LiNK: Addressing Antisemitism and Ensuring

Addressing antisemitism and Ensuring Joyous Judaism

BY MIKE STEKLOF, ED.D.

Over the past few years, the Buffalo Jewish Federation has been engaged in the powerful work of gathering groups of teens to wrestle with simple and not so simple questions, including: “What does being Jewish mean to you?” “What to say when friends wish you a merry Christmas,” and “How to react when you learn of antisemitic comments made by celebrities.”

Jewish Student to Student® leaders present to their peers

through age-appropriate resources, and thanks to a $7,000 grant from the Shine a Light Foundation, in December we hosted a Hanukkah party for Jewish and multi-heritage families focused on spreading Jewish joy to address antisemitism.

We invite you to be in conversation about this important work, which is only in its infancy. Over the coming years there will be many opportunities to explore together how joyful Judaism can inform our work to address antisemitism, including at a program for parents in May entitled, “How to Speak to Your Children About Antisemitism”.

We are thankful to the LiNK Leadership Council, the Holocaust Resource Center Leadership Council, and the Jewish Community Relations Council for leading these efforts.

Mike Steklof, Ed.D. is the Senior Director at LiNK Jewish Buffalo and works with an incredible team of colleagues to bring joy to Jewish moments. He can be reached at mike@ buffalojewishfederation.org.

After grappling with these questions and participating in a three-month weekly training program, these teens were deployed to area schools through the Student to Student® program to share stories about their personal Jewish experience. Inevitably during their presentations, the subject of antisemitism would come up either in direct or subtle ways. The teen presenters spoke about how they have experienced antisemitism firsthand. Examples include hearing antisemitic jokes exchanged after a musical theatre production that featured a Jewish character, seeing swastikas drawn on friends’ binders, or having antisemitic comments left on their Instagram posts. Regardless of the content, timing or nature of the incident, every Student to Student® presenter shared that they experienced antisemitism.

This is not simply a teenage phenomenon. In the last year, parents of young Jewish children in our community have reached out to Jewish professionals to ask for support or advice about what to do when their child feels stigmatized for being Jewish. According to a recent Jerusalem Post article, antisemitism can also be felt at the workplace; 26% of hiring managers state that they are less likely to hire a job applicant if they are Jewish.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” Recent antisemitism includes shootings in a synagogue, the use of stereotypes, linking Jews to societal ills, using harmful symbols like a swastika, and anti-Zionist actions or sentiments.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 2021 saw the highest number on record for reports of vandalism, violence and harassment directed against Jews. The ADL has tracked these incidents since 1979 and sees these record-breaking numbers as part of a five-year upswing in antisemitism, which is unprecedented in modern American history. The current increase includes the 2018 attack on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter killed 11 synagogue attendees and the deadly Charlottsville, VA, “Unite the Right” rally where demonstrators chanted, “Jews will not replace us” as well as smaller incidents which include vandalizing Jewish schools, community centers and homes, extremist flyering campaigns, and antisemitic comments by celebrities.

Given this rise in incidents, the Buffalo Jewish Federation is increasingly committed to the work of addressing antisemitism. Our approach recognizes that we must support individuals and organizations when they encounter antisemitism, but also work to ensure that Judaism remains joyful to all. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to inspire multicultural connections, we are working to raise the visibility of our vibrant Jewish community, create opportunities for families of different faiths and cultures to have a shared experience. In addition, work will focus on preparing parents and educators to discuss antisemitism with their children