New York — Open Society Foundations, Family A charitable foundation founded by hedge fund billionaire George Sorosallocates $30 million to groups fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred over the next three years.
the Major funder of human rights The United Nations pledged on Wednesday to strengthen interfaith partnerships and protect those facing increasing threats in response to rising levels of violence Hatred against both Jewish and Muslim communitiesin conjunction with Israel-Hamas war and The current fragile ceasefire.
Last year saw the highest level of deadly violence against Jews around the world in more than three decades, according to a report published by the Times of Israel website. The annual study was released last month From Tel Aviv University, incl Shooting in December at a Hanukkah celebration In Australia. Meanwhile, Anti-Muslim rhetoric has escalated Against the backdrop of the Iran war, where one Republican in Congress said: “Muslims.” They do not belong to American society“.
“The profound injustices occurring in the Middle East are fueled by indiscriminate prejudice, dehumanization, and violence directed against both Muslims and Jews,” Bennifer Nuruji, president of the Open Society Foundations, said in a statement. “Entire communities cannot be targeted simply because of their religion. Intolerance and fanaticism in any form must be addressed and confronted.”
The announcement represents the organizations’ most visible crackdown since last fall’s U.S. reports The Justice Department is studying possible charges Against the Open Society Foundations. President Donald Trump specifically named Soros after himself The FBI ordered strict action About what he called “left-wing terrorism” – an accusation that OSF denied in statements emphasizing its mission to promote democracy.
Alex Soros, who He took over the leadership of his father’s institutions In late 2022, he noted that “discrimination and hate” are not abstract concepts for him as the son of a Holocaust survivor and the husband of a Muslim American. The foundation added that George Soros, who wields significant influence as a major liberal donor with huge financial investments and philanthropic connections, is often targeted by conservative conspiracy theories that turn those powerful connections into anti-Semitic metaphors about behind-the-scenes puppet masters.
“In a moment like this, we need to stand together and act,” Alex Soros said in a pre-recorded video posted on social media. “This investment is about keeping people safe and tackling hate.”
The commitment broadly aims to expand education about forms of discrimination, and support community leaders who build trust and protect free speech rights to legal expression. The foundations have already selected some grant recipients and are inviting other nonprofits to apply for funding. Beneficiaries include the Jewish Roundtable for Social Justice, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Nexus Project. Shoulder to Shoulder, an interfaith coalition that prepares religious leaders to address anti-Muslim discrimination, is among those leading the work to combat Islamophobia.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, welcomed the strategy to address both issues. Spitalnick said the grant will allow JCPA to build on its work of solidarity with the Muslim and Arab American communities, which has deepened since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. She pointed to a fellowship and discussion on Capitol Hill about Jewish-Muslim solidarity launched with the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
She stressed that hatred is interconnected. She said the normalization of Islamophobia, racism and broader anti-democratic extremism creates the conditions for anti-Semitism to flourish.
“We need funders and others to realize that addressing any of these issues in isolation does not get to the root cause, nor does it get to the broader resilience we need now,” Spitalnick said. “The fact that the safety of the Jews requires the safety of Muslims, and that the safety of Muslims requires the safety of the Jews.”
Soros’ announcement did not say how institutions would define anti-Semitism, a point of contention on college campuses and state legislatures where debates have raged over whether criticism of Israel amounts to hatred of Jewish people. The shortlist of Open Society grantees suggests a more precise definition than that of the Anti-Defamation League, which Issues an annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents In the United States. The Anti-Defamation League believes that denigrating Zionism, or the movement to create and maintain a Jewish state in Israel, is a form of anti-Semitism.
In contrast, the Nexus Project promotes definitions of anti-Semitism that do not include opposition to Israeli state policies. Likewise, as the National Education Association was considering a resolution banning the use of ADL educational resources, Spitalnick emphasized that “one need not agree with the ADL on every issue.”
Andris Spokwini, president and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network, estimated that the philanthropic sector has allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to combat anti-Semitism — regardless of its definition. Other notable efforts include the $25 million “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” ad campaign Fired by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft In March 2023 through his Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism.
But persistent anti-Semitism has made some members of Spokwini’s group question their methods.
“There’s a lot of confusion about what actually works,” he said. “A lot of funders are feeling very frustrated.”
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