Tree of Life survivors working to root out antisemitism 4 years after deadliest assault on Jewish people in the US
A row of survivors stand in front of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, where they are demonstrating against the rise of antisemitism in the Jewish community. Photo: AFP
“Our community has come together to bring about change after the worst outbreak of antisemitism this country has ever witnessed, and we’re not done yet.”
The march was organised to mark the four-year anniversary of the deadliest assault on the Jewish community in America, which took place at Rutgers University in New Jersey. It was held on Saturday, April 13, 2014.
The attack was carried out with a sharp-bladed weapon and resulted in a knife-wielding intruder stabbing six people, including the college chaplain and the New Jersey governor.
The perpetrators were never brought to justice, as there was a lack of evidence implicating them in the massacre.
The attack was followed by an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity with Jewish people, but also a torrent of antisemitic posts on social media, much to the dismay of some in the Jewish community.
Afterwards, the perpetrator was identified by DNA and forensics experts.
A new taskforce will be set up to tackle antisemitism in the Jewish community in 2015.
The taskforce will be led by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the JRL. All three organizations were co-ordinating efforts in the aftermath of the tragedy, and all three are part of a coalition that signed an agreement on Friday night to provide help to Jewish community members.
The taskforce will include a senior rabbi, who will be leading a team of rabbis and Jewish educators who are experienced in dealing with and educating members of the Jewish community on how to identify and combat antisemitism in their day-
