18 | AUGUST 17 • 2023
M
aybe you have seen
its hash-tagged slo-
gan on billboards
while driving around Southeast
Michigan or printed on T-shirts
at Jewish community events.
Far from a mere social media
campaign, #EndJewHatred
describes itself as an interna-
tional mobilizing grassroots
campaign aimed at strengthen-
ing Jewish civil rights wherever
the need arises to fight antisem-
itism.
In response to a rash of
anti-Jewish incidents in the
state, most recently seen at
University of Michigan with
the vandalism of several
off-campus fraternity houses,
#EndJewHatred announced July
25 the launch of a Michigan
chapter.
#EndJewHatred Michigan
Director Adar
Rubin said now is
an opportune time
to get a grassroots
movement going
in Michigan in the
face of growing
antisemitic and anti-Zionist
rhetoric that is occurring in
all sectors of society, including
the workplace and within both
major political parties.
“It’s time for Michigan to
take a leadership stance in the
fight against Jew hatred,
” said
Rubin, who is an MSU graduate
and worked in previous roles in
JCRC/AJC Detroit. “The esca-
lating number of incidents is
something that deeply troubles
me. I am very inspired by the
idea of conducting grassroots
action. We seek to empower,
strengthen and unite the Jewish
community on a grassroots
level to fight back against bigot-
ry while showing up to demand
both direct action and conse-
quence.
”
One event that especially
inspired Rubin toward doing
work in grassroots action was
during the summer of 2021,
when more than 150 Jews gath-
ered on Orchard Lake Road to
rally against the growing tide of
anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhet-
oric in the wake of Operation
Guardian of the Walls between
Hamas and Israel.
“I was so moved by the entire
protest and showing up of so
much solidarity with the Jewish
community,
” Rubin said. “The
launch of the #EndJewHatred
movement in Michigan comes
in response to a dramatic rise in
threats of Jew-hatred over the
past year, dangerously foment-
ing in the state.
”
Now, Rubin and a small
group of volunteers are working
to counter Jew-hatred from
wherever it emanates. Members
of the group have hung its ban-
ners on highway overpasses on
the Lodge highway as well as in
Ann Arbor right next to anti-Is-
rael banners, and they have also
photographed themselves with
banners outside Ann Arbor’s
vandalized fraternity houses
and outside the Southfield
office of Congresswoman
Rashida Tlaib.
OUR COMMUNITY
Adar Rubin
Adar Rubin in front
of the vandalized
frat house
#EndJewHatred
starts new
Michigan chapter.
STACY GITTLEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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