Latest news with #JewishAmericans
The Herald Scotland
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
ADL survey: Majority of Americans reject antisemitism
The survey assessed more than 1,000 Americans across the nation and various demographics including age, political parties and views on Israel. Respondents were asked about deadly attacks in Washington D.C. and Boulder, Colorado as well as an arson attack at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence on April 13. Last month, a 45-year-old man allegedly used a Molotov cocktail to attack members of the Jewish community during a march in Colorado, killing an 82-year-old woman and injuring 14 others. On May 21, a 31-year-old man fatally shot two staff members at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Around 22% of respondents said those attacks were not antisemitic, and 14% did not consider them hate crimes, according to the ADL. Around 13% called the attacks "justified" and 15% agreed that the violence was "necessary." The survey also found that the majority of Americans consider the recent attacks on Jewish people "morally wrong." "As the Jewish community is still reeling from recent antisemitic attacks that killed three people, it's unacceptable that one-quarter of Americans find this unspeakable violence understandable or justified -- an alarming sign of how antisemitic narratives are accepted by the mainstream," ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said in a news release. 34% say Jewish Americans are more loyal to Israel than US Greenblatt said antisemitic hate has continued to increase since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage in Gaza. Since then, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Reuters, and millions are suffering from acute malnutrition, starvation and illness. "The torrent of antisemitic hate has continuously increased since Oct. 7, 2023, with Jews being harassed and targeted, blamed and attacked, wounded and killed. The bipartisan majority of the American public must act," Greenblatt said. The ADL also shared more findings on perspectives toward the Jewish community, including that 34% of survey respondents said they believe Jewish Americans are more loyal to Israel than to the United States. Around 30% of Americans believe Jewish people have too much influence in politics and media, the report states. Meanwhile, the report says one in four Democrats and 23% of Republicans have expressed concerns about antisemitism within their own political ranks. The survey revealed that 27% of recipients said they believe Jewish Americans bear responsibility for the actions of Israel. ADL survey: Other key findings The ADL survey also revealed several other key findings, including that 29% of Americans are favorable toward anti-Israel protesters. However, that favorability decreased with age, from 59% in favor for Gen Z, 29% for millennials and 16% for baby boomers. Other findings include: 58% said protesters use the term "Zionist" to refer to Jewish people in general 68% said violence toward Jewish people rose with slogans like "Globalize the Intifada" or "From the River to the Sea." 34% said they aren't sure what "anti-Zionism" means 82% said they support removing online hate speech that celebrates violence 77% want government officials to do more to combat antisemitism Islamophobia also spiked since the Oct. 7 attacks Reports of discrimination or violence toward Muslims and Palestinians have peaked to new highs following Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). In March, CAIR reported that Islamophobia in the U.S. continues to be at an all-time high with many discrimination cases going toward "those speaking out against genocide and apartheid." "Speaking out against Israel's policies of apartheid, occupation and genocide came with a price," CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said in the report. "For the first time in our report's nearly 30-year history, complaints reported to us were often the result of viewpoint discrimination rather than religious identity." During the two months after the Oct. 7 attacks, reported incidents of Islamophobia rose by 300% in the U.S., according to Vision of Humanity. The platform also reported a 270% rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. between September 2023 and November 2023, as well as a 200% increase in 2024.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Majority of Americans call 2025 attacks toward Jewish people 'morally wrong,' survey says
Nearly one in four Americans considered three recent violent incidents against Jewish Americans understandable, according to a new report on the alarming rise of antisemitic viewpoints in the U.S. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) published a new report on Friday, July 11 revealing that while the majority of Americans (60%) largely reject antisemitism, 24% of survey respondents justified three violent attacks that occurred in 2025. The survey assessed more than 1,000 Americans across the nation and various demographics including age, political parties and views on Israel. Respondents were asked about deadly attacks in Washington D.C. and Boulder, Colorado as well as an arson attack at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence on April 13. Last month, a 45-year-old man allegedly used a Molotov cocktail to attack members of the Jewish community during a march in Colorado, killing an 82-year-old woman and injuring 14 others. On May 21, a 31-year-old man fatally shot two staff members at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Around 22% of respondents said those attacks were not antisemitic, and 14% did not consider them hate crimes, according to the ADL. Around 13% called the attacks 'justified' and 15% agreed that the violence was 'necessary.' The survey also found that the majority of Americans consider the recent attacks on Jewish people 'morally wrong.' 