This was not the first time a stranger or acquaintance asked for guidance or a listening ear. I've been approached with concerns about antisemitism in schools, at the grocery store, and even after exiting the bathroom at my temple.
Following the atrocities of October 7, 2023 in Israel, and amidst ongoing death and destruction in Gaza, we face surging antisemitism - indeed, the highest rates of documented antisemitism in at least 46 years.
Right before Sukkot, I noticed the word "JEW" carved into my sidewalk. I began to grind out the word, but rather decided to replace the space by adding "Proud JEWs" to the sidewalk.
As I continued to watch antisemitism and Christian nationalism rise, I found myself worrying about how to best keep my loved ones safe and wondered if my great grandmother had the same thoughts.
As a Jew, do you feel welcomed and safe to express your authentic self in all aspects of your life? As an educator, I've championed identity safe classrooms, based on research that indicates when students’ identities are affirmed, they perform better in school.
As antisemitic rhetoric and violence escalate in North America and around the world, the URJ is speaking out with urgency and clarity as a voice for Jewish safety, justice, and dignity.
As antisemitism continues to threaten American democracy, many are looking for a concise, objective definition to use in online exchanges, schools, and universities to decide if a derisive comment or chanted epithet is legally actionable.
Jews have had thousands of conversations about antisemitism over the past years, especially after October 7th. The following list summarizes the ideas that arise most often in these discussions.