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Antisemitism Awareness Initiative (ASAI)

Antisemitism is rapidly rising in the USA, as well as other countries around the world.
“Between 2015-2018, the U.S. saw a doubling of antisemitic incidents. In 2019, the U.S.
saw more antisemitic incidents than it had in the past 4 decades.” (Anti-defamation
League). Physical attacks against Jews have far exceeded those of any other religious
entity in the U.S.


Antisemitism has existed throughout the ages, and at TBS we stand with our Jewish
community and community-at-large to respond to hate.


Our committee acts as a resource and partner with other organizations to combat
antisemitism, and provides education and awareness to the community. This includes
programs on sources of antisemitism, how to combat it, training regimens, community
research, and outreach to communities beyond Temple Beth Shalom.


Our awareness of antisemitism is critical to combating it, and resides in the larger
context of Tikkun Olam and social justice. In Pirkei Avot 1:14, we read, “If I am not for
me, who will be for me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now,
then when?” Hillel reminds us that attending to ourselves, our safety and well-being also
allows us to work on behalf of all.


To get involved or for more information, please review the additional entries below,
and/or contact ASAI (asai@tbsneedham.org).

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IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) Definition of Antisemitism

ASAI has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism: 


“Antisemitism is 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.”

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TBS Participation in ADL’s National “Kulanu” Program

UPDATE: Temple Beth Shalom has been accepted into a second year of the recently created national Anti-Defamation League Kulanu program, Synagogues in Action Against Antisemitism.   

 

Kulanu, Hebrew for “all of us,” is an eight-month program, running from October 2022 to June 2023, dedicated to empowering select congregations to address antisemitism and hate in their communities through education, community engagement, and advocacy.  During the program, TBS will join a national network of congregations to build bridges of understanding across communities. 

 

As a Kulanu synagogue, TBS will learn how to have critical conversations about antisemitism and other forms of bigotry and cultivate the tools to fight them.

 

Already the Kulanu program has taught us:

 

  • Antisemitism is enduring; goes back hundreds of years in human history

  • How antisemitism survives

  • Why it’s a conspiracy theory

  • What is distinct about it 

  • Why it’s political and adaptive

  • Conscious or unconscious; overt or explicit

  • The connection of white supremacy to antisemitism

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See more detail here: Kulanu Kickoff Presentation

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For more information please contact asai@tbsneedham.org.   

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Report Antisemitic Events/Occurrences

Any negative occurrence towards Jews, Jewishness, Zionism, Israel – microaggressions, slurs, historical tropes – can become larger defamatory words and actions.  If you hear or witness an event, however large or small, please report it to your Antisemitism Awareness Initiative at asai@tbsneedham.org.  ASAI will in turn report applicable events to the ADL (Anti-Defamation League – New England).

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ASAI Previous Webinars, Workshops, Events

  • Book discussion - Bari Weiss'  "How to Fight Antisemitism"

  • It's Not Just a Jewish Issue - presentation and conversation, Rabbi Ron Fish, Interim Regional Director ADL New England

  • History of the Church and the Jews - James Carroll, historian, journalist and author of "Constantine's Sword"

  • Congressman Jake Auchincloss - guest speaker at TBS

  • Antisemitism and Our Kids – A Workshop for Parents and Grandparents

  • Local to Global Antisemitism – a Conversation with Rob Leikind, Director of the AJC (American Jewish Committee), New England.

  • Shining the Light on Antisemitism -- a conversation with ADL’s Robert Trestan and JCRC’s (Jewish Community Relations Council) Jeremy Burton

  • Book Discussion – Jonathan Greenblatt’s “It Could Happen Here – Why America is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable and How We Can Stop It”

  • Responding to Antisemitism – A brunch with CJP’s new Director for Combatting Antisemitism, Melissa Garlick.  See CJP’s 5-point plan to combat Jew hatred here: https://ma.cjp.org/antisemitism-initiative.

  • Israel @ 75: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities – A presentation and Q & A by the Israeli Consul to Boston, Consul General of Israel to New England Meron Reuben.

  • Combating Antisemitism in America: National Strategy to Community Impact: a dynamic and informative talk from former White House advisor and TBS congregant Alex Pascal on the creation of the Biden administration’s “U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism”.  Alex was a Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. In this role, he co-led the development and drafting of the Administration's national antisemitism strategy.

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Useful Links: Resources, Educational Material

 

 

 

 

 

 

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