Evan R. Bernstein

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Evan R. Bernstein
Bernstein speaking in 2018
Born (1974-10-06) October 6, 1974 (age 49)
United States
EducationHarvard University (ALM)
Western Connecticut State University (BA)
OccupationNonprofit executive
Known forJewish and Israel activism

For the Israeli former Olympic wrestler, see Evan Bernstein (athlete).

Evan R. Bernstein (born October 6, 1974[1]) is an American public figure and community leader, known for his work with Jewish NGOs. He worked for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 2013 and became the inaugural CEO and National Director of Community Security Service (CSS) in May 2020. Since November 2023, Bernstein has been the vice president of community relations at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

Early life and education[edit]

Bernstein was born in New London, Connecticut on October 6, 1974. He attended East Lyme High School[2] and was educated at Western Connecticut State University, where he played lacrosse and studied social work. Bernstein graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Western Connecticut's School of Professional Studies.[3]

Bernstein received his Master of Liberal Arts from the Division of Continuing Education at Harvard University in 2011. While there he sat on the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations Student Advisory Board based at the Kennedy School.[4] He is on Harvard Alumni Association Board of Directors.[5]

Career[edit]

Bernstein began his career at United Way,[6] before working in senior positions at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership.[7][8] He started as the Executive Director and sat on the Israel-based senior management team for American Friends of Migdal Ohr in 2011, one of the largest NGOs in Israel.[9]

In 2013, Bernstein was hired by Abe Foxman to be the New York Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League, based in New York City. In June 2018, the New York regional office was merged with neighboring New Jersey, putting the regions under Bernstein's leadership. In December 2019, he was appointed to be the Vice President of the Northeast Division that included the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Boston offices.[10] Shortly after joining ADL, Bernstein spoke about the dangers of hate groups in the US, following the Overland Park Jewish Community Center shooting.[11]

While serving as Regional Director for the ADL in New York, the region witnessed an unprecedented rise in antisemitism and violent hate crimes.[12] Bernstein spoke to national media about these incidents,[13][14] including antisemitic slurs by public figures,[15][16][17][18] vandalism,[19][20] and other attacks across the region.[21][22]

Bernstein speaking at Harvard's Sanders Theater in 2018.

In 2018, online vandalism to Mapbox's naming of Manhattan led many sites such as Snapchat and the Financial Times to display antisemitic maps on their website.[23][24] Bernstein spoke with the media about the dangers such attacks can have on the Jewish community.[25][26]

Throughout December 2019, there were numerous recorded attacks in the borough of Brooklyn, a shooting in New Jersey[27] and an attack on a Rabbi's home.[28] Bernstein was at the scene in Jersey City and Monsey shortly after the incidents.[29] All of the incidents were said to be antisemitic attacks.[30] Bernstein was interviewed on the incidents.[31] The attack on the Rabbi's home in New York City became known nationally as the Monsey Hanukkah stabbing.[32] Following the incidents, he criticized New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for describing antisemitism as a "right-wing movement" instead of offering a "long-term solution."[33]

Shortly after the Jersey City shootings, Bernstein and the ADL created a partnership with NAACP to reduce hate crimes in the state of New Jersey.[34] The aims were to educate public officials and improve civil rights in the state.[35] The move came after a number of public officials made antisemitic statements about hate crime incidents in the state.[36]

In 2020, Bernstein spoke to the media about the rise in hate crimes as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Prior to the pandemic reaching the U.S., Bernstein spoke about how the Anti-Defamation League had uncovered early discussions about extremists planning to weaponize the virus. He called the findings "deeply disturbing, but not entirely surprising."[37] Bernstein also commented on antisemitic incidents in the U.S. following the outbreak of COVID-19.[38]

In June 2020, Bernstein became the CEO and National Director of the Community Security Service (CSS), an American nonprofit organization that provides security to the Jewish community in the United States, primarily through trained community volunteers.[39][40][41]

Following antisemitic attacks in the U.S. during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Bernstein said, "We call on all Jewish institutions -- regardless of affiliation -- to heed the call to encourage its members to take basic steps towards becoming involved in volunteer security."[42] In response to the January 2022 Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis, Bernstein said, "There's been more and more investment in security in the different major cities and communities around the country but it needs to stay that way. I think there needs to be reminders and the reminder shouldn't have to be a Colleyville."[43]

In 2021, Bernstein was selected to The Algemeiner's "Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life" list.[44]

In 2022, Bernstein co-founded the Interfaith Security Council, a coalition of New York City faith-based organizations that promote communal security and multifaith dialogue.[45]

