Dear John,
Sarah Halimi was a mother… a doctor… a teacher… and a victim of antisemitism.
In 2017, the 65-year-old Jewish women was savagely beaten and thrown off the balcony of her Paris apartment while the killer, a Malian immigrant, screamed “Satan” and “Allahu Akbar.”
Yesterday, Halimi’s family was devastated again when a French court ruled that the suspect would not stand trial because he was under the influence of marijuana when he carried out the murder.
What an awful day for those committed to combating antisemitism and for all who value human life and the rule of law.
As AJC CEO David Harris writes below, antisemitism is again threatening Jewish lives throughout Europe and around the world, and it’s up to us to fight it. I have been watching with alarm as this hatred has resurfaced on American soil, but for me, as a European Jew, this is nothing new.
For the past two decades, AJC has been sounding the alarm about rising antisemitism and drawing attention to its multiple sources. We have worked to engage governments and civil society, and we have seen some progress. But this is not a problem that will be solved overnight or one that we can solve alone. We need your support.
Actions speak louder than words and AJC has been pushing those in power to do far more to protect Jewish communities. Recently, France adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, becoming the 17th nation to do so.
AJC, which played a key role in drafting the definition, had long advocated for this critical step, working closely with members of Parliament to make it happen despite well-funded opposition. The definition’s adoption will help ensure that policymakers and law enforcement authorities work to counter antisemitism in all its forms and no matter its source.
This is the kind of change that AJC is driving every day, through an unparalleled global advocacy network that includes more than 70 offices and partnerships worldwide.
Sarah Halimi’s murder illustrates the consequences of failing to confront modern Jew-hatred. We face an uphill battle, but we must not give up. Make a year-end gift to AJC today—a gift that will be doubled—and show that what happened to Sarah Halimi cannot ever happen again.
Sincerely,
Simone Rodan-Benzaquen
AJC Europe Director
P.S. If you have already given, please accept my sincere appreciation. If you have not, please give today so your gift can be doubled.
Begin forwarded message:
From: David Harris, AJC CEO
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 8:03 AM
To: Simone Rodan
Subject: Don’t look away
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