The American Jewish Committee (AJC) released a Call to Action last week, with the goal of educating individuals about antisemitism and how to address it.
Dr. Alexandra Herzog
In “A Call to Action Against Antisemitism in America,” the AJC pursues a multi-faceted approach and details explanations and recommendations for many different societal and governmental sectors, including the Executive Branch, the U.S. Congress, local government, law enforcement, social media companies, news media, corporations, and educational institutions.
"I think that it's a really important resource for us because it's really a single resource that specifically will, we hope, empower leadership in a lot of different sectors to understand, handle, and prevent antisemitism in their sector,” said Dr. Alexandra Herzog, AJC deputy director of William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life. “And I think we're really hoping to give them very specific tools for each one of those three elements."
AJC’s 2021 State of Antisemitism in America report noted that 24% of American Jewish people have been personally targeted by antisemitism in the past 12 months, the report’s authors write, adding that four in ten American Jewish people changed behavior at least once out of fear of antisemitism.
“Overall, I think that what we, AJC, and what I personally hope to achieve with this is not just a raising of awareness about the spike in antisemitism that we're experiencing in America, but a deeper understanding of the types of antisemitism, where they're coming from, how they are being displayed, and most importantly how to combat them,” said Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, AJC director of William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life. “This is an effort to take the education a step further, to say 'here is some very specific action items that you, as a university, as a legislator, as a mayor, as a businessperson, can take to stop antisemitism in your area.'"
The AJC is asking higher ed to play its part, with recommended actions including making condemnations of antisemitism; integrating antisemitism as a focus in student trainings and orientations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and creating courses on historical and contemporary antisemitism.
There has been an increase in antisemitism on college campuses, ranging from antisemitic symbology to anti-Zionism that becomes antisemitism, said Dr. Sara Coodin, AJC director of academic affairs.