'As the Jewish community is still reeling from recent antisemitic attacks that killed three people, it's unacceptable that one-quarter of Americans find this unspeakable violence understandable or justified — an alarming sign of how antisemitic narratives are accepted by the mainstream,' ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said in a news release. 34% say Jewish Americans are more loyal to Israel than US Greenblatt said antisemitic hate has continued to increase since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage in Gaza. Since then, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Reuters, and millions are suffering from acute malnutrition, starvation and illness. 'The torrent of antisemitic hate has continuously increased since Oct. 7, 2023, with Jews being harassed and targeted, blamed and attacked, wounded and killed. The bipartisan majority of the American public must act,' Greenblatt said. The ADL also shared more findings on perspectives toward the Jewish community, including that 34% of survey respondents said they believe Jewish Americans are more loyal to Israel than to the United States. Around 30% of Americans believe Jewish people have too much influence in politics and media, the report states. Meanwhile, the report says one in four Democrats and 23% of Republicans have expressed concerns about antisemitism within their own political ranks. The survey revealed that 27% of recipients said they believe Jewish Americans bear responsibility for the actions of Israel. ADL survey: Other key findings The ADL survey also revealed several other key findings, including that 29% of Americans are favorable toward anti-Israel protesters. However, that favorability decreased with age, from 59% in favor for Gen Z, 29% for millennials and 16% for baby boomers. Other findings include: Islamophobia also spiked since the Oct. 7 attacks Reports of discrimination or violence toward Muslims and Palestinians have peaked to new highs following Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). In March, CAIR reported that Islamophobia in the U.S. continues to be at an all-time high with many discrimination cases going toward 'those speaking out against genocide and apartheid.' 'Speaking out against Israel's policies of apartheid, occupation and genocide came with a price,' CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said in the report. 'For the first time in our report's nearly 30-year history, complaints reported to us were often the result of viewpoint discrimination rather than religious identity.' During the two months after the Oct. 7 attacks, reported incidents of Islamophobia rose by 300% in the U.S., according to Vision of Humanity. The platform also reported a 270% rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. between September 2023 and November 2023, as well as a 200% increase in 2024.
Politico
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
White House condemns Democrat who told Stephen Miller to ‘go back to 1930's Germany'
The White House lashed out at a House Democrat who wrote on X that Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller — who is Jewish — should 'go back to 1930's Germany.' 'What an absolutely disgusting comment from a Congressman to a Jewish WH official,' Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly wrote on X on Thursday, quoting Rep. Mark Pocan's (D-Wis.) post. 'Pocan must apologize — not just to Stephen, but to his constituents — and then seek professional help. This crazed antisemitic hatred from Dems emboldens radicals to target Jewish Americans.' Pocan's Wednesday post was a response to one by Miller where he said New York City is 'the clearest warning yet' of what happens to societies that fail to 'control migration.' Though not explicitly stated, Miller was likely referring to Zohran Mamdani's apparent Democratic primary win in New York City's mayoral race earlier this week. Mamdani, who is Muslim, immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda when he was seven. Mamdani has been the subject of xenophobic attacks during his campaign, including from some conservative figures who said New York City would see another Sept. 11 if he becomes mayor. Pocan declined to apologize, instead saying he is not engaging in a 'false debate' with the 'people who make up the racist base of the GOP.' 'I'm confident normal people are as troubled by his views as I am, and understand he is doing Nazi-like things to people in the name of his extremist views,' Pocan said in a text message to POLITICO. 'They rounded up people in the 30's, just as they are today with zero due process.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How summer camp became an American obsession
