JEWISH WORLD

By RONALD J. EDELSTEIN D uring these tumultuous times in which we live, there is no doubt that in addition to dealing with the daily challenges and adverse effects of the coronavirus that have gripped societies across the planet, we are also facing the most egregious forms of ethnic, racial and reli- gious hatred that we have ever encountered in contemporary times. In the United States for example, brutal attacks on the Asian popula- tion have dramatically skyrocketed since the emergence of the coron- avirus. Clearly, the deadly virus that has claimed the lives of 520,000 Americans originated in Wuhan, China and has insidiously created an ominous trajectory in over 180 countries. Yet and still, we must ask ourselves if the anger and resentment felt by Americans towards their fellow citizens of Asian descent should manifest itself in violent assaults. As Jews, we know all too well what it is like to be treated as a hated minority and to fear for our lives at the hands of those who seek our destruction. Yes, the blood-stained pages of Jewish his- tory speak to us in the boldest of terms and serve as a gruesome reminder that we were blamed for the dissemination of deadly plagues throughout the ages. There is no doubt that it is morally incumbent upon us to raise our collective voices in righteous indignation at the terrifying escala- tion of attacks on Asian Amer- icans, who, for the most part, are hard-working, law-abiding citizens who appreciate the freedoms they are accorded in the United States. L ast in New York City, a rally was held with the specific pur- pose of unabashedly denouncing in the strongest of terms the uptick in attacks on people of Asian descent in the city and across the country. Hundreds of people rallied at Foley Square in lower Manhattan, not far from where an Asian man was critically injured in what po- lice said was an unprovoked stab- bing by another man, who was charged with attempted murder. “It’s really been terrifying for our community,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation, a New York- based advocacy group. “What is happening is not right.” Of the many federal, state and local politicians that took part in the rally was New York State Attorney General Letitia James. She not only denounced the grow- ing number of violent assaults against Asian New Yorkers but she encouraged victims to report at- tacks. “Come to my office so that we can do something about it. Come to my office so that we can go after these individuals who hate us and shut them down,” James said. On her website she said, “As we face an unprecedented and uncer- tain time for New York, the United States, and the world, we must reit- erate the fact that this pandemic does not give anyone an excuse to be racist, xenophobic, or biased. No one should live in fear for their life because of who they are, what they look like, or where they come from. I encourage all victims of discriminatory actions stemming from this pandemic to contact my office. We will continue to work with local law enforcement to combat hate in all its insi- dious forms.” It is exceptionally noteworthy to mention that while it is undoubted- ly praiseworthy that James is tak- ing such an aggressive posture against those haters who would seek to instill trepidation into the hearts of the Asian community, it is also noteworthy to mention that James’s response to the frightening escalation of visceral anti-Semitism as well as brutal attacks on individ- uals and institutions was non-exis- tent, to say the least. Her apparent disinterest in the wave of Jew- hatred that proliferat- ed throughout New York City in the summer of 2019 and has continued in various incarnations until this day will (should?) not go unanswered. It doesn't take much to know that the rudimentary function of the attorney general is to launch metic- ulous probes in order to root out the pernicious source or sources from which criminal behavior is emanat- ing, to find out who the suspects are and what their motives are. While James is on the fast track to take on Asian American JEWISH WORLD • MARCH 19-25, 2021 17 The Two Faces Of Letitia James Anti-Asian prejudice alarms her. Anti-Semitism, not so much continued on page 30 New York Atty. General James’s response to brutal attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions was non-existent. FIRST PERSON (Left) Rabbi Josef Neumann after he was among the five people stabbed when Grafton Thomas stormed into a rabbi's home in Monsey. Neumann died later; Grafton is “unfit to stand trial.”