<[link removed]> <[link removed]>Dear Friend,

The FBI just released their hate crimes data for last year: 2023 represented the highest number of reported hate crimes for nearly every category — including antisemitism — since the FBI first began tracking this data in 1991.

There is much to critique about how hate crimes data is collected and used, but it does give us a moment of reflection — truly seeing how many communities are targeted right now solely because of their identity, especially since the 2016 presidential election.

To explore solutions together, we gathered hundreds of Jews and allies last week to hear from experts on antisemitism, safety, and solidarity. Here are three ways you can help carry this work forward:

🎥 Watch the panel recording of How We Fight Antisemitism Now <[link removed]>
⬇️ Download our Dismantling Antisemitism messaging guide <[link removed]>
❤️ ​​Power this work to fight antisemitism in solidarity with a donation <[link removed]>

Scroll below to read wisdom and insights from last week’s expert panel:

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Rachèl Laforest, Bend the Arc

“It took 200 years for us to build what is actually democratic and inclusive about our country so far. Let's not kid ourselves that there's any magic wand out there. So in terms of how Jews can respond to antisemitism: we do it by choosing one another within and far beyond the Jewish community, so that we are safe together, even when it feels really hard to do that. That is an activity, it is choiceful, it is intentional.

These are not empty words. Safety in solidarity is not a catchphrase. It's actually a way to build out our lives and our organizations and our relationships and community.”

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Ben Lorber, co-author of Safety in Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism

“The way to uproot antisemitism is to end inequality — to build a world where people aren't alienated and there isn't astounding, unprecedented wealth inequality or people getting thrown out of their homes.

And there are steps we could take to get there: The movements that we build now are like the world in miniature. We prefigure the world we want to live in by building our movements for liberation, by taking care of each other, by mutual aid.

Putting forward that vision of a better world is really at the heart of Tikkun Olam. It's at the heart of Jewish religious teaching for thousands of years, and it's also at the heart of Jewish progressive movements.”

<[link removed]>Shane Burley, co-author of Safety in Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism

“When we silo antisemitism away from other forms of oppression, we give up our ability to do anything about it. Instead, we can only mitigate it: maybe get more police, maybe a new piece of legislation that limits speech we find threatening, something like that. But we don't actually go at the fundamental core roots anymore.

Safety through solidarity has been on the Jewish left and the left more broadly for years. But it's the idea of walking away from nationalism or excessive policing or Draconian laws as the solution for antisemitism, and instead bringing it back to the community.”

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Graie Hagans, Bend the Arc

“So much of this work is about being able to recommit time and time again, in a place that allows for the wrestling, fumbling, and coming back together — not in the places of what hurts us and in the pain, but in the ‘Where are we going?’ I often think about Michael Walzer, who says, ‘Wherever you are is probably a narrow place.’ And the only way forward is actually together through the wilderness.”

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Maya Berry, Arab American Institute

“We're in this together in a very real and meaningful way…actual joint liberation means that we're not going to be safe if one community continues to be targeted with hatred.

Arab Americans share that perspective. We did our polling in October, immediately after October 7th (and we've been polling Arab Americans since the mid 90s). ‘Were you concerned about an increase in anti-Arab bigotry?' 78% said that they were, and when we asked them if they were concerned about an increase in antisemitism, 67% said they were. These are not binaries. There's an important community that comes together on these issues.”


Join us in continuing this important work — we can’t do it without you: <[link removed]>

🎥 Watch the panel recording of How We Fight Antisemitism Now <[link removed]>
⬇️ Download our Dismantling Antisemitism messaging guide <[link removed]>
❤️ ​​Power this work to fight antisemitism in solidarity with a donation <[link removed]>

L'Shalom,

Graie Hagans
Chief Vision Officer, Bend the Arc

Help power our movement forward

We're rising up alongside all who are impacted by antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy to fight for the joyful future we deserve — a future where Black liberation is realized and where all of us are safe and thriving, no matter what we look like or where we come from.

<[link removed]>DONATE <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]>Thank you for supporting Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, we can’t do it without you. This email was sent to: [email protected] <>. Inbox getting a little full? Sign up to get less email here <[link removed]>. We'd hate to see you go, but if you want to stop receiving all email, unsubscribe here <[link removed]>. Need to update the information we have on file for you? Reply to this email <mailto:[email protected]>. Looking to make a gift? Donations <[link removed]> aren’t tax deductible but help make this work possible.