Summer camp. It's where kids go every year to make friends, find their long-lost twin, or even evade a slasher wreaking havoc on the campers and counselors. At least, that's what pop culture would lead you to believe: For the outsized space they take up in our consciousness, going to camp for the summer isn't actually all that common. 'It has never been the case that the majority of American children went to summer camps,' says Leslie Paris, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia and author of the book Children's Nature: The Rise of the American Summer Camp. 'The first camps were founded by urban middle-class men,' she told Vox. 'They were concerned about white boys who they saw as not getting enough outdoor adventure and the kind of manly experiences they would need to be — in the minds of these adults — the nation's leaders for the next generation. They were worried about the effects of urbanization, and they were nostalgic for an earlier day when more boys had grown up in rural places.' How did camp begin to be available for more kids? And if so few people actually attend, then why does summer camp have such lasting cultural influence? Those are just a few of the questions we posed to Paris on the latest episode of Explain It to Me, Vox's weekly call-in podcast. Below is an excerpt of the conversation with Paris, edited for length and clarity. You can listen to Explain It to Me on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to submit a question, send an email to askvox@ or call 1-800-618-8545. How did camp expand beyond the audience it was originally created for? The YMCA movement became involved, and by the turn of the century the movement started really ramping up. Not only because more YMCA camps were founded, but because different organizations got involved and more groups of American adults thought this camp idea would be great. By the turn of the century, you've got small numbers of women leading groups of girls out into the wilderness. Many of the women who started camps were college-educated and saw leading girls and giving them adventures as a kind of passion. Then there were urban organizations that began to say, 'This would be great for impoverished working-class kids who never get out of the city at all,' and began sending groups of kids out into the country, often for shorter stays than at private camps. In the early 20th century, you've got a bunch of new movements: the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Campfire Girls. And then there are different ethnic and religious groups: Jewish Americans, Catholic Americans, who think, Let's start camps for our own kids, and they do that as well. By the early 20th century there's a bevy of different kinds of camps organized for a wider variety of kids to give them an experience of the outdoors. You write in your book that 'this triple nostalgia — for the American past, for camp community, and for individual childhood experience — is critical to understanding why camps have figured so influentially in American culture and in former campers' lives.' I'd love for you to talk about that a little bit more. One of the things I talk about in my book is that camps were a place where children learned nostalgia, that camps taught them a version of the American past. I think many of us are familiar with a use of Indigenous cultural practices that was often quite superficial, but that was meant to introduce non-Indigenous children to one aspect of the American past. Camps were often a place where children were exposed to ideas about what the American past had been, and then as more generations of children attended camps, they themselves brought those kinds of nostalgic memories with them, throughout their lives. When they had a chance, many of those former children sent their own kids to camp. So this became a kind of a nostalgic cultural practice that for many adults reminded them of the first time that they had an adventure away from their parents, away from their families. It's so interesting you talk about Indigenous culture and how that's been used at camp. It makes me think of that scene in where Wednesday's at camp. Why does camp feature so prominently in pop culture if so few of us went? You could ask, Why are so many children's novels premised around an orphan? I think the fact that the kid is an orphan in these novels allows them to go off and have adventures and do things that many kids raised in families would not necessarily be at liberty to do. And I think camps have often represented that space, a space that's at least ostensibly protected, where kids have more free play and can have exciting adventures and develop peer relationships that are outside of the norm. And that piece lends itself really well to popular culture. Camp is so specific. How did you choose this as an academic subject? I knew that I wanted to work on American childhood, which was still a pretty small field in the 1990s, when I started this project. There wasn't a major scholarly book about the history of summer camps at the time and it seemed like a wonderful way to write about something that would be fun to work on. One of the things that I look at in my book is how camps illuminate the ways in which childhood was being transformed in the late 19th and early 20th century. That's so interesting. I imagine