Good News on Antisemitism
South Bend's Common Council approves resolution condemning antisemitism & hate in every form
On Monday, February 27, the Common Council of the City of South Bend unanimously approved a resolution condemning antisemitism & hate in every form.


Here’s an excerpt from remarks given by Bob Feferman, Community Relations Director, at the South Bend Common Council meeting:
Good evening. I want to thank the South Bend Common Council for the opportunity to speak here tonight, for your consideration of this resolution and special thanks to Council Member Lori Hamann for her hard work in researching and initiating this important resolution condemning antisemitism and hate.
The lessons of history teach us that hatred that begins with Jews, does not end with Jews. This resolution acknowledges that important historical lesson.
What is the source of this resurgence of antisemitism? While there is no doubt the answer is complex, I see the internet and social media as a major source of the problem. While these innovations have brought us many blessings, they are also a source of the most convoluted conspiracy theories about Jews and other minorities.
Too many of our citizens - especially young people - have allowed themselves to be brainwashed into accepting extremist beliefs. And we know from recent events that well-known celebrities have used their social media to spread antisemitism.
For our part, to confront this dangerous trend, the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, together with our partner organization in the Kurt and Tessye Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance of Temple Beth-El, offer speakers on Holocaust education to our local schools.
Holocaust education does make a difference. We know from the research of the ADL that, “Holocaust education in high school reflects gains not only in historical knowledge but also manifests in cultivating more empathetic, tolerant, and engaged students.”
We can be proud that our local schools - both public and parochial - are working with us to foster Holocaust education.
Yet, much more needs to be done.
Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and author of the powerful novel Night and other books said: “The opposite of love is not hatred, it’s indifference.”
Tonight, the Common Council is showing all of us that it is not indifferent to this dangerous trend in American society.
To borrow a phrase from the ADL, you are sending the message that hate has no place in South Bend.