In a powerful and inspiring evening, the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE), hosted a sold-out event at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Center on Monday, October 23, 2023.

With a shared mission to combat and eradicate acts of antisemitism in the community and on social media, the event brought together more than 300 passionate individuals, including 150 adults and 150 teens, all committed to making a difference.

The night was split between adults and teens, and Rabbi Aviva Funke of BJE, led the teens in a discussion and activity while they enjoyed a pizza dinner, fostering a sense of community and pride among the younger attendees. While the teens where enjoying their program, adults were able to hear an expertly moderated discussion by Mala Blomquist, Editor of Jewish News, featuring a candid conversation with renowned Jewish author and educator, Ben M. Freeman. He shared his personal experiences with antisemitism and emphasized the importance of embracing Jewish pride. One of the key takeaways was the significance of being anchored in one’s Judaism. Ben highlighted the need to make Judaism tangible and urged everyone to be active Jews, standing up against antisemitism in all its forms.

The adults then joined Sarah Kader of ADL and Debbie Yunker Kail of Hillel at ASU to learn about what life is like for Jewish students on campus, while teens enjoyed the discussion with Ben moderated by the talented 11th grader Avah Montgomery, who sits on the CJP board. Ben encouraged the young audience to choose colleges that embrace and stand with the Jewish people and to speak up when they experienced antisemitism and lean into their Jewish community for support.

During both sessions, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions directly to Ben, fostering meaningful dialogue. The feedback from the audience was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees feeling inspired and empowered to combat antisemitism actively. Ben’s message resonated deeply, emphasizing the importance of unity and pride in the face of hatred.

The event served as a catalyst for change, reminding everyone of the urgency to identify, combat, and end acts of antisemitism. As the evening came to a close, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to create a world free from antisemitism.

Special thank you to our co-chairs, Keryn Bickman-Solomon and Dr. Jordana Jaffee for their leadership on this event. Thank you to ADL and BJE for being programmatic partners, and to Hillel at ASU for providing meaningful resources for parents and community members. And thank you to the following community partners for sharing the event with their communities: BBYO, Hebrew High, Valley Beit Midrash/Arizona Jews for Justice, CJP Youth Philanthropy Board, Temple Solel, Temple Kol Ami, Shevet Shemesh, Pardes Jewish Day School, Congregation Beth Israel, Temple Beth Shalom of the East Valley, and Congregation Or Tzion.

Check out a list of resources available to help during this time and continue scrolling for photos from the day below.

Organizational Resources

ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/tips-engaging-and-disengaging-social-media

If you encounter any anti-Semitic activity, please report online at https://www.adl.org/report-incident.

BJE/Hebrew High: Want to continue the conversation? Hebrew High is the Valley’s Jewish Teen Learning Center where 9th-12th graders meet Tuesday nights from 7-9pm. Everyone is welcome to come try classes for free! Learn more about it at www.HHPHX.org or sign up for a free session here.

Teen Support Resources

Responding to the Situation in Israel

Stand with Us:  Hamas War with Israel FAQs  https://www.standwithus.com/situationroom

Boundless Israel Conversation Points: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EOK5DqgiH_fqnJ7iVO693VPLyIGGr0wu/view

Urge Social Media Platforms to Follow Better Content Moderation Practices Related to the Crisis in Israel: https://adl.salsalabs.org/social-media-israel/index.html?utm_campaign=irshamatt2023&utm_medium=email&utm_source=whole&utm_content=e05

Mental Health Resources

National Association of School Psychologists:  https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/supporting-youth-affected-by-the-violence-in-israel-and-gaza-tips-for-families-and-educators

JFCS is a local resource to help with people who in need of mental health support. Your two main contacts are: Kathy Rood Kathy.rood@jfcsaz.org and Jessica Bozek jessica.bozek@jfcsaz.org

Taking Action:

Center for Jewish Philanthropy Israel Relief Emergency Campaign: https://phoenixcjp.org/cjp-israel-emergency-efforts

Advocate:

Tell your federal, state, and local elected officials and representatives to support Israel: https://jfeds.org/OperationSwordsofIronActionAlert

Wear Your #BlueRibbonsforIsrael: Communities and leaders across North America are wearing their blue ribbons in solidarity with the hostages taken by Hamas in Israel and their families. Learn more and get your blue ribbon at BlueRibbonsforIsrael.org

Photos from the Day

 

 

This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishPhoenix assumes no responsibility for them. MORE