Ambassador Gilad Erdan, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, made a somber address at the 10th annual J100 Gala hosted by The Algemeiner newspaper. The event began with a moment of silence to honor the memory of those tragically lost on October 7th in Israel.
Erdan expressed the deep sorrow and concern over the recent violence in Israel, stating, “The Jewish people have experienced a tragedy of immense proportions, akin to the Holocaust. Over 1,400 lives have been tragically lost, with thousands more injured, and over 200 hostages, including innocent babies and Holocaust survivors, held by Hamas terrorists. This battle extends beyond the physical frontlines – it is fought in our living rooms, on our smartphones, in our hearts, and minds. We are bombarded with falsehoods through the media. For instance, last week, Hamas falsely claimed that an Israeli airstrike killed 500 Palestinians at a hospital. Alarmingly, many news channels initially echoed these unverified claims without fact-checking. Subsequently, evidence emerged to reveal not only a gross exaggeration of casualties but also that the explosion resulted from a terrorist rocket. Tragically, this situation not only involves the loss of innocent lives but also the exploitation of their own people. In these challenging times, The Algemeiner stands as a beacon of truth, dedicated to unraveling lies and promoting accurate reporting. The Algemeiner is unwavering in its commitment to supporting Israel and championing the cause of truth.”
The evening’s honorees were Actor Dean Cain, politician Natan Sharansky (introduced by chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov), and journalist Irit Tratt.
Dean Cain’s remarks:
- The situation in Israel is simple: “What has happened in Israel is quite simply, good versus evil, humanity versus evil.”
- Acts of murdering innocent people, including 30 children were decriable..
- Produced an Emmy award-winning documentary called ‘Hate Among Us’ in 2019, which highlights the rise of antisemitism in Europe and the United States.
- Worked with ‘From The Depths,’ an organization led by Jonny Daniels, taking members of the U.S. Congress to visit Holocaust sites like Auschwitz.
- Shared his personal experience taking his own son to Auschwitz and making a vow to never be indifferent again.
- Pledged his support for Israel, standing behind, beside, and with Jewish friends in America and worldwide.
- Concluded with, “God bless America. God bless Israel. God bless the brave servicemen and women of our countries.”
“For us growing up in the Soviet Union, the only Jewish thing which existed was antisemitism”, said Former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky. “Today, many political leaders and academics talk about Israel as an apartheid state. That Israel does to Palestinians what Nazis did to Jews. That Palestinian refugee camps are the Auschwitz of today. Cartoons of the Israeli Prime Minister eating Palestinian children as blood drips from his chin. I say, wait a minute, that is antisemitism. Those are the pictures and the rhetoric we were shown in the Soviet Union of Jews. They say we all love Jews, we will do everything for Jews, we are not antisemitic. They say they are against pogroms. But they are paving the way to the legitimacy of pogroms. That is something that we have to learn here today. We don’t need more lectures and more definitions; anti-zionism is antisemitism today!”
Former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky reflected on his experiences growing up in the Soviet Union, noting, “During our upbringing in the Soviet Union, the prevailing Jewish presence was defined by one thing: antisemitism.”
He continued by addressing contemporary discussions about Israel, stating, “In today’s world, we hear many political leaders and academics referring to Israel as an apartheid state, comparing its actions towards Palestinians to what the Nazis did to Jews. They equate Palestinian refugee camps to modern-day Auschwitz and depict the Israeli Prime Minister in cartoons as a figure consuming Palestinian children while blood drips from his chin.”
Sharansky emphasized the need for critical examination, saying, “It’s crucial to pause and consider – these depictions and narratives mirror the same antisemitism we were exposed to in the Soviet Union. They claim to be supportive of Jews, asserting that they will do everything for Jewish people and decry antisemitism, even stating they are against pogroms. However, they are, in reality, paving the path toward legitimizing future pogroms.”
He concluded by stressing, “Today, our lesson is clear – we don’t require more lectures or elaborate definitions; anti-Zionism is, in fact, antisemitism in the present day!”
The Gala marks the annual unveiling of the highly anticipated J100 List, which recognizes the top 100 individuals making a positive impact on Jewish life. Often described as the Jewish counterpart to TIME100, this year’s list features notable figures such as:
- Ina Garten, known for sharing Rosh Hashanah recipes during the high holidays.
- Ambassador Nikki Haley, a steadfast advocate for Israel.
- Ben Platt, who spoke out against protestors outside the Broadway play ‘Parade,’ a poignant narrative of a Jewish businessman.
- Sunny Sandler, daughter of Adam Sandler and star of her father’s hit film ‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.’
- Jessica Seinfeld, an outspoken critic of Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks.
Emmy award-winning TV journalist Dana Arschin took on the role of the Gala’s host. The event was co-chaired by publisher Simon Jacobson and Dovid and Mushka Efune, with honorary chairman Bernard-Henri Lévy.
Now celebrating its 51st anniversary, The Algemeiner is a global news destination published online and in print that serves as an independent media voice covering the Middle East, Israel, and matters of Jewish interest around the world. The Algemeiner has been identified as the “fastest growing Jewish newspaper in the US” by CNBC. It has been described by former Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor as “the voice of the Jewish people and Israel” and hailed as “brave and relentlessly accurate” by longtime New Republic editor Marty Peretz.
