FIGHT ANTISEMITISM

Many of us feel the need to do something on our own to fight Antisemitism and stand up to hate.   Our Heller Community Relations Committee offers the following suggestions you can do yourself:

• Act.   Call a friend, sign a petition and help repair acts of vandalism.
• Unite.   Reach out to allies from synagogues, churches, schools, clubs and other civic groups. Invite guests to your Shabbat dinner table and Jewish holiday celebrations..
• Support the Victims.  Hate crime victims are especially vulnerable. Be there for each other.
• Speak Up.   Hate must be exposed and denounced. Share hate incidents and report to news organizations.
• Educate Yourself.  Being informed improves your effectiveness. Research hate groups’ symbols and agendas. Understand the difference between a hate crime and a bias incident.
• Pressure Leaders.  Elected officials and other community leaders are important allies. Take an active role in explaining how Antisemitism has affected you. Build relationships and speak up if they show bias or fail to act against hate.
• Teach Acceptance.  Bias is learned early, often at home. Schools can offer lessons of tolerance and acceptance. Examine your child’s textbooks for bias. Expose your child to multicultural experiences and include your child’s non-Jewish friends too!
• Dig Deeper.  Look inside yourself for biases and stereotypes. We all have biases, but acknowledgment is the first step to better understanding.
• Get Involved!  Our Heller CRC offers many ways to advocate and fight Antisemitism.

These tips are not reserved only for the Jewish community. We need and count on our non-Jewish friends to help us fight the scourge of Antisemitism.

If not now, when? NOW is our time to stand up against hate.

For more information, please contact

Lindsey Mintz

941.552.6303

lmintz@jfedsrq.org