Editor’s Note: This Article Was Updated at 5:30 p.m.
Ohio 50501, the state’s No Kings organizers, published an Instagram infographic for May, which is recognized as Jewish-American Heritage Month. The post is titled, “Learn the Difference Between Judaism, Anti-Semitism, and Zionism.”
The infographic includes statements opposing a two-state solution and expresses support for the elimination of the State of Israel.
“The truth is plain and simple: Palestine and the world will never be free until Israel is gone.”
“The world will not be free while Israel exists. We the people have the power to achieve liberation for all.”
Local Jewish organizations said the language in the post goes beyond criticism of Israeli policy.
“Cincinnati’s Jewish community does not need OHIO 50501 to define Judaism, Zionism, or antisemitism for us, least of all during Jewish American Heritage Month,” said the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati in a statement. “The carousel ends with a call for Israel to be “gone” and tells the 88% of American Jews who support Israel’s right to exist that they are supporting a genocidal state. It is antisemitism wearing a heritage month as a costume.”
According to the American Jewish Committee Regional Director Justin Kirschner, the post undermines prospects for coexistence.
“Calling for a world where Israel ‘does not exist’ is not liberation; it is a call for the elimination of the Jewish homeland,” said Kirschner. “Real advocacy centers Israeli and Palestinian dignity, their prospects for a better future, and a path to coexistence – not the destruction of another people.”
Ohio 50501 has approximately 18,000 social media followers. The national No Kings social media account has not reposted the infographic.
While the national account has shared posts critical of Israeli government policy, it has not called for the elimination of Israel. Cincy Jewfolk has reached out for comment and has not received a reply as of this publishing.
The infographic also draws comparisons between Zionism and Christian nationalism, and characterizes Zionism as a genocidal movement, claiming it “emerged in Europe with the intention of committing a total genocide in Palestine.”
“Zionism is the right of Jewish people to self-determination in their historic homeland, the same right Italians have in Italy and Irish have in Ireland,” said the Jewish Federation. “It is also the only one routinely called genocide.”
The post includes language that echoes historically antisemitic tropes like blood libel, including claims that “Zionists believe they are entitled to killing Palestinians and take the land, claiming it was promised to them in their religious texts.”
“Language like this crosses multiple lines,” said Rabbi Ari Jun, senior Rabbi at Temple Sholom. “Calling for Israel’s destruction; characterizing it as uniquely evil; separating Zionism writ large from Judaism; tokenizing fringe Jewish perspectives, like that of JVP.”
The post reflects a broader trend of highly charged rhetoric on social media, and the rising mix of antisemitism in criticism of Israeli government policies and actions. In the aftermath of October 7 and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war, antisemitism skyrocketed in the U.S., and has only increased since the U.S./Israel-Iran War.
“Doing things like this with any other marginalized group would immediately be called out; for some reason, though, many progressives have a blind spot for it when it comes to Jews, said Jun.“
You can read the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Full Statement Below.
“Cincinnati’s Jewish community does not need OHIO 50501 to define Judaism, Zionism, or antisemitism for us, least of all during Jewish American Heritage Month. The carousel ends with a call for Israel to be “gone” and tells the 88% of American Jews who support Israel’s right to exist that they are supporting a genocidal state. It is antisemitism wearing a heritage month as a costume.
Zionism is the right of Jewish people to self-determination in their historic homeland, the same right Italians have in Italy and Irish have in Ireland. It is also the only one routinely called genocide.
One detail worth adding: the post’s call to action recommends American Muslims for Palestine, whose organizational predecessors were named in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing prosecution, the largest such case in U.S. history. OHIO 50501’s volunteers may not know what they are forwarding. They should.
We are willing to have that conversation. We are not willing to be told who we are.”