that changes at summer camp also reflect changes in American childhood overall. I'd love to hear in broad strokes about some of those changes. How have we seen camp and therefore childhood change over time? One of the main changes that I look at is the rise of the idea of protected childhood. That childhood should be a time apart and children should be protected from the adult world. The late 19th, early 20th century is the same time when you see laws restricting children's labor. There's an emphasis on child protection that's emerging during this period, and camps are one of the early sites of this new idea that children are deserving of spaces apart, time apart, and also that they're deserving of vacations. Although many of the elite kids who attended more expensive private camps were certainly going to have vacations whether or not they went to summer camp, some of the working-class kids at the turn of the 20th century who attended summer camps had never been on a vacation outside of the city. Summer camp has become this huge business these days in the United States, $3.5 billion annually. How did that happen? The camp industry has had to be nimble and change over time, especially since the 1970s, which was a time when many camps struggled and a number failed. The camping industry underwent some structural changes. One of these was the rise of specialty camps: Basketball camp, computer camp, gymnastics camp, dance camp, theater camp — camps that were focused on a really specific interest emerged in the late 20th century. Another issue was that many families who could afford private camps were starting to juggle more different opportunities. The cost of travel by plane was going down, so more families were thinking, Maybe at some point this summer we'd like to take the kids on a trip. There was also a rise in [divorce] and families had to negotiate custody. So even camps that used to have a nine-week schedule increasingly considered moving to a two-session schedule. Modern summer camps have retained many of the same elements as some of the earliest camps, but they've also adjusted to the increasing complexity of some of their clients' lives, and in that way the camp industry has continued to be able to thrive. And there's another issue, which is that camps have also always provided child care, and this has been important for parents since the very beginning. It's been a boon for parents who could relax knowing that their kids were away, especially families trying to juggle complicated child care arrangements in the summer when there was no school.
Boston Globe
24-06-2025
- Boston Globe
‘I was in total shock': Clark University student details tense evacuation from Israel amid bombings
Advertisement In the following days, the rising senior moved in and out of bomb shelters, uncertain about whether she would be able to complete her internship. She eventually was evacuated by a cruise ship with 1,500 other Jewish-American travelers, only to be stranded in Cyprus when chartered US flights failed to arrive. She was eventually able to make it out safely, returning to her home in Los Angeles over the weekend. When hostilities began, Schmerzler was at the tail end of a 10-day trip sponsored by Advertisement After the Birthright trip ended June 15, Schmerzler planned to stay in the country through program called 'I was really, really excited to do it,' she said. 'This was a big deal — it was my first time outside of the U.S. on my own." But early in the morning on June 13, just three hours after Schmerzler and her friends came back from the Machane Yehuda Market, they were jolted awake by alarms on their phones warning them to get to safety within a minute. They rushed down 10 flights of stairs to an underground bomb shelter with plaster walls and concrete floors. Hours later, the strikes 'The last thing I expected would be that, that morning when we all sat down for breakfast, our tour guide would tell us that Israel blew up Iran's nuclear reserves,' she recalled. Iran 'We weren't getting a lot of information,' she said. 'Once we learned that everything is suspended, we're going to be stuck in place for the time being, that's when I started getting a little anxious.' As they took cover in 10-20 minute increments over the next several days, Schmerzler said, spirits in the bunker remained high. Some people brought cards or games to entertain themselves, while others sang Jewish songs and waved Israeli flags. Advertisement On Monday night, Schmerzler learned she would be evacuating by cruise ship. She and About 1,500 Jewish Americans were evacuated from Israel to Cyprus on a cruise ship operated by Mano Maritime. Courtesy of Elisabeth Schmerzler But the uncertainty of the previous few days didn't end there. Many of the Eventually, Birthright arranged commercial flights. Schmerzler flew to Cologne, Germany, took a bus to Frankfurt, and finally caught a plane back to Los Angeles. Now home, she's trying to work off the jet-lag and the disappointment. 'I'm definitely extremely disappointed that I didn't get to have this opportunity,' she said, adding that she's hoping she can complete her internship remotely. Despite her tense stay in Israel, Schmerzler said she wouldn't hesitate to go back. 'I want to experience it again and even more fully,' she said. Emily Spatz can be reached at
