The Jewish Book Council (JBC) has announced a new initiative aimed at combating antisemitism within the literary sector. This programme is designed to support authors, publishers, publicists, agents, editors, and readers by providing a platform to report antisemitic incidents related to literature.
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The JBC, known for its work in promoting Jewish literary works, has expressed its commitment to being a comprehensive resource for authors throughout their careers, especially in the face of rising antisemitic challenges globally. “Antisemitism is defined as prejudice against or hatred of Jewish people. This can take many forms, such as verbal or written language, in-person or online harassment, vandalism, and violence directed at a person or institution because they are Jewish,” the council stated.
The initiative encourages the literary community to report incidents of antisemitism, which includes prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish individuals or institutions. These incidents can range from subtle forms of bias, like review-bombing books with Jewish content, to more severe threats, including violence or intimidation against Jewish literary professionals.
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“The hope is that, by reporting and recording antisemitism in the literary world, we can help to put support systems in place for those affected,” the council emphasised. The gathered data will be instrumental in developing support systems and strategies to protect those affected.
Individuals are encouraged to send detailed reports of their experiences to [email protected], including any relevant attachments such as photos, links, or videos that can shed light on the incidents. The JBC assures that all reports will remain confidential, with identifying details kept private unless permission is granted to share them.
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The Jewish Book Council calls to unite against prejudice, aiming to cultivate a literary environment free from hate and discrimination. “Anything that helps us to understand the scope and context of the incident is appreciated, so we can better understand the kinds of antisemitic instances that are occurring in literary spaces and how to direct you to the best resources for support,” the council concluded.
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