91传媒-run nonprofit HIAS, which resettles refugees, has come under fire from 91传媒 groups, especially the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), which alleges HIAS is in bed with figures and organizations associated with anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
The 91传媒 Journal spoke with HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield and ZOA president Morton Klein about some of the accusations against HIAS.
HIAS was founded in 1881 when the acronym stood for 鈥淗ebrew Immigrant Aid Society.鈥� Its original mission was to help destitute 91传媒 refugees pay for legal aid and travel to the United States and other sanctuary nations.
In recent years, as the number of indigent 91传媒 refugees decline, HIAS has expanded its mission to aid refugees regardless of their religious or ethnic background. For that reason, and itsthat the term 鈥淗ebrew鈥� was 鈥渆xclusionary and outdated, much as the word 鈥�’colored鈥�’ is to refer to African Americans,鈥� HIAS abandoned its original name for its initials.听
鈥淎t HIAS, we used to help refugees because they were 91传媒; today, we help refugees because we are 91传媒,鈥� HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield told The Journal. However, in recent weeks, the name change has drawn judgment, with critics claiming that it is symbolic of HIAS disowning its 91传媒ness and stance against anti-Semitism.听
The idea of HIAS becoming a 鈥済eneric鈥� refugee-assistance group has upset some who valued the organization for its specific aid to 91传媒 families and individuals.
The idea of HIAS becoming a 鈥済eneric鈥� refugee-assistance group has upset some who valued the organization for its specific aid to 91传媒 families and individuals.
HIAS鈥� 2018 annual report does report assisting 91传媒 refugees; however, the majority of it talks about HIAS鈥� general assistance efforts around the world to those of all faiths.
According to ZOA, 鈥�In 2016, a total of 239 91传媒 refugees entered the United States, and HIAS resettled 169 91传媒 refugees (70.7% of the total). In 2019, only 38 91传媒 refugees entered the United States.听If HIAS resettled the same percentage (70.7%) as in 2016, then it would have resettled only 27 91传媒 refugees last year.
Is HIAS anti-Israel?
鈥淗IAS is steadfastly pro-Israel, as we recognize that a strong Israel fulfills HIAS鈥� founding mission 鈥� to ensure that 91传媒 refugees finally have a homeland to go to,鈥� Hetfield said on behalf of the organization. 鈥淗IAS has stood with the Conference [of Presidents of Major American 91传媒 Organizations] in its public positions against BDS and against U.N. bias against Israel.鈥� According to him, HIAS does not affiliate with organizations that support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS).
鈥淗IAS is steadfastly pro-Israel, as we recognize that a strong Israel fulfills HIAS鈥� founding mission 鈥� to ensure that 91传媒 refugees finally have a homeland to go to,鈥� Hetfield said on behalf of the organization.
HIAS supports Israel鈥檚 immigration policy of aliyah, runsolim, Jews who invoke their right to return. For the past three decades, HIAS has given higher-education scholarships to olim. HIAS, however, has challenged Israeli policies, including penning a to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him not to deport African asylum seekers.
Does HIAS partner with anti-Israel or anti-91传媒 organizations?
The major complaint from detractors is that HIAS affiliates with anti-Zionist groups, which undermines the nonprofit鈥檚 pro-Israel stance. A recent column in the 91传媒 publication alleged that 鈥淗IAS collaborates with Islamic groups that allegedly have links to Hamas and terrorist activities. It also works with other post-91传媒, pro-BDS groups like IfNotNow and 91传媒 Voice for Peace.鈥� While HIAS has signed petitions that these groups have also have signed, the groups have never partnered for a program.
