Whether your child reports some sort of antisemitic experience – from microaggressions, to teasing and bullying, or observing antisemitic graffiti, to experiencing escalated incidents like threats and violence – or if there is a major event in the news, it is important to be prepared for discussing the issue with your child.
The information below is divided into three sections:
- Discussion talking points based on grade-appropriate recommendations. Many of these recommendations come from The American Psychological Association (here and here).
- Resources you can use for your own education or to share with older children.
- Resources for reporting hate crimes you or your child experience or witness.
Grade-Appropriate Discussion Topics
Resources for Education
To learn more about the complexities of antisemitism, check out this YouTube series from Unpacked, breaking down historical and modern antisemitism and its key questions.
For a unique look at how antisemitism has morphed over time, watch this video from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z”l), the former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom.
Read what the American Psychological Association says about the impact of antisemitism.
Consider these two perspectives on anti-Zionism as antisemitism:
Book List for Adult Learners:
- Antisemitism: Here and Now, by Deborah Lipstadt
- People Love Dead Jews, by Dara Horn
- How to Fight Antisemitism, by Bari Weiss
- Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood, by Mark Oppenheimer
- Contemporary Left Antisemitism, by David Hirsch
Resources for Reporting
If you, your child, or someone in your community experiences an incident of antisemitism, take the following steps:
- Inform local law enforcement authorities about the incident, as well as any other relevant parties (school administrators, board, etc.).
- Document the incident and preserve any evidence.
Report the incident to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which tracks, documents, and responds to antisemitic acts and other forms of hate across the country. The form for reporting incidents of antisemitism to the Anti-Defamation League can be found at https://www.adl.org/reportincident. You can find your local ADL office for more information here. Your community may also have a member organization of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs (sometimes known as a JCRC – Jewish Community Relations Council) to support incident reporting.