Jewish leaders condemn Ye after he praised Adolf Hitler

Jewish community leaders react after Ye praises Adolf Hitler

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- You won't see any tweets from Ye today. The rapper who changed his name from Kanye West had his Twitter account suspended again.

The move comes after the rapper posted an antisemitic image just hours after praising Adolf Hitler during an appearance on "Infowars," an internet radio show hosted by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Ye wore a full black mask over his face during the hours-long segment, making another series of vile anti-Semitic statements.

"I see good things about Hitler also," he said. "I love everyone. I do love Hitler. I love the Zionists. I love everyone."

The comments made during the appearance drew a swift response from the nation's Jewish community leaders, including the Anti-Defamation League Philadelphia.

"His comments on Infowars are not just vile and offensive: they could put Jews in danger," the organization told CBS3 in a statement. "At a time when we are seeing and experiencing a record level of anti-Semitism in this country, we call on all leaders from all communities and political parties to condemn Kanye's abhorrent anti-Semitism."

Rabbi Nathan Kamesar of Philadelphia's Society Hill Synagogue said it's important for communities to come together to call out antisemitic comments.

"Being Jewish is about being devoted to community and being devoted to sacred calls of action," Rabbi Kamesar said. "When we dehumanize one group of people, like Jews, it's a slippery slope to dehumanizing other groups of people, people of color, people in the LGBT community; people, like Jews, who often end up being scapegoats for whatever it is that's a problem in one's life."

Local Jewish leaders condemn Ye after he praised Adolf Hitler, posted anti-Semitic image on Twitter

At Cherry Hill's Beth Sholom Synagogue, Rabbi Micah Peltz said he's sent emails to congregants addressing antisemitic comments made by 'Ye and other celebrities. 

"The people who seem to go along with it, who either don't say anything about it or who like those posts or share those posts, that's really where the threat comes," Rabbi Peltz said. "Support from each other as a holy community, support from our allies and our partners in the wider community, support from national organizations that can help guide us through and give us resources for this time."  

Also appearing on the show was white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

"It's the most frightening thing that this is happening in the greatest country on the planet," said Rabbi Marvin Hier from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Washington. "What we have to do is condemn it. We have to make sure these three people are isolated and pay a price for stating that."

Just last week, Ye and Fuentes attended a dinner hosted by former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort and home

"Nick Fuentes is a racist, an anti-Semite and someone who revels in saying hateful things about Jews and other minorities," said Jonathan Greenblatt - CEO & national director of the ADL.

"My opinion is that former President Trump must condemn the fact that he invited two of them," Hier said. "They came there and he hugged them. Who are you hugging? You're hugging people that if they were in charge, they would begin again another final solution," Hier said, referencing the Nazi plan to exterminate Jewish people.

In the weeks and months leading up to Ye's dinner with the former president, his anti-Semitic statements led major brands like Adidas and Balenciaga to drop him from their partnerships.

Overnight new Twitter owner Elon Musk suspended Ye's account after the rapper posted a picture of the Star of David intertwined with a swastika.

Musk said the post violated the company's rule against inciting violence.

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