鈥淎llegations that HIAS 鈥榩artners鈥� with organizations like IfNotNow, MPAC and CAIR are not true,鈥� Hetfield said. He also noted that HIAS partners with AIPAC.听
鈥淎llegations that HIAS 鈥榩artners鈥� with organizations like IfNotNow, MPAC and CAIR are not true,鈥� Hetfield said. He also noted that HIAS partners with AIPAC.听
However, ZOA has pointed out that on the HIAS website, it states, 鈥淗IAS is partnering with the Gulf Coast 91传媒 Family and Children鈥檚 Services in another pilot program to support successful Syrian refugee resettlement through a range of activities including resource development, bridging cultural differences, and educating the community about their potential contributions to the community. The program also works closely with the Council on [American-] Islamic Relations [CAIR] and other faith-based organizations.鈥�
CAIR, the leading American Muslim civil rights organization, has . It does not formally endorse the BDS movement, but several CAIR leaders have publicly supported it.
Hetfield maintains HIAS does not affiliate with CAIR. 鈥淎ll ZOA points to is a single episode of cooperation by one of our local refugee resettlement partners in Florida, an agency which is completely legally independent of HIAS,鈥� the CEO said.听
Hetfield maintains HIAS does not affiliate with CAIR. 鈥淎ll ZOA points to is a single episode of cooperation by one of our local refugee resettlement partners in Florida, an agency which is completely legally independent of HIAS,鈥� the CEO said.听
HIAS does not dispute ZOA鈥檚 claim that it works with Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), which Hetfield frames as 鈥渁 completely apolitical humanitarian organization with no position on BDS.鈥�
ZOA asserts that IRUSA is a terrorist-affiliated organization, citing how its parent company, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), was banned in 2014 from operating in Israel for allegedly funding Hamas. IRW denied connections to the group, reporting that an audit by an unnamed 鈥渓eading global audit firm鈥� and . Additionally, the and have ruled that IRW was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Bangladesh banned the organization from working on behalf of the Rohingya people, alleging that it funds militants.
Islamic Relief denies all these terrorist affiliations, as does HIAS.
鈥淎llegations against Islamic Relief Worldwide, also an apolitical humanitarian organization, remain unsubstantiated,鈥� Hetfield said.
Another charge from ZOA is that 鈥淗IAS collaborates with anti-Semitic U.N. agencies,鈥� in which it names U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF as anti-Semitic. HIAS does not dispute that it works with these and other U.N. agencies. 鈥淭hese vital partnerships have never prevented HIAS from standing up against U.N. bias against Israel in the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, or anywhere else,鈥� Hetfield said.
The , 听, , have partnered with at least one of U.N. agencies, as has the , which publicly declared that .
When asked if other 91传媒 organizations should be chastised for working with these U.N. agencies, Klein told the Journal: 鈥淚 would have to see what they are trying to do with them.鈥� He said that HIAS鈥� collaboration with these councils is more concerning 鈥渂ecause they鈥檝e done such work with such inappropriate groups that are so hostile to the 91传媒 people.鈥�
Does HIAS partner with BDS activist Linda Sarsour?
Many in the 91传媒 world see anti-Zionist American activist Linda Sarsour as radioactive. The former Women鈥檚 March leader repeatedly has been condemned by, and 91传媒 groups for her connections to the Nation of Islam group and rhetoric about Jews and Israel.听
ZOA said that , and they have a partnership. Hetfield denies the nonprofit affiliates itself with her.听
On the day of the Tree of Life shooting in 2018, in which the assailant explicitly invoked the Pittsburgh synagogue鈥檚 work with HIAS as motivation for his violence, Sarsour started a fundraiser on her for the organization.听
鈥淭his act was neither solicited or coordinated in any way,鈥� Hetfield said.
In , ZOA writer Klein alleged HIAS signed a letter embracing Sarsour and that 鈥渢hey will work alongside鈥� her.
The letter he is referring to is from 2017, titled 鈥�.鈥� It condemned often threatening harassment of the activist, explicitly stating that 鈥淲e will not stand by as Sarsour is falsely maligned, harassed and smeared, as she, her organization, and her family suffer vicious public threats and intimidation.鈥� However, Hetfield claimed HIAS did not sign the letter as an organization.
