ADL Launches New Interactive Education Program
This week, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) launched a new interactive education program in Florida called
“Words to Action: Empowering Jewish Students to Address Bias on Campus.” As part of a nationwide initiative for the League, the ADL Florida Office provided its first training on February 23
rd to over seventy 12
th grade students from Broward County. The two and a half hour training took place at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, Florida, as part of pre-trip education sessions for students who are about to embark on the Broward County “March of the Living” – a two week trip for Jewish teenagers to Poland and Israel in memory of the Holocaust.
“Words to Action” is designed to empower and equip college and college-bound students with constructive and effective responses to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. The program is based on ADL’s
Confronting Anti-Semitism program, which was created in the 1980’s in response to a comprehensive survey of Jewish youth in New England, conducted by the League. The findings revealed that middle and high school youth frequently experienced anti-Semitic comments, taunts, harassment and graffiti in their schools, neighborhoods and communities. Rather than standing up to this prejudice, many youth remained silent, both in the face of oppression and later, when they returned to their homes and families.
“Decades later, ADL has tracked the continued existence of this same type of anti-Semitism, along with another form of anti-Semitism – fueled by anti-Israel sentiment – that turns up on college campuses,” stated Hava Holzhauer, ADL Florida Regional Director. “We believe that “Words to Action” will help Jewish young adults and college-bound teens address the current face of anti-Semitism by increasing their comprehension and awareness of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias in their lives, by refuting anti-Semitic stereotypes and anti-Israel myths with accurate information, and by teaching skills for responding effectively to anti-Semitism.”
ADL’s inaugural training in Florida included an interactive activity engaging students to define and understand the terms: anti-Israel, anti-Zionism, and anti-Semitism; a PowerPoint presentation on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement and how anti-Israel campus groups adopt such tactics as a deliberate strategy; and an “Assess and Act” segment during which the students viewed three vignettes – “Anti-Israel Bias in the Classroom,” “Apartheid Wall,” and “Headlines.” The students were provided with ADL materials to serve as a resource for them and their friends.
To request an ADL “Words to Action” training, please call: (561) 988-2900.
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