Antisemitism and Allyship: Assessing the Present, Imagining the Future

At a two-day convening held on April 8 and April 9, a diverse group of experts came together to discuss the timely topic of antisemitism and how best to respond to its threat. They explored the strategies that have proven most effective for combatting this hatred with a focus on allyship. Recording of the sessions can be found below.

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2024

HISTORY OF ANTISEMITISM

Case Studies in the History of Antisemitism

  • Dr. Tamara Neuman (moderator), Director of Convenings, JTS
  • Dr. Benjamin Gampel, JTS Dina and Eli Field Family Chair in Jewish History
  • Dr. Rebecca Kobrin, Russell and Bettina Knapp Associate Professor of American Jewish History at Columbia University
  • Dr. Avinoam Patt, Inaugural Director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism and Maurice Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies at NYU
  • Dr. David Fishman, JTS Professor of Jewish History

Rare Materials Presentation from the JTS Library

  • Dr. David Kraemer, JTS Joseph and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics

RELIGION, FOR GOOD AND FOR BAD

Allyship is a Two-Way Street

  • Rabbi Burt Visotzky (moderator), Nathan and Janet Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies Emeritus, JTS
  • Rev. Dr. Dennis McManus, Professor of Dogmatics and Director of Spiritual Life, St. Patrick’s Seminary and University
  • Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay, Associate Dean of the Division of Religious Leadership, JTS
  • Rev. Dr. Lisa Jenkins Brown, Senior Pastor, St. Matthew’s Baptist Church
  • Dr. Hussein Rashid, Assistant Dean for Religion and Public Life, Harvard University

Antisemitism and Free Speech on Campus: The Bernard G. Segal Memorial Lecture in Law and Ethics

  • Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath, MRMJJ Presidential Professor of Education at the University of Pennsylvania
  • David Schizer, J.D., Dean Emeritus and Harvey R. Miller Professor of Law & Economics at Columbia Law School

Religious Roots of Antisemitism

  • Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz, (moderator), Chancellor and Irving Lehrman Research Professor of American Jewish History, JTS
  • Dr. Mary Boys, Skinner & McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology, Union Theological Seminary
  • Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Holocaust, Genocide & Interfaith Education Center, Manhattan College

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024

THE AMERICAN CONTEXT

Examining American Campuses

  • Dr. Amy Kalmanofsky, Dean of Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies and Blanche and Romie Shapiro Professor of Bible, JTS
  • Dr. Marat Grinberg, Professor of Russian and Humanities, Reed College
  • Rabbi Yonah Hain, Campus Rabbi, Columbia / Barnard Hillel
  • Dr. Shaul Kelner, Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt University

The Impact of Antisemitism on American Jews

Student Roundtable: Antisemitism and Allyship

  • Claire Miller (moderator), JTS Rabbinical School student
  • Current List College students Natan Rosenbaum, Eden Yadegar, Talia Levin and Daniel Caplan

Summation Address

  • Ted Deutch, AJC Chief Executive Officer and Edward and Sandra Meyer Office of the CEO and former Congressman

REPRESENTING AND RESPONDING TO FORMS OF ANTISEMITISM: CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND ALLYSHIP

Di psure loyt khaim (The Gospel According to Chaim) — Excerpt and Conversation

  • Mikhl Yashinsky, Yiddish playwright
  • Dr. Nahma Sandrow, translator, librettist, and independent scholar
  • As Chaim Einspruch: Mikhl Yashinsky
  • As Gabe Zweig: Sruli Rosenberg
  • As Sadie Meyerson: Melissa Weisz
  • Director: Dmitri Barcomi

Poetry reading and conversation

  • Gzegorz Kwiatkowski, Polish Poet
  • Professor Peter Constantine, Professor of Translation Studies, University of Connecticut

Generous support for this convening provided by the Thomson Excellence FundSusanna Lachs Adler and Dean Adler, Mimi and Barry Alperin, Matt Furman and Judith Hecker, Michael and Rachel Judlowe, Alan Levine and Alison Newman, Lopatin Family Foundation, Len Wasserman and Abigail Moore. (As of April 3, 2024)