Jewish Education Amidst Rising Antisemitism  volume 22:2 Winter 2024

In light of the atrocities of October 7th and the corresponding surge in global antisemitism in its wake, we felt an imperative to revisit our Jewish Educational Leadership issue on antisemitismโ€”the content of which is more pressing today than when it was published just two years ago. We reached out to some of the initial authors, as well as new authors, to begin to explore the burning questions of today.

We present to you the re-release of our Fall 2021 issue, Jewish Education Amidst Rising Antisemitism, with brand new content for Winter 2024 as indicated in the titles below. The ๐Ÿ“„ icon represents written articles and the ๐ŸŽฌ icon represents video content.

From The Editor: Winter 2024

From The Editor: Winter 2024

When we published our issue on antisemitism two years ago, some thought that we were being alarmist. In retrospect, it seems like the antisemitic sentiments we were sensing were just the tip of the iceberg. The surge of Jew-hatred in the United States and abroad, from college campuses to workplaces to the streets of New York, Paris, London, Sydney, and so many more places, leaves us reeling with questions. How did we get to a place where the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT speaking to a congressional committee could not say unequivocally that calling for the genocide of the Jews is considered harassment and violates campus rules?

Understanding the New Antisemitism with Yossi Klein Halevi – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

Understanding the New Antisemitism with Yossi Klein Halevi – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

I think we’re experiencing a phenomenon that we can call massacre denial or massacre trivialization. And I don’t like Holocaust comparisons to Israel’s situation. But in one way I do believe that a Holocaust analogy is legitimate and that is in in how the historicity of October 7th is being treated and the uniqueness of October 7th. What makes October 7th unique is that it was not a pogrom, these were premeditated atrocities. And the purpose of the atrocities, was to instill terror. So what is happening to the memory of October 7th, the understanding of what October 7th was, is very similar to what Holocaust memory has been subjected to in large parts of the world.

From Fear to Resilience – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

From Fear to Resilience – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

The whole world has changed. I feel like we’re at a historic moment for the Jewish people. This is one of the major, major dividers within the Jewish world today. Those who have never really known Jewish vulnerability and those who know it and feel a deep in their kishkes. And I think that divide has been kind of blown up right now. We’ve known through the statistics that antisemitism has been on the rise for the last many years. And I think Pittsburgh, Tree of Life, really changed in some ways the American Jewish condition. It kind of woke us up to the fact that it can happen here.

Pardes Jewish Studies In-Service Teacher Training Program
Building Jewish Strength – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

Building Jewish Strength – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

I think among the things that are concerning for me is that the people that I work with, and I’m in a Reform congregation, we’re a very large community with a lot of diversity within that community. I think that what is particularly concerning to me is that our people are so caught off guard and surprised. That all of the sudden in 2023, all of the sudden it’s as if there wasn’t antisemitism before October 7th. We either had our heads in the sand or we were just kind of in a position of not really acknowledging the extent to which antisemitism is still a part of the human existence. I won’t say the Jewish existence because I think antisemitism and anti- antisemitism is more than a Jewish concern.

Confronting the Campus Crisis – 2024 update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

Confronting the Campus Crisis – 2024 update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

I think what we’re seeing now is a globalization of antisemitism and it’s become a mass movement in the name of anti-Israel activism, in the name of anti-Zionism, which is not to say that anti-Zionism automatically equals antisemitism, but the way that anti-Zionism is expressed particularly now, is in an antisemitic way. One example, for instance, maybe you would a draw a Venn diagram and you would have a big circle and that big circle says criticism of Israel. Then you have another circle, which is antisemitism, and then you have a bit of an overlap. And the overlap seems to have increased recently. Why that is, is because Hamas is in itself an antisemitic organization.

Antisemitism, Debating a Lie – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

Antisemitism, Debating a Lie – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

The most concerning thing I find about the uptick in antisemitism is the lack of knowledge on the part of Jewish students and others about the real history of the situation. The kids don’t know how to have a cogent debate. They don’t have the knowledge. They don’t have the history to truly stand up and speak truth to lies. And that actually is the most disturbing thing. If there’s violence, it’s obviously extremely disturbing. But I’m not as worried about that as the long term issues, both on college campuses and now on high school campuses, where the lack of knowledge and the level of ignorance is so profound that I think we are in a strategically dangerous spot with our youth who don’t know.

Spertus Institute The Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism
Seeing Antisemitism Clearly – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

Seeing Antisemitism Clearly – 2024 ๐ŸŽฌ

The time when my thinking on antisemitism changed the most in the last five years was actually 2021, not now. In 2021, we had a similar situation on a smaller scale to what we have now, which is Israel and Hamas fighting and violence against Jews outside Israel. Hate crimes, attacks both at protests but also just on the street. And the thing that changed my thinking the most was not fighting in Israel and was not even those attacks. But it was how the reaction to those attacks from people who are most likely to stand up for minority groups who are being subjected to racism or prejudice was anything ranging from apathy to justifying or contextualizing the violence.

Antisemitism โ€“ So Close to Home – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

Antisemitism โ€“ So Close to Home – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

I appreciate the opportunity, unfortunately, to revisit the question of antisemitism and the Jewish day school landscape. And it was almost like looking back at an innocent time to think about the Pittsburgh experience, which is what I wrote about, the proximity of my experience to the three congregations that were massacred in the Tree of Life building. At that time I definitely had it in the context of, well, I’m not surprised. I’m a child of Holocaust survivors. This is going to happen periodically. The big difference was the feeling that the world and the communities and the rational universe were very empathetic and sympathetic to what happened to the Jews in our community.

