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Raphael Lemkin is a Jewish lawyer, scholar and refugee who provides vocabulary for one of the greatest evils of humanity in the world. From the Ashes MassacreIn his family, nearly 50 members were murdered, and he coined the term genocide to describe the Nazis trying to eliminate Jews and other target groups. His lifelong work was to prevent such crimes, which eventually reached its finale at the 1948 United Nations General Assembly of Genocide. For this purpose, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 10 times.
Today, more than six decades after his death, Lemkin’s name is being dragged through the mud by a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that claims to speak in his voice but does the opposite of what he believed in. The so-called Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security has misappropriated his name and weaponized his legacy — not to fight genocide, but to smear Israel and its supporters.
As anti-Semitism spreads through elite institutions and campuses, “never again” needs to be wary of
International lawyer Raphael Lemkin helped draft the Genocide Convention, which portrays the punishment for preventing and genocide. (Getty Image)
Only a few days after the atrocities on October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorists The Lemkin Institute slaughtered, raped and kidnapped innocent civilians were marked Israel’s defense response to genocide. Just five days later, it even called on the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israel’s Prime Minister for “genocide.” The organization’s posts have been viewed millions of times, amplifying this weird distortion across the globe.
The pervert that let’s stop here. The term genocide was coined by Jews to understand the situation of Jews under Nazi Germany. Now, an institution hidden in his name uses it to demonize the Jewish state itself. That’s not advocacy. This is blasphemy.
Worse, the institute repeatedly defends or forgives terrorist organizations. It condemned Israel’s targeting Hamas leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and even portrayed Hamas as part of a legitimate “reaction to European imperialism.” It maps Hezbollah (another sworn in Israel’s destruction) and is a victim of “terrorism” at the hands of Israel. In the speech, the United States is not better. The institute accused the United States of being accomplices in the “genocide” around its allies.
This is not a prevention of genocide. This is anti-Semitism disguised as human rights.
Hamas terrorists killed civilians, including women, children and the elderly, when they attacked Israel on October 7. (Israel’s Defense Forces through AP)
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The Lemkin family has had enough. Surviving relative and attorney Joseph Lemkin, together with the European Association, asked Pennsylvania authorities to take action. Their lawyers have Governor Josh Shapiro and the bureau of companies and charitable organizations believe the Lemkin Institute is violating state and federal laws.
The list of potential violations is long: unauthorized use of names and similarities, publicity rights for autopsy, identity theft, false recognition, network requirements, and violations of Pennsylvania’s Charity Request Act. The law is clear: You can’t hijack someone’s name (a respected person like Raphael Lemkin) to raise funds, hawkers propaganda and mislead the public.
The anger of this family is not criticism about silence of Israel. Anyone can debate Israeli policy. But no one has misunderstood their agenda in the name of Raphael Lemkin, a man who is committed to protecting Jews rather than condemning them. His inheritance is being prostituted to intensify his lifelong hatred.
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The banner of anti-Israel activists is in a protest in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City on May 15, 2025, including the “Globalization Revolt.” (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
This moment is far beyond a nonprofit organization. If Lemkin’s name can be stolen and twisted into a weapon against Israel, then any historical heritage can be snatched. Imagine that the name of Martin Luther King Jr. is used to justify racial hatred. Imagine Mother Teresa’s name promoting cruelty rather than sympathy. Anger will be direct and universal. Jews – and all those who care about the truth deserve to defend Raphael Lemkin.
Pennsylvania authorities must take action. They should revoke the organization’s use of the Lemkin name and assume responsibility under the law. Bets are not only legal, but also moral. exist Anti-Semitism Upwards at shocking levels, the last thing we need is that Lemkin’s legacy is to be weapons with the people he is trying to protect.
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Words are important. Names are important. Legacy is important. Allowing the Lemkin Institute to continue its campaign under this stolen banner is to allow history itself to be destroyed.
For justice, for truth, for memory of Raphael Lemkin, this charm must end.
