Robert Kraft Launches New Campaign to Fight Antisemitic Sentiment

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and his charitable foundation recently debuted a new campaign to fight against antisemitism. The advertisement may have had a short run time of just 30 seconds, but it contained a powerful message for anyone who cared to listen. The TV spot ran during the second quarter of the game between the Patriots and the New York Jets on Nov 20. Learn more about the content of the ad, why the cause is so near and dear to Kraft, and what else

Antisemitism Is Hate

“Antisemitism is hate. Hate against Jews, for being Jewish.” The latest ad speaks out against some of the more vitriolic comments that have been appearing about Jewish people. While the majority of hate remains on the fringes of society, the reality is there’s more support for the sentiment than some people realize.

Thankfully, the fans of the Patriots aren’t ready to take this kind of hate speech lying down. The ad speaks directly to people who have voiced their concerns. “Recently many of you have spoken up. We hear you today. We must hear you tomorrow.” The spot pointed out that there are fewer Jewish people in the country than there were watching the game.

Robert Kraft and his foundation asked everyone watching to stand with the members of the Jewish community. At fewer than 8 million people, it’s up to all of us to speak up against hate every single day. With the hashtag ‘Stand Up to Jewish Hate’, the franchise asked people to do more than just notice the threat of hate around them.

Foundation to Combat Antisemitism

Before some of the more headline-grabbing comments, Robert Kraft had noticed the changing tides. He had seen that there was hate rising towards the Jewish people in the US and he was concerned about how those feelings would manifest both in his community and around America.

This campaign is all about taking action when it's easier to stay silent. He knows that it can be difficult for everyday people to ruffle the feathers of loud mouths, particularly when someone is adamant about condemning an entire group of people. He also knows there’s no such thing as progress without courage.

This was why he established the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019. This organization is dedicated to both understanding the hate speech posted online and responding to it in a real way. Through the work of the foundation, he also tells the history and stories of Jewish people, and details how they face discrimination with non-Jewish people.

When speaking about his work, Kraft said "We must do more to make people aware that antisemitism is a growing threat against Jews on social media and in communities across the country. I have committed tremendous resources toward this effort and am vowing to do more. I encourage others to join in these efforts. My hope is this commercial will continue to enhance the national conversation about the need to speak out against hatred of all types, and particularly to stand up to Jewish hate."

Jewish people may only make up around 2.5% of the US, but they account for 55% of religious-based hate crimes. Kraft's foundation does their research because the majority of Americans don’t believe that antisemitism is a problem, nor do they think that Jewish people need additional help to combat the hate that people feel against them.

After seeing the comments posted online and hearing about more brazen attempts to sabotage the Jewish community, it’s clear to the Kraft's staff that there needs to be more education about the situation. In Massachusetts alone, there was a nearly 50% rise in antisemitic incidents and a 42% increase for the entire region of New England. In Saugus and Danvers, neo-Nazi groups in masks held up antisemitic banners along freeway overpasses. Flyers were distributed across multiple communities that spoke out against the Jews, produced by the Neo-Nazis of the Nationalist Social Club.

The ad during the Jets game was more than just another commercial, it was a rallying cry for Americans. For anyone who doesn't want to live in a country that persecutes people for their faith and their culture. The best part is the organization is just getting started. In the spring, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism will launch a much bigger campaign that will scale up their message.

The goal of the foundation is not just to approach the topic from multiple angles, but to scale the message so it can reach all non-Jewish audiences in the country. It's a powerful step toward tolerance, and an important reminder to us all about personal responsibility. If we're going to live in a land of freedom, we need to work at preserving that freedom every day. 

See more about Robert Kraft here: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/robert-kraft