Tough Times, Tough Jew

By Steve Shalot

A story of grassroots Jewish activism (Part II)

An elderly woman’s fear

THERE’S AN ELDERLY JEWISH WOMAN who lived in a crowded, multi-ethnic apartment building in Brooklyn New York. She was a patient at the Podiatry Clinic at Coney Island Hospital near her home. Her student doctor was a young podiatry resident Dr. Ira Jacobson. Sadly, and with fear in her eyes, voice trembling, she told him about the antisemitic intimidation in her building she experienced on a daily basis. There were Swastikas painted on her doorway, and she was harassed by young men upon leaving and entering the building. She was  in fear for her life – simply because she was a Jew. The fear was palpable. You see, Dr. Jacobson had parents who fled Nazi persecution in Czechoslovakia to come to New York, and later Long Island where he grew up. He understood– he got it.

The police wouldn’t do anything because officially no crime of violence had been committed – yet. This was Brooklyn in the period 1986 – 1987. At that time, young Dr. Jacobson was running with the Jewish Defense League. Gathering together other Jewish medical residents, he took it upon himself to go to this woman’s apartment building and confront her tormentors. He and his friends made it clear to them that the harassment MUST STOP – or else!

Throughout his life, Dr. Ira, or “Ike” as he is known to his friends, heard a calling, perhaps inspired by his parents and the experience of those who were not as fortunate as them, and perished in the gas chambers – You’re a Jew, here by the Grace of the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You must protect and defend the helpless and fearful amongst your people. This was a constant whisper in everything he did in his life.

Recently, I wrote a blog in this publication about the now retired Dr. Ira and his remarkable Jewish activism, especially in the wake of the “Second Holocaust of October 7^th,” when Israel was invaded by genocidal maniacs from her southern borders which sparked a skyrocketing in worldwide antisemitism.

First and foremost, Ira will continue to be part of Herut North America and the Israeli Liaison for World Herut. He is the top Herut North America candidate on the 23^rd slate of the World Zionist Congress. Ira feels that without Herut he would not have had a platform to speak up against antisemitism or an outlet to actively volunteer and create programs for Israel and the Jewish community. All Jews in the United Sates are encouraged to vote. (The link in the body of this post “HERUT” will take you to the voting site).

With a friend he started the program BOOTS FOR ISRAEL in which they have raised over $3 Million Dollars and have sent 80,000 pairs of boots to the IDF. He and others from HERUT in South Florida, have also started a program HEROES FOR ISRAEL whose mission statement is the following:

“Heroes for Israel Project is a 501(c)3 that provides an opportunity for each of us to be a Hero for Israel. Whether you want to aid a kibbutz in rebuilding their communities or provide needed services to an IDF veteran, we have the platform and projects for you.  Contact us to find out how you can be the best hero for Israel.” You can reach them via email at: HeroesforIsraelProject@gmail.com

He is proud of the work he has accomplished and strongly feels that his Herut family has given him a venue/ platform/ a tangible way to express his unapologetic Zionism and passion to fight antisemitism. Typically Ira is not political, however, if elected, he will use his seat with Herut on the World Zionist Congress to increase funding and provide resources and support for Israel’s right to exist, to combat antisemitism, to provide assistance IDF and Lone Soldiers, to facilitate future Aliyah, to augment rehabilitation and emotional support for veterans and Israelis affected by October 7th and the war, to increase educational outreach and community engagement, and to continue to fight for Jewish unity.

After the horrible anti-Jewish Pogrom in Amsterdam, Dr. Ira remembered it clearly. His  immediate reaction to the event which occurred on November 27^th, 2024, in which the Muslim Community initiated a pre-planned and coordinated attack against Israeli tourists and Dutch Jews who attended a soccer match between the local Ajax team and Maccabee Tel Aviv, was one of shock and horror. It ignited in him “the whispering call” mentioned above.

The fact that it occurred in Amsterdam, home of the iconic Anne Frank House, a stark reminder of the Nazi Holocaust was too much; he had to do something. So he organized and flew to Amsterdam to attend a “Never Again Rally” in front of that house. It was organized by Dr. Ira and fellow “Herutniks” from South Florida.

Dr. Jacobson in front of The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ira Jacobson

Schedules, flights, and a plan started to align and on Monday March 24^th of this year, Ira left sunny Florida for Amsterdam with an Israeli flag safely tucked into his backpack and only one 8½ x14” poster promoting the rally, gifted by his Herut of North America colleagues in his back pocket. The one major worry Dr. Ira had as his departure date approached, was that his Israeli flag and rally poster could be confiscated if placed in his overhead or checked luggage by airport officials at either end of his trip.

The rally was attended by about 20 people, a small crowd that attracted the stares of curious passersby, but what is notable is that the attendees flew to Amsterdam from all parts of the world.

The Never Again Rally Poster.
Courtesy of Dr. Ira Jacobson

Attendees at “The NEVER AGAIN RALLY” In front of The Anne Frank House Courtesy Dr. Ira Jacobson

Attendees at “The NEVER AGAIN RALLY” in front of The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ira Jacobson

Attendees of Rally in front of “The Anne Frank House” Courtesy of Dr. Ira Jacobson

The second phase of his trip was a bit riskier, amidst fears of arrest -or worse. He traveled from Amsterdam to the ICC in the Hague where he went into a small shop and purchased a placemat and a marker. On the back of the placemat he wrote: “ISRAELI LIVES MATTER.”

Dr. Jacobson in front of The Hague – ICJ.
Courtesy Dr. Ira Jacobson

On the tour bus, the guide/bus driver talked about the Dutch tulips and windmills, and then the guide pointed out the ICC building and said, “This is where we are going after international criminals like Putin and Netanyahu.”

Dr. Ira was fuming inside, but kept his cool. Later, as Ira exited the bus, he turned to the tour guide and said, “You are what I call a “traveling antisemite” and part of the problem. You are a catalyst of antisemitism and one of the reasons why there was a pogrom in Amsterdam just four months ago.”

The bus driver unapologetically reasoned that he merely repeated what he was “told to say.” It is hard not to compare this age-old excuse used by scores of Polish and other European Nazi sympathizers at the end of the WWII claiming that they were powerless and only did what they were told by their higher ups during the Holocaust. Ira pointed this out to the bus driver.

Many tour buses carry visitors from around the world each day past the ICC and they all spout this misinformation which the visitors take home to their families and friends and repeat. This is how these lies morph into antisemitism and the Jew hating vitriol that we are seeing as a daily occurrence all over.

What’s next for Dr. Ira? Aside from the World Zionist Congress Election, he has much going on. Ira will continue to participate on the Boards of Directors for Volunteers for Israel and Heroes for Israel. He will continue to raise awareness and funding for Boots for Israel and continue to advocate for and recruit volunteers to assist the SAR-EL programs.

Lastly, Ira plans to collaborate with The “Subcamps of Auschwitz Project.” They are a tour group from Krakow whose mission also aims to bring awareness to the various fields and tunnels around the major concentration camps that were used as lesser-known crematoriums. Ira plans to go to Krakow, Poland in September and then to Israel.

If you are interested in information about how you can help support Israel and combat antisemitism, please email Dr. Ira Jacobson at IBBW@Herutna.org or just reach out on messenger. Also please consider voting for Ira as the 23^rd seat representing Herut North America on the World Zionist Congress. The link is: https://us.voteherut2025.com/vote

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance and collaboration in this story by South Florida based journalist Talya Helene Ruch.