October 7, 2023 is a day we will never forget. Three years after 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas-led attack that also saw 251 people taken hostage, our lives remain forever changed.
Initially, the worldwide Jewish community received an outpouring of support. However, over time, some of that support turned into accusations of war crimes and genocide. This opened the door for a wave of antisemitism throughout the diaspora. And now, three years later, we are still fighting for Israel’s right to exist and for Jewish people to live in a world free from fear and persecution.
While we have worked to address antisemitism in a number of ways, it is clear that we must enhance our strategy. There are several areas where our focus will increase in the coming weeks:
- Parent Education & Support Groups: In collaboration with PJ Library and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), we will offer classes and programs to help parents navigate questions from their children regarding antisemitism and how to address it in schools.
- High School Tool Kit: Students in grades 9-12 will receive tools to help them participate in difficult conversations amongst their peers and prepare them for increasing antisemitism on college campuses.
- Project Halo: Through Jewish Federations of North America’s initiative Project Halo, we will share researched messaging on current events affecting the Jewish community ~ from the latest flydubai attempted hijacking to anti-Israel protests, and everything in between.
- One Mitzvah a Day: A grassroots effort in which everyone can participate, One Mitzvah a Day is a simple way to say thank you—via text or email—to those showing up for the Jewish community. Recognize the good and act on it. Click here for more information and to sign up.
- What To Do When It Happens To You: We are in the process of finalizing an Incident Report for community members to utilize to report antisemitic activities in our area. The report will be accessible on our website org.
We welcome your continued input as we hold in our hearts those impacted by October 7 and K’lal Yisrael.
