Imagine living in a Jewish community that’s targeted three times every single day by haters. For Jews in the UK, that is reality. According to a new study conducted by The Community Security Trust (a charity which monitors anti-Semitism), 557 hate incidents were recorded in the UK between the beginning of January and the end of June—an 11% rise since this time last year.

While anti-Semitism is an age-old problem, what I found interesting was the part that social media is playing. There are many wonderful things about the internet. I, like most people, use and enjoy it daily. We do, however, need to be aware of the dark side.

I have so much compassion for the UK community because I’ve experienced it firsthand. All of the TJL social media accounts have been attacked by trolls. I’ve also had vicious emails and comments, some of which are so vile that I’ve been brought to tears. While some may consider that “soft” anti-Semitism because it’s on a screen vs. in person, it hurts just the same.

The best way to combat hate is by exposing it. We must band together, Jews and Gentiles alike, to stop the nonsense. If you see or hear something that’s discriminatory, please take a stand. We can’t let these bullies go unchecked.

Curious George, the literary world’s favorite monkey, is celebrating his 75th birthday this year. Beloved by folks around the world since the first book was published in 1941, the story continues to enthrall readers today (most of us who are mothers could recite it in our sleep)! However, the story of George’s remarkable creators is much less known.

Crafted by Husband-and-Wife team Hans and Margret Rey, their own life experience is even more incredible than their writing. Both German Jews, they were forced to flee the Nazis on bicycles, mere hours before Paris was occupied. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight—only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. (Nothing short of a miracle!) After a brief stay in Brazil, they made their way to NYC and eventually settled in Massachusetts.

Sounds like a movie, right? A very talented group of filmmakers think so and they need funding for this incredible project. They have started a Kickstarter campaign. By making a pledge for as little as $5.00, you’ll be part of preserving Jewish history.

Please spread the word around so we can help them get the film into theatres.

Do you have an idea for a project that will connect Israeli-Americans and Jewish Americans? Need funding? You could win up to $100,000 by submitting an application to the first annual Israeli-American Shark Tank! 

Up to five finalists will be invited to present their concepts at the National Israeli-American Conference, to be held in Washington, D.C. The judging panel, comprised of leading philanthropists, will interview the contestants and decide how much funding to invest in the projects. If selected, you’ll receive full coverage of travel expenses and free conference registration!

Get the full details and apply online.

Scary stat: Ashkenazi Jewish women are 10 times more likely than the general population to get breast cancer, due to an increased likelihood of carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.

While mammography is common, genome testing is relatively rare, leaving many to rely on their family’s history to determine risk. That’s easy for most of us, but what if you have no information? That’s the case for many members of Australia’s Jewish community who are the descendants of Holocaust survivors. 

I found the above article both intriguing and heartbreaking. Isn’t it incredible how the effects of the Holocaust seem to never cease? Even now, 71 years later, so many people are still suffering and in ways that may not be obvious. 

Australia’s considering creating a community program to make genetic testing much more widespread. I think this is wonderful and hope more countries do the same. There is no such thing as too much information when it comes to saving lives!