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JewBelong

JewBelong
Formation2013; 11 years ago (2013)
FounderArchie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart
TypeNonprofit
Legal status501(c)(3) organization
PurposeCultural education and political advocacy
MethodsBillboards
Revenue (2022)
$4.95 M USD
Expenses (2022)$3.45 M USD
Websitehttps://www.jewbelong.com

JewBelong is a nonprofit organization that is known for its billboards featuring slogans celebrating Zionism.[1][2] It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).[3] It is registered since 2017 in Montclair, New Jersey.

History

JewBelong was founded in 2013 by Archie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart, two Jewish marketing professionals who'd previously led Manhattan Mini Storage's viral billboard marketing.[4][5][6][7][8]

JewBelong was founded with the stated mission of welcoming "disengaged Jews" back into Jewish religious and cultural life.[4]

Their website, which also hosts a variety of free resources for Jewish holidays, culture and customs, was their primary function until late 2019 and early 2020.[citation needed]

Antisemitism awareness campaigns

Beginning in late 2019 and early 2020, JewBelong expanded its programs to include antisemitism awareness campaigns, citing a rise in antisemitic events like the chants of "Jews will not replace us" at the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and the shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and at a Jersey City kosher grocery store in October 2018 and December 2019, respectively.[9][10][11]

One of JewBelong's early antisemitism-related campaigns was a digital display in Times Square, New York. JewBelong's messages included, "We're just 75 years since the gas chambers. So no, a billboard calling out antisemitism isn't an overreaction. #stopantisemitism" and "3,500 years of antisemitism doesn't make it right."[12]

Controversies

JewBelong has gained some notoriety for its "edgy" advertisements, particularly billboards.[13][14][15][16]

JewBelong posted the following on Instagram: "Trust Me. If Israel Wanted to Commit Genocide in Gaza, It Could." Slate's Emily Tamkin's called the post "menacing." JewBelong ultimately deleted the post the same day.[17]

In 2023, JewBelong funded billboard ads that said, "You don't have to go to law school to know that anti-Zionism is antisemitism." In Berkeley, California, the billboards were subsequently vandalized with the phrases, "Jews4FreePalestine" and "Free Palestine". An anonymous anti-Zionist group claimed credit for vandalizing the billboard with anti-Israel graffiti. The Berkeley Police Department investigated the incident as a hate crime.[18][19][20]

In 2024, JewBelong posted billboards near San Diego State University that referenced the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. One said “Remember when college was for losing your virginity, not your mind?” A community member who declined to give his last name to CBS8 San Diego said "I think it’s inappropriate. Not Judaism or anything. I just think having that there that’s the wrong message personally."[21] The rabbi at the Chabad House at SDSU said "I feel like maybe there could be a better way to really explain what is actually happening."[22]

References

  1. ^ Fox, Mira (2022-05-25). "JewBelong's billboards are everywhere. But who are they and what are they selling?". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. ^ Brown, Maya (2022-02-06). "A group is putting up billboards calling out anti-Semitism in Florida". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Jewbelong Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Can a Clever Ad Campaign 'Save Judaism'?". The Forward. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  5. ^ "Co-Founder of JewBelong Says, "Come on in, the Water's Fine!" | Journeys: Jewish Living, Jewish Meaning". Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ^ California, Lillian Ilsley-Greene | J. The Jewish News of (2023-02-03). "Anti-Zionist Jewish activists claim credit for billboard defacement". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. ^ "'We need allies': What NJ Jewish leaders want you to do about rising antisemitism". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  8. ^ "At St. Petersburg Chabad, a response to antisemitism: 'Dispel that darkness'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. ^ WOLF, RACHEL (2019-12-21). "Activists rally against antisemitism with JewBelong". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  10. ^ BOTEACH, SHMULEY (2021-07-12). "Amid antisemitism and disasters, we must face our fears - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  11. ^ Lavalle, Jules (2021-06-06). "Archie Gottesman, Stacy Stuart and JewBelong Launch Multi-Media Campaign Against Antisemitism". The Hollywood Times. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  12. ^ BOTEACH, SHMULEY (2021-07-12). "Amid antisemitism and disasters, we must face our fears - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  13. ^ "Group launches billboard campaign to fight antisemitism in Tampa". WFLA. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  14. ^ "Billboards around San Antonio raise awareness of rising anti-Semitism". kens5.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  15. ^ Goss, Emma (2022-06-06). "Who is paying for these 'JewBelong' bacon billboards in the East Bay?". J. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  16. ^ Heller, Sasha (2022-08-11). "New Provocative Ad Campaign Targets Antisemitism". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  17. ^ Tamkin, Emily (2022-08-11). "What Is JewBelong's Deal?". Slate. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  18. ^ "Berkeley billboards raising awareness about antisemitism left defaced, nonprofit says". ABC7 San Francisco. 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  19. ^ Jones • •, Velena (20 January 2023). "New Billboard About Antisemitism Sparks Debate in Berkeley". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  20. ^ Goss, Emma (2023-01-24). "JewBelong billboards vandalized with 'Free Palestine' in Berkeley". J. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  21. ^ Sanchez, Elizabeth (2024-10-12). "JewBelong | Billboards targeting antisemitism on college campuses seen around San Diego". cbs8.com. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  22. ^ Price, Stepheny (2024-10-11). "Jewish organization blasts colleges in billboard ad near San Diego State University to combat antisemitism". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
Retrieved from "https://en.Wik.ipedia.Pro.org/w/index.php?title=JewBelong&oldid=1257467534"

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