Opinion | To Fight Antisemitism, Educate People About Who Jewish People Are
September 28, 2023 | Read Time: 2 minutes
To the Editor:
As philanthropists consider how to best use their dollars to fight rising American antisemitism — a subject explored in Maria Di Mento’s September 6 article “The Push to Get More Big Donors to Give to Fight the Spread of Antisemitism” — one obvious opportunity remains largely unexplored: addressing most Americans’ ignorance about Jews. Even at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, which does indispensable anti-bigotry work, a docent told me that visiting students often ask, “Are any Jews still alive today?”
Almost 30 states now require schools to teach students about the Holocaust. All states should. But not a single state requires that students learn about Jewish people.
In the European Union, strategies to combat antisemitism include educating the public about living Jewish culture. The United States is overdue to adopt such approaches, which is why the Biden administration has made them a key component of its U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. It’s much easier to debunk lies when people are first introduced to the truth.
Yes, donors should continue to support Holocaust education, fund efforts against growing antisemitic movements, and recognize that fighting antisemitism is part of protecting democracy. But philanthropy must also contribute to programs that teach people who Jews are so that Americans have reliable information from sources other than hateful conspiracy theorists. All these efforts work in concert and need funding.
In my extensive writing, reporting, and speaking on this topic, I’ve discovered a massive untapped population of non-bigoted Americans who have enormous curiosity about Jews. The questions people ask me are basic: Who are Jews? Are they still alive today? Where can I learn more?
The problem: There’s nowhere to send them. We have a collective opportunity to change that.
Dara Horn
Author, People Love Dead Jews
Creative Advisor, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
