Impersonator Trolls, and Fake Jews in the Era of Fake News
The Ohio State Technology Law Journal WEB OF LIES: HATE SPEECH, PSEUDONYMS, THE INTERNET, IMPERSONATOR TROLLS, AND FAKE JEWS IN THE ERA OF FAKE NEWS YITZCHAK BESSER1 This Article discusses the problem of “hate-speech impersonator trolls,” that is, those who impersonate minorities through the use of false identities online, and then use those false identities to harm those minorities through disinformation campaigns and false-flag operations. Solving this problem requires a change to the status quo, either through the passage of a new statute targeting hate-speech impersonator trolls or through the modification of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. In this Article, I discuss the scope and severity of hate- speech impersonator-trolling, as well as relevant jurisprudence on the First Amendment, hate speech, anonymity, and online communications. I then present proposals and recommendations to counter and combat hate-speech impersonator trolls. CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 234 II. IMPERSONATION AS A FORM OF HATE SPEECH ...... 236 III. FIRST AMENDMENT JURISPRUDENCE ...................... 244 1 The author is a term law clerk for Senior U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson of the Northern District of Mississippi. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in May 2020. He is grateful to Professors Jerry "Matt" Bodman and Phillip J. Closius for their advice during the writing and editing process. 234 THE OHIO STATE TECHNOLOGY LAW JOURNAL [Vol. -
Black-Jewish Coalition” Unraveled: Where Does Israel Fit?
The “Black-Jewish Coalition” Unraveled: Where Does Israel Fit? A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program Professors Ellen Smith and Jonathan Krasner Ph.D., Advisors In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Leah Robbins May 2020 Copyright by Leah Robbins 2020 Acknowledgements This thesis was made possible by the generous and thoughtful guidance of my two advisors, Professors Ellen Smith and Jonathan Krasner. Their content expertise, ongoing encouragement, and loving pushback were invaluable to the work. This research topic is complex for the Jewish community and often wrought with pain. My advisors never once questioned my intentions, my integrity as a researcher, or my clear and undeniable commitment to the Jewish people of the past, present, and future. I do not take for granted this gift of trust, which bolstered the work I’m so proud to share. I am also grateful to the entire Hornstein community for making room for me to show up in my fullness, and for saying “yes” to authentically wrestle with my ideas along the way. It’s been a great privilege to stretch and grow alongside you, and I look forward to continuing to shape one another in the years to come. iii ABSTRACT The “Black-Jewish Coalition” Unraveled: Where Does Israel Fit? A thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts By Leah Robbins Fascination with the famed “Black-Jewish coalition” in the United States, whether real or imaginary, is hardly a new phenomenon of academic interest. -
Gab and 8Chan
Gab and 8chan: Home to Terrorist Plots Hiding in Plain Sight The second in a series of reports co-authored by the Network Contagion Research Institute and ADL’s Center on Extremism New analysis of online behavior suggests similar ideological motivations and radicalization methods when comparing the perpetrators of the Pittsburgh and Christchurch massacres. Both killers announced in their preferred internet forums that they were about to commit violence and seemed to identify their fellow forum participants as community members who might share their propensity to commit violence. Both killers were consumed by the conspiracy of a “white genocide.” Both Gab and 8chan – the go-to forums for Robert Bowers and Brenton Tarrant, respectively – are rife with white supremacist, hateful, anti- Semitic bigotry. We present here research conducted by NCRI director and ADL Center on Extremism research fellow, Joel Finkelstein, which provides the first in-depth examination of the genocidal language (e.g. “slaughter”) and conspiracy theories that are pervasive on both platforms. The research explores how each killer identified with his online community, with a degree of adherence reminiscent of what one might see from ISIS followers, and show how that same language is used constantly on both platforms, suggesting the next Bowers or the next Tarrant could emerge at any moment. Background 1 / 14 On October 27, 2018, Robert Bowers perpetrated the deadliestdeadliestdeadliestdeadliest attack attackattackattack against Jews in American history when he stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Shouting “All Jews must die,” Bowers killed eleven people in their place of worship. -
Reverse-Engineering Twitter's Content Removal
“We Believe in Free Expression...” Reverse-Engineering Twitter’s Content Removal Policies for the Alt-Right The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:38811534 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Contents The Problem & The Motivation .............................................................................. 4 Free Speech: Before and After the Internet ......................................................... 5 Speech on Twitter .............................................................................................. 11 Defining the Alt-Right ....................................................................................... 13 The Alt-Right on Social Media ......................................................................... 14 Social Media Reaction to Charlottesville .......................................................... 17 Twitter’s Policies for the Alt-Right ................................................................... 19 Previous Work ................................................................................................... 21 Structure of this Thesis ..................................................................................... -
Nonprofit Security Grant Program I. Recent Events of National