Antisemitism and Identity – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

Antisemitism and Identity – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„๐ŸŽฌ

So the question was, in the last two years, has your thinking on antisemitism changed? And the answer is very straightforward. My thinking has not changed whatsoever. I knew that antisemitism is an issue, even though people around me have been minimizing and denying it and now it’s just out. It’s clear that there is bias even among people who are not necessarily antisemitic. It seems like there is a radicalization among younger people. I’m wondering to what extent education has to do with it. I got my Ph.D. here and I’ve seen the environment. There seems to be also a lot of misinformation at least on the school campuses or university campuses.

Caring for Our Students & Ourselves in the Face of Antisemitism๐ŸŽฌ

Caring for Our Students & Ourselves in the Face of Antisemitism๐ŸŽฌ

Jewish educators are dealing with antisemitism on two levels. We are dealing with our own shock, fear, anger, and uncertainty. And at the same time, we need to be able to address antisemitism in our classrooms, camps, or youth groups. We need to help our students feel safe and supported, and we need to make sure they have some tools in their arsenal to rely upon. While there are so many questions, many without answers, there are some things that we can do right now to help our students feel safe and supported. This series of videos from The Lookstein Center at Bar-Ilan aims to give educators tools for helping our students through these troubling times.

Gratz College Master's Degree in Antisemitism Studies
Antisemitism is Systemic, and Yet Deeply Personal – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„

Antisemitism is Systemic, and Yet Deeply Personal – 2024 Update ๐Ÿ“„

In the United States and across the globe, there is an all-out assault on Jews arising from the political left, political right, and seemingly everywhere in between. From virulent and overt violence to the dog whistles of antisemitic tropes, one can see antisemitism alive and growing in almost every facet of life. In a survey conducted by ADL, over 1 billion out of 4 billion people surveyed across the world harbor antisemitic attitudes. That is over 25%. As the Program Manager for Echoes & Reflections, my career is focused on helping secondary educators effectively and responsibly teach about the Holocaust and contemporary antisemitism.

Insights From College Guidance in the Wake of October 7th – 2024 ๐Ÿ“„

Insights From College Guidance in the Wake of October 7th – 2024 ๐Ÿ“„

I have been privileged to work at SAR High School since 2007, assisting many hundreds of graduates with the college admission process. It has been a true labor of love, helping a student discover the institution that could be their perfect match for four transformative and memorable years. Front and center in the admission process has always been a studentโ€™s growth as a Modern Orthodox Jew, with considerations like kosher food, daily minyanim, Hebrew language and Jewish studies departments, Torah learning opportunities, and Israel advocacy coming into play as much as academics and student life.

Reflections on College Guidance after October 7th – 2004 ๐Ÿ“„

Reflections on College Guidance after October 7th – 2004 ๐Ÿ“„

This all happened at a very interesting time in the college application cycle. When the war started and we started seeing anti-Israel and antisemitic activity happening across the country, our immediate thought in the Milken college admissions office went to students applying early decision to schools, because thatโ€™s a binding contractโ€”if you’re admitted, you have to attend. October 7th was a month before early decision, early applications were due, and we had to do triage for those students. For students who were not applying early decision the timing wasnโ€™t as critical.

Identifying Jewish for Gen-Z ๐Ÿ“„

Identifying Jewish for Gen-Z ๐Ÿ“„

The rise of antisemitism challenges educators to respond creatively and provide our students with the tools necessary to prevent them from being influenced or hurt by the distorted narratives often constructed. I would like to suggest that familiarizing our students with the historical method and teaching them how to think historically will help them significantly in this effort.

Donโ€™t Believe Everything You Read ๐Ÿ“„

Donโ€™t Believe Everything You Read ๐Ÿ“„

The rise of antisemitism challenges educators to respond creatively and provide our students with the tools necessary to prevent them from being influenced or hurt by the distorted narratives often constructed. I would like to suggest that familiarizing our students with the historical method and teaching them how to think historically will help them significantly in this effort.

The Crisis of Identity in an Antisemitic Environment ๐Ÿ“„

The Crisis of Identity in an Antisemitic Environment ๐Ÿ“„

Antisemitism, the condition of our world, the identity crisis of too many of our young adults and rising leaders, it can be and often is just too much. How do we respond? A young man from a Modern Orthodox Jewish home in a Northeastern community with a sizable Jewish population lives in the western part of the United States outside of any such community. He has blond hair and green eyes, slight muscular build, and is in his twenties. People who see him occasionally greet him with the statement, โ€œYou look like a great Aryan.โ€ At other times, he confronts antisemitic remarks if anyone thinks he may be Jewish (due in part to his name).

Careful Consumption of Social Media ๐Ÿ“„

Careful Consumption of Social Media ๐Ÿ“„

In an age of social media and social justice activism, when it comes to teaching our students about Israel, it can be challenging to find open and healthy discourse. When Ben & Jerryโ€™s pulled selling of ice cream in what they called the โ€œoccupiedโ€ areas of Israelโ€”my Facebook and Instagram feeds quickly became flooded with competing posts either extolling the companyโ€™s morals for taking a stand against Zionism or denouncing it for antisemitism. Perhaps we need to begin with some definitions. Antisemitism is defined as hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people; classical anti-Zionism is opposition to the premise that Jews have a right to self-determination or a state of their own.

Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, and Jewish Education ๐Ÿ“„

Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, and Jewish Education ๐Ÿ“„

Anti-Zionism and anti-Israel sentiment are so prevalent that if students have not encountered them as of yet, whether on social media or in person, they are sure to have to grapple with them when they begin their post-high school experience. It would be a great disservice to them if we do not prepare them adequately, and it is the nature of that preparation which will determine our studentsโ€™ abilities to feel confident in the face of antisemitic anti-Zionist attacks. The questions are how and in what context to do that preparation.