ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — An attack on Israeli fans after a soccer game in Europe is being felt by the Jewish community right here in the Capital Region. At an antisemitism rally held at the Albany Jewish Community Center, NEWS10 learns more on how people here are coming together, as well as the latest on representative Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be ambassador to the U.N.
“We have evidence now that the attack on Jews in Amsterdam was planned and premeditated before Israeli fans even arrived in the Netherlands. It was planned through WhatsApp groups, and it was labeled by the attackers themselves as a Jewish hunt,” said Laura Weisblatt, Co-founder of Amidah Albany.
The attacks after a soccer game in the Netherlands last week targeted fans of a Tel Aviv soccer team playing in Amsterdam. Monday night, members of the local Jewish community came together to condemn the hate. “They were beaten with clubs, with bats, they were thrown into rivers, they were tortured, they were assaulted, they were run over by cars. It was a real modern-day pogrom,” said Weisblatt.
She explains that antisemitism is also growing locally, recalling last year’s incident where a man fired a gun at an Albany synagogue. Her children were attending class in the building at the time. “We live in New York State, which is full of Jews, we’re still seeing a horrific rise, 400% increase in anti-Semitic violence,” said Weisblatt.
Evelyn Loeb, a holocaust survivor’s daughter also attended the rally. Her mother was secretly living in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, when World War II broke out. “Well, I I’m very disappointed that we have to keep having rallies against the anti-Semitism. I’ve been a Holocaust educator for many, many years,” said Loeb.
Assemblyman Phil Steck was one of the local officials at the rally. NEWS10’s Reporter, James De La Fuente, asked Steck about representative Elise Stefanik being nominated U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. She sharply questioned university presidents during a house hearing last year on antisemitic incidents on numerous college campuses. Steck said, “I don’t think antisemitism is a political football that should be trotted out when advantageous to one party or another. I think it needs to be opposed in all its forms all the time, and not just when politically advantageous.”
Evelyn feels having support of any kind is welcomed. “I’m looking for more allies, more people to step up and really realize that this is a real global problem and that we need to deal with it now,” said Loeb.
Some of the Jewish leadership in attendance wishes to remain nonpartisan but said, “We’ll take any allies that will be on our side, any strong voice that stands up against hate, against terrorism and stands up for the Jewish people in the Jewish state.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
