On Wednesday evening, February 25, 2026, the Embassy of Israel in the United States hosted a special dinner in South Florida, organized by Consul Ayellet Black. The gathering brought together Christian leaders from the United States and Latin America to discuss strategies for raising awareness about antisemitism in universities, schools, and churches.

The event featured a lecture by Eran Shayovich, Chief of Staff at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between religious communities in confronting hatred and intolerance.

Among the guests was Regina Lajst Schechtmann, a Brazilian Jew and granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. She shared her experience of growing up in a Jewish home in Brazil, in a family that immigrated seeking refuge from antisemitism in Europe.

Regina also recounted the story of her grandfather, Chaim Lajst, a survivor of the Sobibor extermination camp uprising — a historic episode known as the Sobibor prisoner uprising. She highlighted how, even today, many Christians are still unaware of what the Holocaust truly was.

In her remarks, she stressed the importance of Christian leaders not only using biblical references to educate younger generations, but also creating space for Jews — especially Israelis — to share their own stories and experiences about the historical and personal meaning of carrying the Star of David.

Christian leaders in attendance included Susan Michael, Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, along with pastors from local churches.

The gathering underscored the growing cooperation between Jewish and Christian leaders in combating antisemitism and promoting historical education about the Holocaust and Jewish identity.

Rising Antisemitism Context

Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, waves of antisemitism spread worldwide, including in the United States. In October 2024, data released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) revealed 10,000 antisemitic incidents recorded in the country since the attack — a surge of more than 200% compared to the same period the previous year, marking the highest number ever documented since monitoring began in 1979.

In its report Portrait of Antisemitic Experiences in the U.S., 2024–2025, the ADL found that:

55% of American Jews reported experiencing some form of antisemitism in the past year.

79% expressed concern about the rise of antisemitism.

18% were victims of assault, physical threats, or verbal harassment due to their Jewish identity.

36% witnessed antisemitic violence or threats.

These figures highlight the urgency of initiatives like the one promoted by the Israeli Embassy, which seeks to unite Christian leadership in confronting the spread of hatred and intolerance.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)