Addressing Antisemitism

By now we are all aware that there has been an alarming rise over recent years of acts of antisemitism. Just a few months ago, reports surfaced of swastikas being drawn on bathroom walls in schools and of zoom bombing services and educational programs sponsored by synagogues and Jewish institutions, to say nothing of the increase in antisemitic statements made face-to-face or through social media and other online forums. Add to this list more subtle acts that, candidly, some of us think may be antisemitic but are not certain, and the use of the word “alarming” seems hardly sufficient.

Temple Sinai has long celebrated our relationship with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), two organizations that are uniquely positioned in the community to document and respond to antisemitism. We’ve held forums, had guest speakers, trained our students in response strategy, and more. We are proud of the resources supplied by both the ADL and the AJC and they have indeed been rather helpful.

Temple Sinai recently established a more strategic approach to antisemitism that includes education, advocacy, and ritual recognition. Our slate of events includes:

• Thursday, January 25: Advocacy at the Capitol this morning and afternoon
• “Adopt a Day” in Feb/March: Demonstrate support for HB30 at the Capitol
• Friday, January 26: In commemoration of International Holocaust Memorial Day, Sinai is hearing from Madison Davis, Education Coordinator at Kennesaw State University's Museum of History and Holocaust Education as our Shabbat evening service speaker
• February 27 at 7:00 pm:  Sip ‘N Learn with Kevin Abel (President Biden appointed member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council), Eytan Davidson (Regional Director, ADL Southeast) and  Dov Wilker (Regional Director, AJC Southeast)
• April 12: Musical Shabbat: Atlanta Volunteer Orchestra to play music during the service that is connected to the Shoah (note: in year’s past, we asked them to play music composed by Jews from the camps, music that was composed by survivors, etc.)
• May 5: Rabbi Brad is screening the documentary Film, “The Round Number.” (https://go2films.com/films/the-round-number/)
• May 5: At least one clergy member will be present at Greenwood for the ATL city-wide commemoration

To learn more about how you can address antisemitism, email Carrie Bohn.

Temple Sinai, along with over a hundred other synagogues throughout the country, has been accepted into the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) synagogue engagement program Kulanu. Kulanu (a Hebrew word meaning “all of us”) is a year-long synagogue initiative focused on combating antisemitism through education, advocacy, and communal engagement.

The belief is that our participation will enhance our congregational abilities to address antisemitism. Sinai leads LaWana Streger and Emily Webb, supported by Sinai’s Vice President of Community Steve Pepper, have expressed excitement about the opportunities our involvement will provide. We will have access to programming, webinars, and briefings from experts in the field. We will also be linked to other metro-Atlanta participants to share best practices, as well as those participating nationally in this expansive partnership. As Steve shared regarding our involvement, “Our congregants are always asking, ‘what are we doing’ and ‘what can I do’ with respect to antisemitism, and this would be a good step.”