URGENT ACTION: Stand in Solidarity with Venezuela's Jews

Dear SWC Supporter,

The Jewish world is still reeling from the shocking five-hour invasion of a Caracas, Venezuela synagogue by 15 armed thugs last Shabbat.

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Desecration of synagogue in Caracas

After desecrating the synagogue’s Holy Ark, the synagogue’s computers - with private information about members of the Jewish community - were stolen.

One of our members from Caracas wrote us of his anguish, where in happier times, he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. "We feel the national government has done nothing to stop actions like this one, on the contrary, it has scaled their derogatory speeches about Israel and Venezuelan Jews, in major communication channels. We knew that things have been getting worse in the past few years, but to get inside of our worship and sacred Temple, is like, what is going to be next?!”

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center stands here in solidarity with the Jews of Venezuela … they do not stand alone … government-inspired antisemitism will not be tolerated,” SWC's Mark Weitzman told the crowd gathered at the New York rally in front of Venezuela's Consulate.

This horrendous attack is just the latest and most horrifying incident in a building campaign against Venezuela’s Jews - a campaign fueled by President Hugo Chavez’s demonization of Israel, scapegoating of Jews and his embrace of the anti-American and anti-Israel regime in Iran.

Today, the situation for Venezuelan Jews is dire. We need you to act now by adding your voice to the Wiesenthal Center’s protest to the Organization of American States.

First, please sign the enclosed Urgent-Action Petition to Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS. We must unite behind our brothers and sisters in Venezuela and demand that the OAS immediately condemn this vicious attack and take strong action to denounce Hugo Chavez’s campaign of hate against Venezuela’s Jewish community.

Second, please make an immediate special contribution to the Simon Wiesenthal Center to help us fight for Venezuela’s Jews and other communities reeling from venomous anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attacks. Your support is vital to the Center’s global efforts to combat bigotry, anti-Semitic violence and terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people. We’re counting on you.

Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela

Your support is vital to the Center’s global efforts to combat bigotry, anti-Semitic violence and terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people. We’re counting on you.

We need your help now more than ever - please support the work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center