Headlines

German Synagogue Arson Fuels Yom Kippur Fears
Cornell Faces Scrutiny Over Controversial Streamer Event
NYC Mayor Mamdani Under Fire Amid Netanyahu Visit; Far-Right Extremists Clash

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You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we're tracking an arson attack on a German synagogue just before Yom Kippur, campus controversies, and escalating political rhetoric with real-world consequences.

An arson attack targeting the Bergische Synagogue in Wuppertal, Germany, occurred Thursday afternoon, just three days before Yom Kippur. According to the German Press Agency, prosecutors reported the 37-year-old suspect made antisemitic remarks at the scene. The suspect allegedly hurled two bags containing flammable liquid at the synagogue, poured a third near a side entrance, and set the liquid ablaze. Synagogue staff extinguished the flames quickly, and no injuries were reported. The mayor of Wuppertal condemned the attack as “utterly despicable” and called for solidarity with the Jewish community. Several Jewish organizations also condemned the act. The European Jewish Congress stated that attacks timed around Jewish holidays are part of a pattern intended to spread fear, adding that Jews must be able to practice their faith safely. The Berlin office of the American Jewish Committee called for security measures to be urgently strengthened. U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun noted the attack as an attempt to strike fear but asserted it would not succeed. Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal of Berlin's Chabad community called for standing against hatred. The synagogue was previously targeted in 2014.

On campus, streamer Hasan Piker is scheduled to speak at Cornell University on September 24th, organized by student groups including Students Not Bombs Campaign, Justice for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Cornell’s Young Democratic Socialist Association. This event takes place as experts warn the university is a “hotbed of antisemitism.” Cornellians for Israel sophomore Sofia Eliasi told The Post that inviting Piker is an invitation for students to emulate his behavior. The campus Hillel chapter stated Piker’s views go against their values and called his rhetoric repulsive. A petition by SAFE Campus urged officials to call off the event. Piker has a history of controversial remarks, including justifying the October 7th Hamas attacks, calling Jews “inbred,” and expressing anti-American sentiments. Some students, however, believe preventing his appearance is not the answer, advocating for debate. Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist, warned that Piker’s invitation reflects the university’s tolerance for antisemitism.

Meanwhile, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk has drawn criticism from dozens of UCLA Law faculty and hundreds more nationwide for a statement denouncing perceived “hateful ideologies,” “antisemitism and terrorism” at a law school symposium. The symposium, held on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, featured speakers including the lawyer for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the director of CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter. Judea Pearl, father of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, denounced the event, accusing UCLA Law of “weaponizing the painful days of 9/11 and 10/7 to promote hateful ideologies.” The UCLA Law faculty letter argued Frenk’s rebuke violated academic freedom and exposed speakers to harassment. A national law professors’ letter emphasized that media interpretations of Frenk’s statement as a censure compounded risks for scholars. Chancellor Frenk responded that his statement was carefully worded and did not criticize the school or legal representation, reaffirming his commitment to academic freedom.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces scrutiny ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit for the United Nations General Assembly. Mamdani had previously pledged to have Netanyahu arrested if he entered the city, though his administration later acknowledged a lack of independent legal authority to enforce an ICC warrant. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has criticized Mamdani’s stance, accusing him of “inciting and promoting anti-Semitism.” Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz stated that Jewish New Yorkers feel they must “think twice before walking in the streets with a kippah or a chai necklace” due to Mamdani’s rhetoric, which he said demonized supporters of Israel. Actor Michael Rapaport criticized Mamdani for questioning Israel’s right to exist. This situation unfolds as Mamdani’s administration emphasizes its “pothole politics” focus.

Separately, a protest involving Christian nationalist Jake Lang against Mayor Mamdani on 9/11 revealed internal conflicts on the far-right. Lang, who has Jewish heritage but renounced Judaism, has embraced extreme Christian nationalism and made antisemitic conspiracy theories, including claims about a Jewish mafia controlling Hollywood. Counter-protesters, identified as neo-Nazis, targeted Lang, calling him a “psyop” and chanting slogans like “Heil Hitler, free Palestine!” This incident, documented by Mira Fox, highlights how groups on the far-right are fracturing over their antisemitic ideologies and targets, with the neo-Nazis prioritizing white supremacy over Lang's more diffuse antisemitism.

Also in the realm of politics and media, rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after making pro-Palestinian statements on stage and releasing his song “Hind’s Hall” in May 2024. The Israeli American Council and StopAntisemitism called for his removal, and billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft banned him from performing at Gillette Stadium, citing “hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.” Macklemore had accused Israel of genocide and apartheid and dismissed accusations of antisemitism against Israel critics, stating, according to reporting by JTA, that “it’s antisemitic to be anti-Zionist.” He also made controversial remarks in Germany in June, stating that the only way to atone for the Holocaust is by standing against apartheid and genocide. This follows a 2014 incident where Macklemore apologized for an onstage costume that drew accusations of antisemitism.

Finally, a poll by the Mellman Group for the Jewish Electorate Institute found that 56% of American Jews believe Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions have increased antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the United States. In France, presidential candidate Eric Zemmour stated that Jews there rarely wear kippahs in public due to the danger of antisemitic attacks, highlighting the growing threat.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/arson-suspect-detained-after-german-synagogue-targeted/article_42e843c6-45bc-5410-afdc-45e862eeb047.html
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