9 Ways to Help School Children Through Heightened Antisemitism

Antisemitism, unfortunately, can be found everywhere. Though the stories that usually make the evening news focus on threats, vandalism, and violence perpetrated by adults, these incidents also occur in elementary schools. 

Antisemitism can be scary. Knowing that your children—and you—are prepared can help allay fears. Preface a conversation about responding to antisemitism by talking about other things you are prepared for. For example, you may keep flashlights with extra batteries or cordless phone chargers in case of a power outage. This doesn’t mean that there will be a power outage, but if one occurs, you will be ready. 

We’ve consulted expert educators, counselors, and child development specialists to share some ideas for talking with your children about antisemitism and other forms of hatred.

Prepare for School 

1. Explain antisemitism in terms they can understand. Start with Five Tools to Help you Talk with Your Kids about Antisemitism.

2. If your child is concerned about antisemitism at school, let their teachers know. The more information teachers have, the more helpful they can be. 

3. Help your child identify a safe person at school who they can trust with difficult things. This may be their current teacher, a favorite former teacher, coach, counselor, club advisor, etc. Let this person know that your child has chosen them and may come to them if they are facing a challenging situation at school.  

4. Encourage your child to report hateful behavior. Let them know that it is not “tattling” or “snitching;” it is the right thing to do.  

5. Help them with responses to possible antisemitic bullying. After they’ve chosen what they might say or do, practice that dialogue/action with them. Practicing may help them feel more confident in the moment. Here are some responses our experts recommend:   

• Walk away: Taking yourself out of an uncomfortable or potentially harmful situation is always a good option. Your child is not obligated to engage.
• Curiosity: “I wonder why you would say something like that.”
• Call someone in: “You’re a nice person; I wanted to let you know that that word is offensive to Jewish people.”
• Knowledge: “A lot of people think Jews have horns because of a Hebrew word that means both ‘horns’ and ‘rays of light.’ We don’t.”
• Humor: “If Jews controlled the banks, I would probably have a better phone!”
• Pride: “I am proud of being Jewish, nothing you say is going to bother me.” 

Work on Understanding and Managing Emotions 

6. Remind your child that emotions are powerful tools that the body uses to tell the brain something important. If your child is unsure if something said or drawn is harmful, their emotions may give them clues. Remind them that even though it's normal to feel anger when someone says or does something hurtful, it is not okay to reply or act out in anger. It might be best to take some time to calm down and reply once they have had time to consider a useful response.  

7. Give your child agency. Allow them to decide, with your guidance, if and how they would like Judaism to be part of their public persona at school.  We don’t always have a choice in sharing some of our identities, such as race or how others perceive our gender, but sometimes we choose not to share parts of our identities that can be hidden.

8. Let them know that they may have to make difficult choices (with your support). An older child may not want to call out antisemitism for fear of being ostracized from something else they love - like playing on a sports team or getting a speaking role in the school play. 

Present Avenues for Joyfully Exploring Judaism 

9. Equip your child with knowledge about Jewish culture and prioritize engaging in Jewish community. You can find resources for celebrating Jewish holidays, locating a Reform community near you, and studying Jewish wisdom. Ensure that they have opportunities to celebrate their Judaism.  

• Think about making Friday night dinner into Shabbat dinner by using a nice tablecloth, eating off special place settings, and lighting Shabbat candles.
• Consider cooking Jewish food together. Who doesn’t love making and eating challah?
• Kids up to 12 years old can sign up for PJ Library and get age-appropriate Jewish books sent to them every month.
• If they’re into sports, check out this list of list of Jewish baseball players, or if they’re into classic rock, this list of Jews inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Knowing that a famous Jewish person shares their interest or passion could help your child feel less alone and give them a sense of Jewish pride.  

The idea that you have to talk to young children about antisemitism is hard. Remember that, as a parent, grandparent, or other loving adult, you’ve done other hard things. You’ve got this. Find more information on understanding and challenging antisemitism on the Reform Movement’s antisemitism resources page.