In November 2023, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) hired Bernstein as its inaugural vice president of community relations.[46]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Daily Kickoff". Jewish Insider. October 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Holt, Faygie (10 July 2020). "Meet the man seeking to build a grassroots effort to secure Jewish communities". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  3. ^ Taylor, Robert. "Evan Bernstein '98 helping children in crisis" (PDF). Western Connecticut State University.
  4. ^ Pierre, Harry (July 3, 2018). "A full-time job fighting hate". Harvard University.
  5. ^ "HAA Board of Directors" (PDF). Harvard Alumni Association. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Orthodox Forum of Highland Park/Edison to Present Discussion on Anti-Semitism". Jewish Link.
  7. ^ "ADL Announces Appointment of Evan R. Bernstein as New York Regional Director". Anti Defamation League. September 12, 2013.
  8. ^ Kampeas, Ron (August 17, 2010). "Changes At The David Project". Times of Israel.
  9. ^ "Stamford Resident named head of American Friends of Migdal Ohr". Jewish Ledger. September 21, 2011.
  10. ^ "Evan Bernstein: Vice President, Northeast Division". ADL.
  11. ^ Levs, Josh. "What the killings at Kansas Jewish sites say about U.S. hate groups". CNN.
  12. ^ "String of Anti-Semitic Attacks Puts NY's Jewish Communities On Edge". NY1. January 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (February 27, 2018). "Anti-Semitic Acts Surged in New York Last Year". The Wall Street Journal.
  14. ^ Orecchio-Egresitz, Haven (April 20, 2020). "The coronavirus pandemic is fueling anti-Semitism around the world, and the US is no exception". Business Insider.
  15. ^ Bandler, Aaron (15 February 2020). "Robotics Judge Says 'G– D— Jews' at Student Tournament". Jewish Journal.
  16. ^ Berger, Joseph (March 28, 2014). "Anti-Semitic Slur by a Westchester Fire Chief Stirs Controversy". The New York Times.
  17. ^ Gold, Michael (September 18, 2019). "Anti-Semitic Slur by N.J. Lawmaker Draws Swift Backlash". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "CUNY holds anti-Semitism probe after 'Zionist pig' incident". Times of Israel. March 4, 2016.
  19. ^ "Amazon turns N.Y. subway into Nazi train to promote new show, upsetting some riders". The Washington Post.
  20. ^ "As more Jewish facilities get threats, all 100 senators ask Trump administration for 'swift action'". The Washington Post.
  21. ^ "Jewish woman assaulted in Brooklyn in front of her son". Times of Israel. December 27, 2019.
  22. ^ Waller, Derick (27 December 2019). "Mother walking with child beaten in 5th anti-Semitic attack in NYC". KFSN-TV.
  23. ^ "Major apps display anti-Semitic label after Mapbox hack". Taipei Times. September 2018.
  24. ^ Binder, Matt. "How an anti-Semitic slur made its way onto maps across the internet". Mashable.
  25. ^ Parsons, Jeff (31 August 2018). "New York renamed 'Jewtropolis' on Snapchat in 'disgusting' attack". Metro (newspaper).
  26. ^ "Hack causes major apps to show anti-Semitic name". Denver Post. September 8, 2018.
  27. ^ Kurita, Anthony. "Suspects in Jersey City shooting targeted kosher market: 'It began with an attack on civilians'". USA Today.
  28. ^ Hayes, Suyin. "Suspect Faces Federal Charges After 5 People Stabbed at New York Hanukkah Celebration. Here's What to Know". Time.
  29. ^ Jorgensen, Sarah. "Suspect in Hanukkah celebration stabbings arrested in New York City with 'blood all over him,' source says". CNN.
  30. ^ "Suspect in Jersey City Linked to Black Hebrew Israelite Group". The New York Times. December 11, 2019.
  31. ^ King, Kate (December 11, 2019). "Deadly Jersey City Attack Rattles Community". The Wall Street Journal.
  32. ^ "Anti-Defamation League Responds To New York Stabbing Attack". NPR. December 29, 2019.
  33. ^ Savage, Sean. "Major Jewish groups mobilize against hate while unsure about its causes". Jewish News Syndicate.
  34. ^ "N.J. kosher market was targeted by shooters, now also suspected in Uber driver killing". CBC.
  35. ^ "After Jersey City shooting, ADL and NAACP say, 'We are in this together'". NJ.com. January 20, 2020.
  36. ^ Saleta, Ben (January 10, 2020). "NAACP, ADL announce partnership to educate public officials against hate in NJ". The Jerusalem Post.
  37. ^ Ain, Stewert (March 25, 2020). "Anti-Semites Threaten Jews with Virus, and the FBI Issues a Warning". Times of Israel.
  38. ^ "Jewish man told 'you're spreading coronavirus,' asked to leave store". The Jerusalem Post. March 26, 2020.
  39. ^ Weiss, Melissa (June 15, 2020). "Evan Bernstein to lead Community Security Service as organization ramps up preparedness efforts". Jewish Insider.
  40. ^ Sales, Ben (June 19, 2020). "The new head of a synagogue security agency wants to start training Jews in college". JTA.
  41. ^ "Leadership". Community Security Service. December 17, 2021.
  42. ^ "American Jewish Leadership Urged to Prioritize Security Amid Anti-Semitic Attacks". NBC Los Angeles. May 30, 2021.
  43. ^ Chavez, Nicole (February 3, 2022). "'It is really dizzying for our community': Growing anti-Semitism forcing Jewish Americans to be more vigilant". CNN.
  44. ^ "The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2021: Evan Bernstein". Algemeiner. 2021.
  45. ^ Luecking, Tori (January 17, 2023). "How New York has answered religiously motivated hate crime". Religion News Service.
  46. ^ Cohen, Haley (November 6, 2023). "JFNA taps Evan Bernstein as inaugural VP of community relations, drawing on his security background". eJewish Philanthropy.
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