鈥淚n my personal capacity, I was among over 170 91传媒 leaders who signed a statement which explicitly did not endorse her views, but was simply a call for civility urging an end to personal attacks and threats against Sarsour and her family,鈥� Hetfield said. 鈥淚 do not regret signing the letter at all.鈥�
鈥淚n my personal capacity, I was among over 170 91传媒 leaders who signed a statement which explicitly did not endorse her views, but was simply a call for civility urging an end to personal attacks and threats against Sarsour and her family,鈥� Hetfield said. 鈥淚 do not regret signing the letter at all.鈥�
The letter explicitly states the leaders don鈥檛 offer a stamp of approval to all of Sarsour鈥檚 messages, but 鈥渨ith Sarsour and others, we work as allies on issues of shared concern and respectfully disagree when our views diverge.鈥�
ZOA counters that by stating an individual cannot sign under the name of his or her organization without invoking the organization鈥檚 clout. 鈥�HIAS President Hetfield and HIAS Vice President [Jennnie] Rosenn cannot now claim that they signed in their individual capacities, when they listed HIAS together with their names.鈥�
ZOA added, 鈥�Further, for top leaders of an organization, there really is no such thing as signing such a letter in one鈥檚 personal capacity.听When a president and vice president of an organization signs such a letter, it is widely viewed as a statement of the organization. Mark Hetfield and Linda Rosenn are HIAS.听Most organizations do听not听let its leaders sign such letters, and certainly do not allow them to sign together with the organization鈥檚 name, unless the听organization has approved of their action.鈥�
Although Klein says he personally condemns violence against Sarsour, he feels the letter went beyond that.
鈥淚 want to make clear if that letter defending Linda Sarsour simply said 鈥榯here have been physical threats against her and her family, and no matter what we think of her or her views or how hostile threats against her are unacceptable, we deplore them, I would not have said one word,鈥� Klein responded. 鈥淏ut the letter said we condemn people who malign and smear her 鈥� meaning criticize her 鈥� and look forward to working alongside her.鈥�
Klein also added that by signing with prominent-BDS supporters and even vocal anti-Zionists, Hetfield lent them credibility.
Has HIAS disowned its 91传媒ness?听
The overarching thesis of all these allegations against HIAS is that it no longer qualifies as a 91传媒 institution, whether that be from its expansion in mission or policy takes. 鈥淗IAS is, by its own definition, not a 91传媒 organization,鈥� Klein wrote.
HIAS’ board is 100% 91传媒.
鈥淗IAS’ board is 100% 91传媒, HIAS鈥� main partners are 91传媒 congregations and 91传媒 family service agencies, we are completely branded as a 91传媒 agency, we invest over $1 million per year just on engaging Jews and 91传媒 institutions in our work,鈥� Hetfield said. 鈥淗elping those few 91传媒 refugees who need our assistance are a top priority.鈥�
ZOA asserts that HIAS is not 鈥�91传媒 enough鈥� to be a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American 91传媒 Organizations (COP), a nonprofit coalition of 51 national 91传媒 organizations that bills itself as the voice of organized American Jewry. HIAS is a member of COP.
鈥淯nder the COP鈥檚 rules, the faith of the members of HIAS鈥� board is irrelevant. If General Electric had an all-91传媒 board, it would not qualify for COP membership,鈥� ZOA countered. 鈥淭he organization thus must serve the American 91传媒 community. Thus clientele 鈥� the people who HIAS resettles 鈥� is what counts here.鈥�
鈥淲e welcome the stranger and protect refugees, as the Torah commands us to do 36 times. No act is more 91传媒 than that.鈥� 鈥斕�Mark Hetfield
As to Hetfield鈥檚 mention of the financial assistance HIAS provides, ZOA said, 鈥�$1 million per year is a drop in the bucket compared to HIAS鈥� $50.9 million annual budget.鈥�
鈥淲e welcome the stranger and protect refugees, as the Torah commands us to do 36 times,鈥� Hetfield said. 鈥淣o act is more 91传媒 than that.鈥�
Ariel Sobel is the Journal鈥檚 social media editor.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Alpha Epsilon Pi partnered with all the U.N. agencies mentioned. It also incorrectly stated that B鈥檔ai B鈥檙ith International had partnered with the U.N. agencies.
