 JANUARY 14 • 2021 | 25

identify them as Jews since the 
Tree of Life shooting in October 
2018.
• 37% reported being the 
target of an antisemitic incident, 
such as a physical attack or an 
antisemitic remark online or in 
person, by mail or by phone in 
the past five years. However, 76 
percent of those who were tar-
geted did not report the incident. 
 • 43% of those ages 18-29 
say they have either personally 
experienced antisemitism on a 
college campus or know some-
one who has.

DEFINING ANTISEMITISM
Holly Huffnagle, AJC U.S. direc-
tor for combating antisemitism, 
said she was “startled” about the 
“lack of deference” non-Jews 
show toward Jews in defining 
the term. The study revealed 
nearly two thirds (65%) of U.S. 
adults said it would make no 
difference in their opinion of 
a given statement or idea if a 
Jewish individual or an organi-

zation considered it to be antise-
mitic. Only 25% said that this 
would make them more likely to 
consider that idea or statement 
antisemitic.
“We listen to Blacks, the 
LGBTQ commu-
nity and Muslims 
to define what is 
racist, homophobic 
and Islamophobic, 
and it is disturbing 
to me to see the lack of defer-
ence toward Jews when we try 
to define what is hateful to us,
” 
Huffnagle said.
“It has long been AJC’s 
objective that the International 
Holocaust Remembrance 
Alliance (IHRA) definition of 
antisemitism be more widely 
adopted. We need to work with 
other groups, government offi-
cials and institutions outside 
of the Jewish community to 
have a better understanding of 
what antisemitism is and why 
it should be important to them. 
We need to connect antisemitic 

issues with broader societal 
issues like the ability to practice 
religion safely and securely. This 
is an American issue that we 
should all get behind.
” 
Participants were also read 
statements about 
Jewish loyalty to Israel 
and were asked if 
refuting the legitimacy 
and existence of Israel 
as a Jewish state could 
be considered antisemitic. Some 
85% of American Jews and 74% 
of the general public agreed 
that the statement “Israel has 
no right to exist” is antisemitic, 
indicating that large majorities 
of both Jewish and non-Jewish 
Americans believe 
anti-Zionism — the 
belief that Israel has 
no right to exist — to 
be a form of Jew-
hatred.
Rabbi Asher 
Lopatin, executive 
director of Jewish 
Community Relations Council/

AJC Detroit, said the findings 
are crucial in showing the broad-
er community and the other eth-
nic and religious organizations 
he works with that antisemitism 
is something that weighs heavily 
in Jewish consciousness. 
“We have an uphill battle. 
Jews must work toward letting 
the broader community know 
our sensitivities, just like we are 
sensitive to racism,
” Lopatin said. 
“This [understanding] is not 
something that can be forced, 
and others must come to under-
standing antisemitism on a grad-
ual basis on their own through 
meaningful dialogue.
”
Lopatin was encouraged that 
non-Jews viewed denying Israel’s 
existence as a form of antisem-
itism. 
“
Antisemitism and anti-Zi-
onism are two sides of the same 
coin,
” Lopatin said. “
AJC uses 
the IHRA definition of antisem-
itism, which states that singling 
out Israel with double standards 
is problematic.
” 

Rabbi Asher 

Lopatin

AntiSemitism

the

Project

AntiSemitism
AntiSemitism

Welcome!

Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest 
Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic 
Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

Dr. Kleinsmith received her 
bachelor’s degree from Michigan 
State University, and her medical 
degree from Wayne State University 
School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith 
completed her dermatology 
residency at Henry Ford Hospital, 
where she was Chief Resident.
Dr. Kleinsmith

Welcome!

Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest 
Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic 
Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

Dr. Kleinsmith received her 
bachelor’s degree from Michigan 
State University, and her medical 
degree from Wayne State University 
School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith 
completed her dermatology 
residency at Henry Ford Hospital, 
where she was Chief Resident.
Dr. Kleinsmith

Welcome!

Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest 
Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic 
Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

Dr. Kleinsmith received her 
bachelor’s degree from Michigan 
State University, and her medical 
degree from Wayne State University 
School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith 
completed her dermatology 
residency at Henry Ford Hospital, 
where she was Chief Resident.
Dr. Kleinsmith

3 1 2 7 5 N O R T H W E S T E R N H I G H W A Y , S U I T E # 1 4 0 • F A R M I N G T O N H I L L S

248.538.0109 mwdermatology.com | drkleinsmithdermatology.com

Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Center for

Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery — Farmington Hills Center.

Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from

Michigan State University, and her medical degree from 

Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith 

completed her residency at Henry Ford Hospital,

where she was Chief Resident.

Dr. Kleinsmith is a

Board Certified Dermatologist.

