MERCAZ USA

Community Response to NY Times Cartoon

April 29, 2019

Dear Mr. Baquet,

We, the undersigned organizations, were extremely disturbed by the Antisemitic cartoon published in the international edition of the New York Times on April 25th. While we appreciate the clarification and acknowledgment of responsibility, we contend that you continue to owe an explanation.

Moreover, it is difficult to fathom why, at a time of increasing Antisemitism and hate violence, the New York Times editors would have been so insensitive to the impact of such a cartoon. Were the editors not aware of the Pittsburgh shootings, the rise in hate crimes aimed at Jews, and the spike in Antisemitic rhetoric on both ends of the political spectrum, all of which are animated precisely by such depictions of Jews and Israel?

Specifically, we would like to know the following: 1. How did such a blatantly Antisemitic representation elude the editors? 2. What do you intend to do to make sure this doesn’t happen again? 3. What consequences do you intend to impose on the editors, cartoonist, and the syndicate?

We would appreciate an expeditious response. Thank you.

Sincerely,

JCPA National Organizations:

  • Anti-Defamation League
  • B’nai B’rith International
  • Jewish Council for Public Affairs
  • Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
  • Jewish Federations of North America
  • Jewish Labor Committee
  • National Council of Jewish Women
  • ORT America
  • Rabbinical Assembly
  • Reconstructing Judaism
  • Union for Reform Judaism
  • Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
  • United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
  • Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

JCPA Local Organizations:

  • Atlanta Jewish Community Relations Council
  • Baltimore Jewish Council
  • Buffalo Jewish Community Relations Council
  • Charleston Jewish Federation
  • Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
  • Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest
  • Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley
  • Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
  • Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council
  • JCRC of Greater Phoenix
  • JCRC of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines
  • Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
  • Jewish Community Relations Committee of Akron
  • Jewish Community Relations Committee of Columbus
  • Jewish Community Relations Committee of Greater Santa Barbara
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Palm Beach County
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Pittsburgh
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation
  • Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
  • Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC – Detroit
  • Jewish Federation of Central Massachussetts
  • Jewish Federation of Cleveland
  • Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
  • Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
  • Jewish Federation of Reading
  • Jewish Federation of San Antonio
  • Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
  • Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
  • Jewish Community Relations Council – Jewish Federation of Springfield
  • Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
  • Memphis Jewish Federation
  • Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation
  • Tampa Jewish Federation
  • The Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
  • The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
  • United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula
  • Youngstown Area Jewish Federation

Other Organizations:

  • Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs
  • Jewish Family Service of Seattle
  • Jewish Federation & Family Services
  • Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
  • Jewish Federation of Central California
  • Jewish Federation of Edmonton
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
  • Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties of New Jersey
  • Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
  • Mercaz USA
  • New Jersey State Association of Jewish Federations
  • UJA Federation of Greenwich
  • Westchester Jewish Council

cc: Azam Ahmed

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