Fighting Antisemitism

Antisemitism on Campus

Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. surged in 2024, to the highest number on record since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking such data. No setting saw a sharper rise than college campuses, which reported more than 1,600 incidents — an 84% increase over the previous year. We cannot allow another school year to be defined by hate. 

The ADL has released the Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2024, and the results are shocking.

READ THE REPORT

It’s easy to talk about fighting antisemitism, but how are we tackling the problem as a Congregation? We are taking a three-pronged approach:

1. Build Awareness
2. Educate
3. Act

Some of this we’re doing from an institutional level, while other opportunities are available for individual congregants. We have collected a number of resources for both adults and children to help you navigate this issue.

What WHC Is Saying (Build Awareness)

Our clergy are speaking out publicly against antisemitism, and are encouraging Jews and allies to call it out when they see it.

• Kanye Is Antisemitic, and Why You Should Care [WHC Blog]
• Antisemitic messaging on social media spreading [NBC Nightly News] Featuring comments from Rabbi Shankman
• Local rabbi on fighting antisemitism and supporting the Jewish community [WJLA] Featuring Rabbi Miller
• How antisemitic rhetoric is impacting the Jewish community [NPR] Featuring Rabbi Fischel
• Jewish community protests antisemitic vandalism in North Bethesda [Fox 5] Featuring WHC member, WHECTY Board Member, and Confirmand Billie Lieber

Build Awareness | Educate | Act | Resources

What WHC Is Doing (Educate)

In the Spring of 2022, WHC was part of a pilot program, Act Against Antisemitism, jointly coordinated by ADL/URJ Act Against Antisemitism. We offered a four-week Deep Dive course as our first effort at building up the tools needed to act.

Since then, the program, now called Kulanu, has expanded to over 100 synagogues nationwide, including a number from the DMV. 9 local synagogues join antisemitism network [Washington Jewish Week]

We continue to offer educational opportunities to the community around this issue, including the below class led by Rabbi Fischel.

Build Awareness | Educate | Act | Resources

What You Can Do (Act)

You can get involved personally by following some of the goals the ADL sets out:

• Monitor and respond to antisemitic incidents
  • The Union for Reform Judaism has joined with ADL to develop Responding to Antisemitic Incidents: A New Resource for URJ Communities, a toolkit that provides both congregations and individuals with tools to effectively respond to acts of antisemitism and hate in their communities.
  • URJ | ADL: Toolkit for Responding to Antisemitic Incidents
  • ADL: Antisemitism Uncovered Toolkit: Resources to Speak Up, Share Facts and Show Strength Against Hate
• Speak out against antisemitic rhetoric
• Educate about antisemitism
  • Join 12 Jewish Questions for a special dinner and discussion of “Why is Antisemitism on the Rise?” Monday, December 5, 7:00 pm at Temple.
  • Interested in joining WHC’s efforts with the ADL’s Kulanu program? Let us know!
• Advocate for policy solutions

Examples in Action

• The Washington Post: Montgomery County Council passes antisemitism resolution amid pushback

Build Awareness | Educate | Act | Resources

TALKING ABOUT AND RESPONDING TO ANTISEMITISM (Resources)

• PJ Library: How to Talk to Children About Antisemitism
• Interfaith Family: Confronting Antisemitism: If I Don’t Respond, Who Will?
• Tablet Magazine:  Bullies in the Schoolyard
• Jewish Social Service Agency: Tips for Talking with Children About Antisemitism
• Jewish Family and Children’s Services: Bullying Prevention
• Mental Health America: Helping Children Cope With Tragedy-Related Anxiety

Resources for Teens and Adults

• Harvard Business Review: How to Respond to an Offensive Comment at Work
• Southern Poverty Law Center: Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry, Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• Living NFTY: NFTY responds to actual, virtual and viral bullying, teasing, and harassment
• ADL: Empowering Jewish Youth to Respond to Antisemitism
• Reform Judaism Magazine: Navigating Anti-Semitic Encounters

For Schools and Teachers: Curriculum and Resources

• Institute for Curriculum Services: provides curricula and professional development to social studies educators with the goal of strengthening the quality of K-12 education on Jewish subjects for all.
• Facing History and Ourselves: Engages students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
• Teaching Tolerance: In response to the recent events in Charlottesville, Facing History and Ourselves, Teaching Tolerance, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Federation of Teachers, and EduColor teamed up to support educators.
• ADL: Resources for Educators, Parents & Families on cyber-bullying, No Place for Hate, A Classroom of Difference. Literature, Lessons Plans and Other Resources