Tag: netanyahu

Speaking out against Jew hatred

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

A college friend forwarded me this post on LinkedIn by a friend of hers from childhood. In her own words, “I grew up w Joel. He is the best in his profession. He composes music for ads & commercials. He wrote the music for 7 commercials that ran during this years Super Bowl. He is a giant in the industry.” When I read his post I was horrified and inspired. I was angry and I was proud. I could relate. It’s personal. For all of us.

Last year, I was honored to be named Jury President for Music & Sound Craft at the 2025 The One Club for Creativity. I’ve supported The One Club for decades as a sponsor, advocate, judge, and multi-award winner. JSM has earned dozens of One Show Pencils and topped the One Show Global Creative Rankings both globally and domestically.

Shortly after accepting, I received an email from the CEO and Board stating that my personal social media posts unapologetically condemning antisemitism and supporting the Jewish people were “too much” and “triggering” to some at the Club. They said such posts would not be “tolerated.” They objected specifically to my use of the word eradicate when describing what I hoped would happen to the terrorists of October 7. They didn’t like my post celebrating the IDF’s elimination of Sinwar, the architect of 10/7, who raped, mutilated, burned babies, and held hostages. My expression of joy in his demise, they said, was also “too much.”

I refused to accommodate and resigned.

They knew my nephew serves in the IDF. This isn’t theoretical. It’s personal. My values, my family, my identity, my people were under attack. Again.

In a follow-up call, TOCC leadership asked what they could do to keep me. I requested one simple thing: a specific, standalone statement condemning antisemitism—like they’ve done for BLM, LGBTQ+, AAPI, Ukraine, and others. Instead, they sent a vague, diluted message grouping antisemitism with racism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia, etc., scheduled to run on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

I told them how tone-deaf and offensive that was. They refused to revise it. And then… said nothing. Complete silence. No statement at all. No support for Jewish creatives in our industry. No condemnation of antisemitism.

I also pointed out that only 1 of 42 board members is Jewish, despite generations of Jewish creatives who helped shape this industry. I can name at least 100 deserving Jewish creative leaders off the top of my head. That silence and lack of representation speaks volumes.

I formally cut all ties. I won’t support any organization, especially in my industry, that refuses to condemn antisemitism. This was a choice. And a refusal.

Many urged me to stay quiet. That going public might hurt the business I’ve built over 35 years.

I can’t.

I will not be silenced. Not now. Not ever. And certainly not by an ad awards show that acts as moral authority on every issue and condemns all forms of hate, except Jewish hate by consciously and purposely remaining silent while Jews are hunted, threatened, and murdered. Again.

I was a Jew before JSM. I’ll be a Jew after JSM.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Joel isn’t the only one who faces this type of Jew hatred, discrimination, and expectation to just accept it. It happens to most of us every day and we don’t even see it or realize it. Some of us even think it’s acceptable because we have ‘privilege’. We cannot stay quiet in the face of this hatred. We cannot stick our heads in the sand and hope that it will just go away or leave us alone. History has shown us that it never does. It comes for us all in the end. We must fight back. We must stand up and speak out. Staying quiet isn’t an option. Joel isn’t. Neither should any of us.

Britain suspended free trade talks with Israel and the EU said it will review whether Israel is violating the human rights clause of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. France, the U.K. and Canada threatened  sanctions against Israel. All because Israel refuses to let Hamas, a terrorist organization still holding Israeli hostages, stay in power to murder, rape, and kidnap more Israelis. They think we are the same Jews of the past who meekly hid and accepted our fate. They are 100% wrong. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke up powerfully about this today.

“The world is telling us to end the war,” Netanyahu said, in the first press conference he has held in Israel since December. “I am prepared to end the war according to clear conditions: Hamas lays down its weapons, steps down from power, returns all the hostages, Gaza is demilitarized and we implement the Trump plan” to relocate residents of Gaza. Whoever is calling for us to end the war is calling for Hamas to stay in power,”

Love him or hate him, Bibi won’t just accept our fate as Jews to be that of victims. Neither should we. Joel showed us how to stand up and speak out. Bibi showed us how to do it. The question is, what will you do? Will you be like Joel and stand up and speak out despite the personal risk? Will you stand up to Jew hatred in the face of your ‘friends’ like Bibi is doing to the UK, France, Canada, and the EU or will you fold because they are your ‘friends’?

