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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 Judaism and countering antisemitism.[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

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  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. "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.
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