AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 19

A FOCUS ON THREATS AGAINST 
JEWS
Rubin said the organization’s main focus is 
to stand up to threats against Jews rather 
than centering its energies on pro-Israel 
messages. However, acknowledging that 
anti-Zionism usually quickly devolves into 
antisemitism, Rubin said they are support-
ive of people with a wide range of views if 
they believe in Israel’s right to exist. 
“We try to take Israel a bit out of our 
equation,
” said Rubin, noting that the 
contested issue of judicial reform in Israel 
has Israelis strongly divided on the direc-
tion of their country. “
As a movement, 
we are accepting of people who are both 
supportive and not supportive of whatever 
current government is in power in Israel, 
who support the current government or 
even people currently protesting the gov-
ernment. As long as you believe in Israel’s 
right to exist and know why it’s important 
that it exists. It is critical that we unite on 
that front.
”
According to its website, 
#EndJewHatred “rejects attempts by 
non-Jews to define Zionism; the entan-
glement of Jewish civil rights with Middle 
Eastern politics; economic discrimination 
against Jews disguised as activist boycotts; 
partisan political affiliations; and the 
complacency and timidity which have 
characterized the Jewish establishment for 
too long.
” 
#EndJewHatred’s National Campus 
Coordinator is Yehuda Jian. 
During his college days at the 
University of California at 
Santa Barbara, he was active 
in preventing the central stu-
dent government there from 
passing a boycott, divestment 
and sanctions resolution 
(BDS) against Israel, noting that it was the 
only campus within the UC system that 
has not passed such a resolution. 
On campuses such as the University of 
Michigan and Michigan State University, 
Jian said #EndJewHatred can offer Jewish 
students resources and training on how to 
effectively mobilize for their civil rights on 
campus by becoming campus fellows for 
the organization. Jian said he has recently 
had conversations with Hillel representa-
tives on both campuses to begin partner-
ships. 
“Our campus fellows essentially become 

the eyes and ears for our organization,
” 
Jian said. “
And what we give them in 
return is legal support, advice on student 
government affairs, and financial support 
for events, speakers, protests, and forging 
partnerships with other Jewish groups on 
campus. We can work with a whole range 
of organizations to do what’s best for the 
Jewish community on campus.
”
Gerard Filitti, a leader and activist with 
#EndJewHatred and a New York City-
based civil rights attorney, said one of 
the goals of the organization 
is “taking the fight to the 
people” and enabling Jews, 
who have stood up for the 
civil rights of so many other 
groups, to learn how to stand 
up for themselves. 
“Jew-hatred has become 
normalized,
” said Filitti, a graduate of 
University of Michigan Law School who 
has practiced law for nearly 20 years. “We 
need to make it socially unacceptable, just 
like we do with every other form of rac-
ism and bigotry against Blacks, Asians, the 
LGBT community or any other minority 
marginalized group. We need to put 
the same stigma on targeting Jews and 
harassing us and discriminating against 
us. It doesn’t matter what your politics 
are. What matters is that you are against 
Jew-hatred, and that you’re willing to do 
something about it.
”
Filitti said due to recent incidents in 
Michigan, from January’s pro-intifada 
demonstration at U-M and the misguided 
diversity assembly at Bloomfield Hills 
High School to antisemitic slurs coming 
from “both sides of the aisle” at the state 
legislature and in Congress, the time is 
right for grassroots mobilization for the 
Jewish community in Michigan. 
“Michigan is one of those states where 
the time is right for #EndJewHatred to 
have more of a presence and to mobilize,
” 
Filitti said. 
“We would love to say that there is less 
hatred toward Jews, but we see all around 
us that there is not. And the more of a 
presence we can build out in Michigan 
and around the country, the more we can 
support the Jewish community and push 
back on what we’re seeing.
” 

For details about the Michigan chapter, visit 

endjewhatred.com.

Yehuda Jian

Gerard 
Filitti

A sign hangs 
in front of the 
fraternity house 
recently vandalized 
at the University 
of Michigan.

A sign now hangs 
above the Lodge 
freeway.

