JewBelong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Formation | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Archie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Purpose | Cultural education and political advocacy |
| Methods | Billboards |
| Revenue | $4.95 M USD (2022) |
| Expenses | $3.45 M USD (2022) |
| Website | https://www.jewbelong.com |
JewBelong is a nonprofit organization that is known for its billboards featuring slogans that celebrate Judaism, and support Israel.[1][2] It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).[3] It is registered since 2017 in Montclair, New Jersey.
Antisemitism awareness campaigns
JewBelong was founded in 2013 by Archie Gottesman and Stacy Stuart, two Jewish marketing professionals who'd previously led Manhattan Mini Storage's viral billboard marketing.[4][5][6][7][8]
JewBelong was founded with the stated mission of welcoming "disengaged Jews" back into Jewish religious and cultural life.[4]
Beginning in late 2019 and early 2020, JewBelong expanded its programs to include antisemitism awareness campaigns, citing a rise in antisemitic events like the chants of "Jews will not replace us" at the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and the shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and at a Jersey City kosher grocery store in October 2018 and December 2019, respectively.[9][10][11]
One of JewBelong's early antisemitism-related campaigns was a digital display in Times Square, New York. JewBelong's messages included, "We're just 75 years since the gas chambers. So no, a billboard calling out antisemitism isn't an overreaction. #stopantisemitism" and "3,500 years of antisemitism doesn't make it right."[10]
Israel
Since the October 7 attacks, Progressive American Jewish publications have noted an escalation in tone in JewBelong's advertising and an increased focused on Israel, which JewBelong itself has acknowledged.[12]. Responding to comment on the new focus's contrast with JewBelong's historical focus on welcoming Jewish Americans, founder Gottesman said, "when people are anti-Israel, I don’t think JewBelong is for them".[12]
