Dear Friend,
The world has permanently changed since October 7. Like many of you, I am heartbroken and angry by the brutal attack and massacre in Israel. As history has shown us, when conflicts arise in the Middle East, we see an uptick in antisemitic incidents in the United States and worldwide. In the two months following the October 7, ADL’s Center on Extremism has documented 1,481 antisemitic incidents across the United States. That is a 315% increase from the 388 incidents reported during the same time last year
. These incidents include violent assaults against Jewish individuals on streets, antisemitic harassment of Jewish students on college campuses, anti-Israel protests openly expressing support for terrorist organizations, and more.
We have been able to breathe a slight sigh of relief as some of the hostages are released, but we will not and cannot rest until every single one is brought home. If you're looking for ways to help make sure families of the hostages are not alone in fighting for their loved ones, you can demand the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross release all hostages NOW.
We also feel a strengthened sense of community after the November 14 March for Israel. This historic march saw more than 300,000 supporters, Jewish and non-Jewish come together to demand the release of the hostages and show their support Israel and the worldwide Jewish community. It was an empowering day for all.
Though there is no clear end in sight to what’s happening in Israel and around the world, we want you to know that ADL is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of Jews everywhere. We are consistently putting out statements and educational resources to help our constituents stay informed and prepared to have difficult discussions. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our special Israel landing page on our website.
We wish you all health and safety as we enter the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Meredith R. Weisel
ADL Washington, D.C. Regional Director |
IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY
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In this current school year, our Education Team has completed 7 anti-bias programs including: 5 virtual "bias in sports" workshops for members of the Virginia High School League and "Breaking Down Bias" curriculum training for 43 educators at Westbrook Elementary School
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We have also completed 19 antisemitism programs this school year, including Antisemitism Professional Development for 300+ educators and administrators of MCPS Whitman Cluster and Antisemitism Today presentations for 100+ 8th graders at Charlotte County Day School
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RESOURCES
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December Monthly Featured Book: Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas
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Check out our new Table Talk: Anti-Muslim Bias and Acting as an Ally
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Every December, families, teachers, and administrators face the difficult task of acknowledging the various religious and secular holiday traditions celebrated during that time of year. Read through our resource "The December Dilemma: Teaching About Religious Holidays" to learn how to best approach this subject.
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Take a listen to ADL New York/New Jersey's Regional Director Scott Richman's newest "From the Frontlines" podcast on the Extraordinary Work of Zaka. Zaka has provided medical assistance during the horrific attacks in Israel. You can listen for free here.
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Calling All Young Leaders:
Glass Leadership Institute Now Accepting Nominations!
Nominations and applications for the 2024 GLI cohort are open. We are looking for emerging leaders between 25-45 years old across the region who are interested in developing their skills to combat hate and bias, and learning more about ADL’s work. Participants will build relationships with other like-minded leaders while meeting with ADL experts and local community partners. Learn more, nominate a prospect or apply here.
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