(Courtesy of JCC MetroWest) JCC Association of North America in partnership with Brandeis University and Boundless Israel offered an intensive executive seminar for JCC leaders on combating antisemitism: “Navigating Israel and the Rise of Antisemitism.” Fifty JCC leaders representing two dozen JCCs across North America, including Eric H. Koehler, CEO and Katy Strulson, director of community engagement at JCC MetroWest, convened on the Brandeis University campus last month to empower JCC chief executives and their colleagues to respond to and proactively implement programming and initiatives that combat antisemitism and its intersection with Israel in their home communities in the wake of October 7.
The partnership between JCC Association, Brandeis and Boundless grew out of a growing concern with antisemitism sharply on the rise and a recognition that JCCs across North America provide unparalleled reach into local Jewish communities across the continent.
“Being represented at this seminar underscores JCC MetroWest’s commitment to fostering understanding and resilience within our community. The knowledge we bring back will empower us to implement proactive programming and initiatives that not only combat antisemitism but also strengthen our connection to Israel. In the wake of October 7, it is more important than ever to be equipped with the tools and understanding to effectively address these challenges and support our Jewish community,” said Koehler.
“Our JCC leaders are both motivated and situated to create new programs and initiatives to help make their JCCs into a community which not only strives to combat all forms of Jew-hatred but also prevents antisemitism and deepens connection to Israel. There are no better partners than Brandeis and Boundless to help us do that,” shared Jennifer Mamlet, acting president and CEO of JCC Association.
“This moment is unprecedented,” observed Rabbi David Kessel, director of JCC Association’s Mandel Center for Jewish Education. “The Jewish world changed on October 7 and our communal organizations must figure out new ways to lead while standing together with Israel and creating vibrant, welcoming Jewish communities in the context of growing polarization. At the seminar, many inspiring ideas surfaced, including education for middle and high-schoolers and their families, strengthening collaboration and partnership, engaging allies from outside of the Jewish community, providing further training and resource-sharing and, as always, prioritizing Jewish joy and purpose, which is among the core work of JCCs.”
Coordinated by Dr. Rachel Fish, Ph.D., special advisor to the Brandeis University Presidential Initiative to Counter Antisemitism in Higher Education and co-founder of Boundless, the seminar was designed to help JCC executives understand the intersection between antisemitism and anti-Zionism and how to engage their communities around Israel. “The executive seminar provides foundational knowledge coupled with practical application to support Jewish communal professionals in their ability to lead during a moment of crisis for much of North American Jewry,” said Fish.
