The Oldest Hate: A Brief History of Jew Hatred and How to Recognize and Combat It.
Date: Thursdays, May 7, 14 & 21
Time: 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Location: in-person at Beth Shalom
Instructor: Rabbi Susan Grossman
Fee: $15 donation suggested
According to FBI data, almost 10% of all hate crimes in 2022 targeted Jews, although Jews make up only about 2% of our population. Anti-Semitic incidents rose 400% in 2023, before the most recent Israel/Gaza war. Hate that begins with one group rarely ends there. This three-session program will provide the knowledge and training to help stem hate.
Rabbi Grossman will explore how historical tropes of early and medieval Christian Jew-hatred and 20th-century anti-Semitism play out in contemporary anti-Semitism, the difference between legitimate and anti-Semitic criticism of Israel, and how to recognize and thoughtfully respond to various forms of anti-Semitism. Participants will receive resources to help identify anti-Semitic terms and images, as well as key questions and talking points to help facilitate meaningful conversation in response to anti-Semitism and other forms of hate.
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May 7: In the Beginning: Christian anti-Judaism from the New Testament to Today
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May 14: Morphing Hate: The Rise of Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism
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May 21: Making a Difference: What Can We Do?
Doors open at 6:45 pm for registration and refreshments for those coming from work. Each session includes a 15-minute break for fellowship, refreshments, and optional prayer services.
Rabbi Dr. Susan Grossman, Rabbi Emerita of Beth Shalom Congregation, interfaith leader, and a clergy co-founder of HOCO Courageous Conversations, has her doctorate in Ancient Judaism from Jewish Theological Seminary and is an editor of Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, used by Jewish congregations around the world. Before entering the rabbinate, she headed Holocaust programming for the national organization involved in creating the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