The choice is yours. Take the risk now or wait for the inevitable that has happened over and over again for thousands of years? I know what I am doing. I’m going to stand up and speak out. I’m going to fight Jew hatred publicly, no matter the personal cost.

Goodbye UNRWA and Good Riddance

Posted on by Keith Dvorchik

Yesterday, January 30, 2025 marked the end of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Many in the world are criticizing this action, claiming that only UNRWA can provide the aid and take care of the needs of the Palestinians. Those who do that have chosen to believe the lies and ignore the truth about UNRWA.

Every refugee in the world is covered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Every single one. Except for the Palestinians, who get their own agency despite not really being refugees. Gaza has been fully governed by the Palestinians, who elected Hamas as their leaders, since 2005. In Judea and Samaria, the Palestinian Authority fully governs Area A. They are in charge of the civil society in Area B. Yet they have to have their own refugee organization while the entire rest of the world gets their own?

UNRWA has been exposed for many human rights violations. Employees of UNRWA have been confirmed to be Hamas operatives. Employees of UNRWA have been proved to be active participants in the attack on October 7th. Employees of UNRWA have been proved to have hidden hostages in their private homes. UNRWA has failed to deliver the humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza. It isn’t that the food isn’t being sent to Gaza. UNRWA has left it on the docks to rot. UNRWA has given the food to Hamas and the local gangs who sell it on the black market. I have seen the pictures of the food on the docks, rotting. I have seen the pictures of Hamas taking the food from the relief trucks.

When I saw the post above, I was livid. UNRWA held her in captivity AND denied her medical care. This is the organization that is supposed to help people. This is a part of the United Nations (UN). If there was ever something that showed just how disgusting and vile UNRWA and the UN are, this is it. Yet the world is silent. You won’t see this information on the national news, read it in the NY Times or Washington Post. The ICC won’t be issuing arrest warrants for the leaders of UNRWA or the UN. They should, but they won’t.

When Arbel Yehoud was released from captivity on Thursday, she had to go through a crowd in Gaza of people shouting at her. She was surrounded by terrorists in uniform. The look on her face is terrifying. They are wearing pressed uniforms, the crowd looks well fed, which in a famine shouldn’t happen. These are the people Israel is supposed to trust and make peace with? Israel should trust the UN after learning that they held Emily Damari as a hostage since October 7th? That their employees are Hamas and Hezbollah members?

Hamas and people of Gaza as Arbel Yehoud is released

I’m grateful that UNRWA is no longer operating in Gaza, Israel, or Judea and Samaria. Why should Israel enable terrorists (and UNRWA is a terrorist organization) to operate freely? The world is an outrage over this but not that Emily was held hostage by UNRWA. The hypocrisy is beyond aggravating.

Along with the good news of no more UNRWA, there is also this heartwarming video of Agam Berger being reunited with her four fellow Nahal Oz comarades who were release last Saturday from captivity. The look on the faces of Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag as they see Agam, the sound of their voices, their hugs and compassion tears at my soul. What these women endured is unimaginable. Like the Jewish people at large, they endured, they survived, and they will flourish. It won’t be easy.

Hostages returning home. Three more scheduled to be release tommorow. We know Yarden Bibas is alive and hopefully we will get good news soon about Shiri Bibas and their beautiful children, Ariel and Kfir. We know 8 of the 33 being returned will not be alive. We can only hope and pray that most of the remaining 82 hostages are still alive. We do know that they must all come home.

With President Trump meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington, we can only hope that this administration stands strongly with Israel and enables her to do what is needed to both get the remaining hostages back and ensure her long term security. Since October 7th, those have been the two clear priorities. Whatever it takes, both must happen.