Leadership stresses importance of partnerships to stay vigilant

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which documented the highest number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since ADL began tracking them more than 40 years ago.

“Antisemitic incidents in the Midwest are reaching a watershed level, and our team is responding to incidents on a near daily basis,” said ADL Midwest Regional Director David Goldenberg. “The common thread linking the perpetrators of these incidents is hate against the Jewish community - whether their own hate or hate linked to generations old antisemitic stereotypes. A wholistic, systemic approach is needed across communities in response. This includes speaking out, naming antisemitism when we see it; sharing facts through education and research; and showing strength as neighbors united against hate.”

In 2021, ADL counted a total of 2,717 antisemitic incidents across the U.S. This represents a 34 percent increase from the 2,026 incidents recorded in 2020 and is the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. 

As antisemitism, bigotry and extremism continue to inundate communities, ADL is strategically adding local Community Engagement staff across the Midwest. ADL’s strategic investment in Indiana has the potential to create long term culture change. Since November 2021, Suzanne Rothenberg has been working as ADL’s Indiana Community Engagement Manager. She joins ADL with an accomplished career of strengthening communities on behalf of schools, nonprofits, civic organizations, and the office of the Mayor of Indianapolis. Rothenberg has been working closely with Jewish organizations to make ADL’s resources, programs, and expertise available and accessible to synagogues, the Jewish community, and beyond. 

In response to the rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years, ADL and Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America, formalized a partnership agreement that will dramatically increase coordination and collaboration in their shared goal of protecting and securing the Jewish community. 

“The number of professional security directors working in the Jewish community has more than doubled in the last four years,” said Michael Masters, SCN’s CEO. “The number of threats we see from people who are intending to kill Jews, intending to target the faith-based community, intending to target people of color in this country, has increased dramatically.”

Indianapolis is at the cutting edge of what partnership can and should look like when fighting antisemitism and safeguarding the Indianapolis Jewish community. The Jewish Federation, SCN, ADL, and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) all work hand-in-hand, leaning on the individual strengths of each organization. 

JCRC takes a proactive and preventative approach to combating antisemitism and all forms of hate through education, public affairs, community relations, and advocacy. 

“Our relationships with civic and state community leaders are paramount in preventing antisemitism in Indiana,” said new JCRC Executive Director Jacob Markey. 

Jeff Linkon, Director of Operations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, launched the Safe Indy Security Initiative in the early spring of 2020. Today, the Safe Indy Security Initiative collaborates daily with Jewish organizations across the state, including Federations, synagogues, Jewish agencies, campus organizations, and a range of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the state. These alliances have enhanced opportunities for collaboration and information sharing, making the local Jewish community safer.

“We are truly building a model of best practice that is being talked about in other communities and I am thankful for the level of professionalism and willingness of our partners to coordinate efforts in the areas of information sharing, training, and incident response,” Linkon said. 

Linkon works closely with Grant Mendenhall, the FBI’s former Special Agent in charge of the Indianapolis Division and former Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division based in Washington, who now serves as Safe Indy’s Community Security Director.

“ADL’s 2021 Audit findings are alarming, if not surprising and they are a clear call for ongoing vigilance in the Jewish community throughout the US,” Mendenhall said. “As Jewish organizations and community members, we must commit to being proactive when it comes to the implementation and practice of safety and security measures. What can we do today that will make us safer and more secure tomorrow?” 

Read ADL’s full audit at www.adl.org/audit2021.

Learn more about the Safe Indy Security Initiative at www.jewishindianapolis.org/safeindy. Report antisemitic incidents at www.adl.org/report-incident.