New York, NY, July 22, 2003 … Having fielded dozens of complaints about a Web site that claims to provide lists of prominent Jews, but actually serves as an anti-Semitic tool, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on the Internet service hosting the offensive site to shut it down, which was done today.  The League said the domain "Hoozajew.org," while claiming to be a Who's Who for Jews, "actually is little more than a cyber-den for anti-Semites."

ADL contacted the host company, Alabanza Corporation in Baltimore urging the company to remove "Hoozajew" in accordance with its acceptable use policies – rules which forbid the posting of objectionable material and permitting the company to remove sites at its discretion.

"We commend Alabanza for its responsiveness to our concerns and its action in taking down the anti-Semitic site," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The most common complaint we heard was that people who found 'Hoozajew' were duped into thinking it a legitimate list of Jews.  The site, which claimed to be a Who's Who of the Jewish world, was actually little more than a cyber-den for anti-Semites."

In a letter to Thomas V. Cunningham, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Alabanza, ADL said: "Hoozajew – both the Web site and program – is designed to be used as an anti-Semitic tool.  It is also deceptive in that individuals are drawn in believing they are getting a legitimate listing of prominent American Jews.  In fact, this program contains the names of individuals who may not be public figures and, therefore, raises issues of privacy and safety for these individuals." 

Aside from providing lists of Jewish names, the "Hoozajew" site included a free, downloadable program – "Hoozajew2.0" – that the site's creators claim may be used to sift through any list of names and "determine the proportion … that is Jewish."  The site said the program uses "heuristics and several databases, and is intended to be a tool in the struggle against multiculturalism."  The program included a message that it is, "intended to be a tool in the struggle against the Jews and their destructive influence on Western values."

Among other clues to the site's anti-Semitic purpose was a list of links to virulently racist and anti-Semitic Web sites, including the neo-Nazi National Alliance and the Holocaust-denying Institute for Historical Review, and gratuitous jibes intended to fuel base anti-Semitic assumptions, such as the notion that Jews "control" the government, the media and Hollywood.

"Hoozajew" contained links to listings of "Jews in American Society," including "Jews in Media," "Jews in government," "Jews in politics and war," "Jews and money" and "Jews in labor union."  Each list ends with a general statement concluding that Jews are "overrepresented" as a proportion to the general population in that field and therefore constitute a threat to society.