Fighting Antisemitism

In the months since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, the global and American Jewish communities have witnessed an increase in antisemitic activity that’s unprecedented in recent years. For many Jewish communities, this period has felt different, raising critical questions about the current implications of antisemitism and all forms of hate.

In the four weeks after October 7, the number of reported antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased by 388%, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The number of Islamophobic incidents in the U.S. increased 216% during the same period, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

From 2022 to 2024, the average number of anti-Jewish tropes endorsed by Americans increased, according to a January 2024 survey by the ADL. In a reversal of past trends, younger Americans are more likely to endorse anti-Jewish tropes. Millennials agreed with the greatest number of anti-Jewish tropes on average (5.4), followed by Gen Z (5.0), Gen X (4.2) and Baby Boomers (3.1). More than 42% of surveyed Americans said they either have friends or family who dislike Jews (23%) or find it socially acceptable for a close family member to support Hamas (27%).

Beth Sholom Congregation is committed to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate in order to enjoy a safe and thriving Jewish community. This page provides congregants with resources developed by the ADL, including age-appropriate resources to help families talk to their children about antisemitism and to address the challenges they may face. 

We will become a stronger and safer Jewish community by educating ourselves and others while understanding how to use our voice. The addition of this resource page is just a first step in Beth Sholom’s response to antisemitism. We will add more information on this page as it becomes available. We are exploring the development of other initiatives to respond to antisemitism and to engage both the Jewish and broader Frederick community.

Please contact Jon Solomon (solomonjt2003@yahoo.com) and Stan Binder (bindersj@gmail.com) if you are interested in participating in Beth Sholom’s Fight Antisemitism working group.

Congregant Resources

• Speak Up, Share Facts, Show Strength (ADL framework excerpted in Jonathan Greenblatt’s book “It Could Happen Here: Why America is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable – and How We Can Stop It”

• Jonathan Greenblat’s annual ADL State of Hate address

• Glossary of Extremism and Hate (database of terms associated with movements and groups that subscribe to extremist or hateful ideologies)

• Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident

• ADL Heat, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism Map (where specific incidents are happening in the U.S.)

Family Resources

• Talking to Young Children about Bias and Prejudice

• Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and Spanish)

• Table Talks: Family Conversations about Current Events

• Slurs and Biased Language (in English and Spanish, ages 10 and up)

• Responding to Cyberhate (ages 12 and up)

• Antisemitism Today (ages 12 and up)

• Propaganda, Extremism and Online Recruitment Tactics (ages 14 and up)