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Van Jones: Humanity has ‘special responsibility’ to defend Jews as he joins Genesis Prize board

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • CNN commentator Van Jones has joined the Genesis Prize Foundation's advisory board, emphasizing a "special responsibility" to defend Jewish people.
  • Jones highlighted the Jewish people's status as a small, vulnerable minority, linking Israel's existence to historical persecution and the Holocaust.
  • He aims to focus on renewing the Black-Jewish civic alliance in America and combating antisemitism and polarization.

Civil rights advocate and CNN commentator Van Jones has joined the advisory board of the Genesis Prize Foundation, an organization often referred to as the "Jewish Nobel." Upon his appointment, Jones articulated a profound sense of duty, stating that humanity holds a "special responsibility" to defend the Jewish people.

There’s only 15 million Jews left in the whole world. Only 15 million left.

— Van JonesHighlighting the small global population of Jewish people.

Jones framed the Jewish population as one of the world's smallest and most vulnerable minorities, with only 15 million individuals remaining globally. He drew a stark contrast between this number and larger global communities, emphasizing that the Jewish population would be significantly larger had it not been for the Holocaust and centuries of preceding violence. He noted that Israel, home to roughly half of the world's Jews, represents a critical sanctuary.

And when that group comes under attack, humanity has a special responsibility to defend them.

— Van JonesExplaining the rationale behind the special responsibility to defend Jewish people.

"When that group comes under attack, humanity has a special responsibility to defend them," Jones asserted. While acknowledging the legitimacy of criticizing Israeli governments and policies, he cautioned against calls for the West to abandon Israel. Jones invoked the past, stating, "We already ran a 3,000-year experiment where Jews did not have a state, and it ended with Hitler’s hell. We are not going to run an experiment again."

We already ran a 3,000-year experiment where Jews did not have a state, and it ended with Hitler’s hell. We are not going to run an experiment again.

— Van JonesWarning against abandoning Israel, referencing historical persecution.

In his new role, Jones plans to focus on renewing the Black-Jewish civic alliance in America. He believes this alliance has historically been crucial to American democracy and, despite facing strains, remains too important to abandon. Jones expressed a commitment to rebuilding trust and deepening relationships between these communities amidst rising antisemitism, racism, and polarization.

I’m honored to serve on the Advisory Board of The Genesis Prize Foundation and look forward to supporting its important work. One area I am particularly interested in is the renewal of the Black-Jewish civic alliance in America.

— Van JonesExpressing his commitment to the foundation's mission and his specific interest in the Black-Jewish alliance.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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