Originally published 4/23/21

In a letter to Congressional leadership, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and more than a dozen Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Congress (AJC), highlighted the need to stand with Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) communities following skyrocketing hate incidents. From March 2020 to February 2021, there were approximately 3,800 incidents of hate reported to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center, likely only a fraction of what the community experienced.

"As a community familiar with antisemitism, harassment, hate, and scapegoating, we stand in unity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander friends,” states the letter. “For the many in our own Jewish communities who are Asian American, this racism and discrimination is personally traumatizing." You can read the full letter at www.jewishharrisburg.org/aapi-letter-3-2021.

The letter also makes clear that "there is no time to waste," pushing Congress to "pass strong bipartisan legislation to help address hate crimes — against all communities."

This call for action to combat hate and discrimination is not new. Just last month, JFNA hosted a virtual trip to Washington, where it pressed Congress to hold hearings and develop a "comprehensive approach to addressing rising antisemitism." JFNA is calling on lawmakers to provide the tools needed to help address hate crimes against AAPI and all at-risk communities.

"We have witnessed an alarming rate of hate-motivated violence in this country, and there is no group or community that is immune to its impact," said JFNA Board Chair Mark Wilf. "We all must work together in partnership with our elected officials to address this scourge.”