What happened?
An anti -Semitic incident occurred in a bar belonging to Barstool Sports in Philadelphia on May 3, where customers showed a sign indicating “f ** k the Jews” When ordering the bottle service. Video sequences have shown the Riant group, dancing and singing music, quickly becoming viral on social networks. The incident aroused a generalized indicator and led to a strong response from the founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy, the next day on May 4.
Dave Portnoy’s reaction to the anti -Semitic incident in his bar
Portnoy, who is Jewish, replied publicly with a Flamed condemnation of the incidentexpressing his anger and his frustration. “These are young morons who did this. They are drunk,” he said, adding that he had faced more anti-Semitism in the past year than ever in his 20 years with Barstool Sports.
Rather than continuing severe sanctions immediately, Portnoy stressed the use of the situation as a “teaching moment” and said that offenders would visit Auschwitz to understand the seriousness of their actions.
He also dismissed the two waitresses involved.
However, during a turn of events on May 5, Portnoy said that he revoked An offer to send one of the men involved in an anti -Semitic incident in Auschwitz for education after the man, Mo Khan, a student at Temple University, denied participation despite the publication of the video. Portnoy expressed in frustrationSaying that he had tried to create a learning moment, but Khan went back and said he was just a “citizen journalist” documenting the event. “Whatever the ramifications, he won 100% and deserved.” Portnoy wrote on Instagram.
AJC director Philadelphia / Southern NJ, Marcia Bronstein, said that behavior should not be treated as an isolated incident, in particular at a time when anti -Semitism is at record levels in this country. “We cannot let this kind of hatred normalize,” said Bronstein. “Let’s see it as a moment of learning. The words count. “
What was the response to Portnoy’s social publications?
Many public figures welcomed Portnoy for his quick and decisive response. Pennsylvania’s Republican Senator, Dave McCormick, congratulated him for having addressed “the horrible display of hatred” and using it as an opportunity to educate on anti-Jewish violence, saying that “anti-Semitism must be identified, called and crushed”.
The actor Ben Stiller expressed his support, in accordance with the initial approach of Portnoy “Scorched-Terth”, although Portnoy subsequently moved attention to education. The CEO of X Linda Yaccarino also thanked Portnoy for doing the real job to ensure change “.
The American director of the AJC for the fight against anti -Semitism Holly Huffnagle said that the incident was deeply worrying. The physical, verbal and online attacks against the Jews have increased, she added, fed by an increasingly hostile environment on social networks and university campuses.
“We know by our research that 4 out of 10 Americans have seen anti-Semitism in the past year. However, only a quarter (23%) reported what they have witnessed. The moment to talk about is now,” she said.
Involvement of the University Temple in the anti -Semitic incident
Temple University has confirmed that school students were involved in the incident. President John Fry condemned the behavior, the appellant “deeply disturbing” and announced that a student had been placed on an interim suspension. The University is continuing its investigation through the student affairs division.
Many universities apply conduct codes that extend to actions outside the reasons for the campus. These codes often include provisions addressing behavior which has a negative impact on the university community, creates a hostile environment or violates applicable laws.
“Universities must have a zero tolerance policy for the hateful and anti -Semitic behavior of their students, which these incidents take place on campus or outside campus,” said Huffnagle.
Broader context: increase in anti -Semitism after October 7, 2023
This incident occurs in the midst of increased concerns concerning anti-Semitism in the United States, in particular following the outbreak of the War of Israel-Hamas in October 2023.
According to Report on the state of anti -Semitism in AJC AmericaThe first analysis of the impact of anti -Semitism for the full year according to the massacre of October 7 of the Israelis, 25% of American Jewish respondents said that they knew a local company which had been targeted by anti -Semitism at least once in the past year. But only one in five Jews spoke of anti -Semitism when he targeted them.
“It’s not just a Jewish problem,” said Huffnagle. “This is an American problem. We need all of society to repel this growing hatred. ”
How to push
Huffnagle said everyone can play a role in the fight against anti -Semitism. First, we can better understand the history of anti -Semitism and what it looks like in its many forms. AJC Translate hatred glossary is a good start.
When you see anti-Jewish incidents, report them to the police, to the institutional authorities such as the administrators of the campus, or the owners of companies and the management. When you see or hear hate speeches or online anti -Semitic abuses, Report it to the digital platform on which you see it. And contact your Local and state representatives as well as your Congress members to support legislation strengthens laws on hate crimes And supports the education of the holocaust.
People who personally know someone of Jew are much more likely to consider anti -Semitism as a problem than those who do not. Contact your local Jewish community for Partnerships and events. The more anti -Semitism can be pushed on the sidelines of society, the safest of America can be not only for the Jews, but on everyone.