Jonathan Greenblatt’s Troubling Legacy at the Anti-Defamation League

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Jonathan Greenblatt’s tenure as the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has been marked by a series of controversial actions and statements that have raised questions about the organization’s commitment to its mission of combating anti-Semitism and promoting civil rights. From his strained relationship with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his partisan attacks on political opponents, Greenblatt’s leadership has radically departed from the once noble principles of the ADL in troubling ways.

For those not in the know, Greenblatt came to the ADL straight from the Obama White House where he served as the Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation (OSICP) and he came armed with the same far-left agenda that came to define the aforementioned’s presidential agenda.  Prior to that, Greenblatt worked in the Clinton White House, focusing on issues of trade and technology. With that said, we begin to get some idea of the political discourse that the ADL, under Greemblatt’s leadership would be extolling.

One of the most concerning aspects of Greenblatt’s leadership is his overt partisanship. His behavior during the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court was a clear example of this. Greenblatt publicly attacked Kavanaugh, questioning his qualifications and character without basis. This departure from the ADL’s traditional role as a non-partisan advocate for civil rights has raised eyebrows and created a great deal of concern.

It is essential for organizations like the ADL to maintain their credibility as impartial defenders of civil liberties. When they engage in partisan attacks, they risk alienating individuals and groups who may hold differing political views but share a commitment to combating anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance. Greenblatt’s hasty opposition to any Trump nominee for the Supreme Court revealed a leap into blind partisanship that has no place in an organization dedicated to fighting prejudice and bigotry.

Greenblatt’s stance on religious liberty also set off some bells and whistles. The ADL’s historical commitment to defending the religious freedom of all Americans has been compromised under his leadership. Greenblatt publicly lamented a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a Christian baker’s First Amendment rights, signaling a shift away from the ADL’s traditional stance on religious liberty.

Moreover, the ADL’s characterization of opposition to abortion as a “right-wing assault on religious diversity in reproductive freedom” is a distortion of language and faith. It is concerning to see the organization embrace liberalism as a form of religion itself, as it blurs the line between advocacy for civil rights and political ideology. Such a stance risks alienating individuals and groups who hold different beliefs on these complex issues.

Perhaps one of the most puzzling aspects of Greenblatt’s leadership is his antagonistic approach towards the elected Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Greenblatt’s response to Netanyahu’s comments about the Palestinian demand for a future state free of Jews was surprisingly critical. He argued that the term “ethnic cleansing” should not be used for political ends, even when it accurately describes a situation.

This criticism is not only nonsensical but also hypocritical when considering Greenblatt’s own use of historical analogies in the context of American immigration policies. By comparing the separation of migrant children to the Holocaust, Greenblatt engaged in a dangerous and irresponsible trope. It is concerning that the ADL, an organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, is now participating in the misuse of historical tragedies for political purposes.

Greenblatt’s tenure at the ADL has also been marked by a shift in priorities. His focus on liberal values and his obsession with Benjamin Netanyahu have sometimes overshadowed the organization’s core mission of combating anti-Semitism. The ADL’s reputation as a defender of civil rights and tolerance has been tarnished by Greenblatt’s actions and statements.

In April of this year, a report was published on anti-Semitism that coauthored by the ADL and Tel Aviv University, however it ignited a heated exchange of allegations between Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the ADL. The report, titled “Anti-Semitism Worldwide Report for 2022,” aimed to provide an overview of anti-Semitic trends in the previous year. This collaboration between the ADL and Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry marks a significant departure from previous reports that focused primarily on anti-Semitism within the United States.

Published just before Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, the report’s findings are alarming. It highlights a substantial increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2022 within the United States and several other Western countries. However, the report also reveals a decline in anti-Semitic incidents in countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it highlights that Haredi Jews, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group, are the primary victims of anti-Semitic assaults in Western countries.

Amid this troubling backdrop, an acrimonious exchange of allegations erupted, emphasizing the deepening divisions among Jewish groups in Israel and beyond, particularly between left-leaning and right-leaning factions.

