Why I refuse to measure the fight against antisemitism by what I cannot change

So often in my job, it can feel like I’m getting two steps forward, only to be thrown one step back.

Almost every day, I have the privilege of engaging with students, educators, and community members. This gives me so many opportunities to see the lightbulbs click, one at a time…

A student who exclaims, “I didn’t know that is what Zionism actually means!”

An educator who says, “I need to add this into my lesson plans.”

A community member confesses, “I thought all Jews were white.”

Each one of these reactions, these epiphanies, fuels me. In that moment, it’s so clear that not only does the work matter, but we are indeed making a difference. We are directly pushing back against Jew-hatred through education, conversations, and engagement. It’s “working.”

And then come the smacks in the face…the incidents that take the wind out of you and throw you backward.

A parent emails a photo of antisemitic graffiti at their........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)