Organizing Against Antisemitism
JFREJ is leading the progressive movement’s response to antisemitism by providing analysis, education, and guidance to our allies nationally, and organizing the fight against hate violence in New York.
Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice,
hostility or violence against Jews as Jews
(or Jewish institutions as Jewish).
Safety in Solidarity
Jews are facing an increase in antisemitism fueled by the growing power of far-right white Christian nationalist movements. But we aren’t facing these dangers alone. JFREJ organizes in solidarity with other communities who have a mutual interest in fighting white supremacist ideology.
JFREJ leverages our strong relationships and years of partnership with community-based organizations and grassroots coalitions, drawing upon a foundation of trust that allows us to connect with audiences that other Jewish organizations might never reach. Together, we work to understand antisemitism, what fuels it, how it is used, the threat it poses, and the best ways to confront it.
In moments of antisemitic violence, like the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the stabbing at a Chanukah party in Monsey, it was these partners — from South Asian, Latinx, Arab, Filipinx, and Palestinian communities — who created protective safety circles around us at our events, with signs in Urdu, Bangla, Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog. This is our vision of Jewish safety: a vision that recognizes our security is inextricably linked to the safety of all oppressed people, and that our shared joy and power is dependent on all of us working together to create a world free from antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of bigotry.
Antisemitism Education, Training & Thought Leadership
In 2017 JFREJ published the Understanding Antisemitism paper. In 2021, we published Unraveling Antisemitism, a poster for discussion inspired by the paper.
Download the paper | Download the poster | Download discussion guide
In 2018, JFREJ began facilitating antisemitism trainings — all across the country, online, and for our partners here in New York City. The workshops are specifically designed for non-Jewish social justice activists and leaders, authored and facilitated by a diverse group of leaders, including Jewish People of Color, Mizrahi & Sephardi Jews, and Jews from different class backgrounds. In January 2022, we are releasing a discussion guide and facilitation toolkit so more groups can hold their own workshops using our curriculum.
Like other forms of scapegoating, antisemitism is fueled most when societies break down and people are forced to compete for scarce resources. The conditions that Jews need to safely thrive are the same ones that we need to fix our broken society: a vibrant, functional democracy that empowers all of us; the equitable allocation of resources so that everyone can meet their needs; the human right to healthcare and housing; and cities that function as a home for all who live in there, not as investment vehicles for real estate developers.
Taking on White Christian Nationalism in Government
JFREJ also incubated and fiscally sponsored the development of the Jews Against White Nationalism (JAWN) project to organize and fight against antisemitism and white nationalism in the far-right, and expose its ties to the GOP. Our electoral arm, The Jewish Vote, is also combatting antisemitic white Christian nationalist politicians at the ballot box, and in partnership with our Muslim neighbors.
Preventing Antisemitic Hate Violence & Countering the Far-Right in NYC
Another component of our work against antisemitism includes NYC Against Hate: Joining with our neighbors to stop hate violence. JFREJ convened the NYC Against Hate coalition in 2019 to respond to skyrocketing hate violence in New York City. Since then, we've organized hate violence prevention canvasses, held trainings on bystander intervention, and participated in actions like defending Drag Story Hour from, and supporting LGBTQ lawmakers harassed by, far-right Christian nationalists, homophobes & transphobes, and neo-Nazis & Proud Boys