One of the most contentious aspects of the report is its thinly veiled comparison between Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, and European “fascists.” The report draws a parallel between Ben Gvir’s party and European far-right groups with fascist roots, emphasizing the racist expressions that have polluted Israeli public discourse.

The report states, “This year saw the former disciples of the late racist Rabbi Meir Kahane, who introduced Nazi-like legislation to the Knesset, enter government… Since then, members of the Jewish Strength party have polluted Israeli public discourse with chilling racist expressions that would have led to the immediate termination of their political careers in other democracies.”

Itamar Ben Gvir, has expressed admiration for the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated for the transfer of Israel’s Arab population out of the country. Ben Gvir was previously an activist in Kahane’s Kach movement.

In response to the ADL’s criticism of Ben Gvir, his advisor, Yishai Fleisher, accused the ADL of using its influence to attack Jewish nationalism and the Israeli voter instead of focusing on the real threats facing the Jewish people and Israel. He asserted that certain topics, such as the Holocaust, should remain outside the realm of political disputes, emphasizing that the memory of the Holocaust should not be cynically used to divide Jews against one another.

The acrimonious exchange surrounding the report highlights the challenges in addressing anti-Semitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust amid increasing political polarization. It underscores the need for constructive dialogue and collaboration among various Jewish groups to effectively combat anti-Semitism and protect the interests of the Jewish community worldwide.

As this controversy unfolded, the ADL has not yet issued a public response to the allegations made by Ben Gvir’s office.

Moreover, the late Rabbi Kahane, in his 1975 book entitled, “The Story of the Jewish Defense League” (Chilton Publishers) stated that ADL leaders and members surreptitiously attended JDL events and turned over JDL member names and other relevant personal information about them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies.

On Tuesday, it was reported by CNN that X owner Elon Musk had announced his intention to sue the ADL for defamation, claiming that the nonprofit organization’s statements about rising hate speech on the social media platform have torpedoed X’s advertising revenue.

CNN also reported that in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk said US advertising revenue is “still down 60%, primarily due to pressure on advertisers by @ADL (that’s what advertisers tell us), so they almost succeeded in killing X/Twitter!”

Musk also claimed that since he took over the platform in October 2022, the ADL “has been trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic,” as was reported by CNN.

“To clear our platform’s name on the matter of anti-Semitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League … oh the irony!” he said, according to the report.

The ADL said as a matter of policy it does not comment on legal threats.

It has become abundantly clear that the ADL’s history is replete with consistent efforts to silence those with whom they disagree politically. Anyone who does not tow the uber liberal line or anyone who does not march lock step with the doctrinaire approach of the woke, progressive agenda is fair game for the ADL to launch attacks on.

Because free speech and the open expression of views and perspectives on social media is considered verboten by the powers that be that decide who and what should be shadow banned, censored and ultimately removed from the platforms, there is little doubt that Greenblatt’s far reaching tentacles with the highest levels of government has had an influential impact on who is denied their constitutional rights.

If an individual or organization wishes to express politically conservative views or if they choose to express their religious leanings, then they too can be added to the ever growing list of those who are unable to participate in the global discussion that goes on ad infinitum.

More people and organizations than we could ever imagine have become victims of the kind of liberal fascism that Greenblatt and his ADL incessantly espouse.

Case in point: The Jewish Voice social media platforms have been one of many who have been targeted by the dark forces of the “Deep State” whose shadowy cast of characters that pull the levers in the background include the likes of Greenblatt and others of his nefarious ilk.

The time is long overdue to stop pandering to those who seek to obliterate our cherished democratic principles as outlined in our constitution and in our bill of rights. Those who seek to silence us today will silence others tomorrow and in the years to come. If we do not boldly respond to this blatant and ruthless assault on our freedoms then we will pay the severe consequences of living in a police state, where expression of views that are not in vogue will be deemed a criminal act with the kind of penalties meted out that we never thought possible.

Now is the time to act!! Contact your local elected officials and outline your grievances. Contact House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders and make your views known is clear and unrelenting manner.

Just remember that today it is the Jewish Voice and others that are being shamelessly gagged but tomorrow it can be you, your neighbors, friends and family.