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Compendium: January 2019 to Present November 15, 2019 Prepared By: Rob Goldberg, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs [email protected] I. Recent Events of National Significance Imminent Attack on Colorado Synagogue Prevented: Between November 1 and 2, 2019, Richard Holzer, 27, of Pueblo, Colorado, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and allegedly admitted planning to blow up Temple Emanuel, a synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado. According to the criminal affidavit: Holzer used several Facebook accounts “to promote white supremacy ideology and acts of violence.” For example: o On July 11, he sent a message to another Facebook user stating, “getting ready to cap people.” He included three photos of himself dressed in clothing with white supremacy symbols, holding handguns and a semiautomatic rifle. o On Sept. 3, he told a Facebook user, “I wish the holocaust really did happen… they need to die.” o On Sept. 28, Holzer sent a video of himself urinating on the front door of what appears to be a Jewish center. o On Oct. 3, Holzer sent a message stating, “I’m getting ready for RAHOWA,” meaning a racial holy war. He also sent a voice mail stating he was going to Temple Emanuel “to scope it out.” o On Oct. 13, Holzer explained his plan to use arsenic to poison the synagogue in Pueblo on Oct. 31. On Oct. 17, Holzer met with three FBI undercover agents (UCs). o After the meeting, Holzer, an associate, and the undercover agents drove to Pueblo to visit Temple Emanuel. Holzer allegedly stated that Molotov cocktails would not “be enough” and the group discussed using pipe bombs. -
(In Press, 2018). WORKING GALLEYS
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (in press, 2018). WORKING GALLEYS CAMPUS DISCOURSE AND DEMOCRACY: FREE SPEECH PRINCIPLES PROVIDE SOUND GUIDANCE EVEN AFTER THE TUMULT OF 2017 Catherine J. Ross* I. SETTING THE SCENE This symposium was very timely when we met in February 2017 and, unfortunately, it seems if anything even more timely as this issue goes to press in early 2018. The topic could hardly be more urgent. Expressive rights are under the spotlight and, many would say, under siege, on campuses at every educational level from elementary school through university education. Speech rights are also drawing fire and igniting controversy in the country at large. In the past year, on and adjacent to college and university campuses, outside speakers, some of them intentionally provocative, have inspired raucous demonstrations and counter-demonstrations accompanied by intentional violence and even death. These events have challenged many of our traditional images of the marketplace of ideas, protest, and peaceful assembly. Universities seem to either symbolize the cleavages that divide our society, or to have become the battleground on which those divisions are played out, or both. More broadly, the first year of the Trump presidency posed unprecedented challenges for free expression. Ramping up both social anxieties and fears for constitutional norms, early in his term President Trump called the press “the enemy of the people,” a phrase resonant with Stalinism, Nazism and other authoritarian forms of government.1 In the fall of 2017 he said “It’s frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write…. -
Hamaagal the Circling 2018 Monthly Newsletter of CBH
NEWS EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL HaMaagal The Circling 2018 Monthly Newsletter of CBH CBH REMEMBERS The 250 young Jewish women and men in the Jewish Fighting Organization, in Warsaw, Poland Yom HaShoah Erev Shabbat Service Friday, April 13, 7:30pm Learn about the Jewish Fighting Organization, how it began, and how these Jewish young people held out for three weeks against the strongest army in the world. This service will memorialize the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. ABOUT US GENESIS PART 1 FROM ADAM TO ABRAHAM CONGREGATION BET HAVERIM is a THURSDAYS 6:30PM starting April 12 Reconstructionist synagogue founded by April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10 lesbians and gay men, embracing all Jews and loved ones. From the creation of the world to the biblical flood that nearly destroyed HaMaagal is the monthly newsletter of it, the Book of Genesis chronicles Congregation Bet Haverim, containing news, information, and items of interest for our stories of family and faith, honor and diverse community. dishonor, passion and power. How was Abraham able to pick up and Contact Information: leave everything he knew? And how • 2074 Lavista Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329 • Mailing Address: did the awesome teamwork creating PO Box 29548, Atlanta, GA 30359 the Tower of Babel go so terribly • Phone: (404) 315-6446 wrong? In partnership with the Lisa • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.congregationbethaverim.org Brill Institute for Jewish Learning. • Rabbi: Joshua Lesser RSVP to laurie.rose@ • Executive Director: Amy Robertson atlantajcc.org • Music Director: Gayanne Geurin or call (678) 812-3723 • Education Programming: Emet Ozar .01 • Rabbi Assistant: Agatha Walker • Administrator: Julie Lakric • Events & Communications: Allison Carter • Chorus Director: Will Robertson CBH CELEBRATES ISRAEL’S 70th LEADERSHIP Sun., Apr. -
Social Media and Democracy : the State of the Field, Prospects for Reform
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.19, on 26 Sep 2021 at 08:20:02, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/E79E2BBF03C18C3A56A5CC393698F117 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.19, on 26 Sep 2021 at 08:20:02, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/E79E2BBF03C18C3A56A5CC393698F117 Social Media and Democracy Over the last five years, widespread concern about the effects of social media on democracy has led to an explosion in research from different disciplines and corners of academia. This book is the first of its kind to take stock of this emerging multi-disciplinary field by synthesizing what we know, identifying what we do not know and obstacles to future research, and charting a course for the future inquiry. Chapters by leading scholars cover major topics – from disinformation to hate speech to political advertising – and situate recent developments in the context of key policy questions. In addition, the book canvasses existing reform proposals in order to address widely perceived threats that social media poses to democracy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core. Nathaniel Persily is the James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and the Co-Director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center and Stanford Project on Democracy and the Internet. His scholarship focuses on the law and technology of democracy.