Beginning with Education
What do we do when we feel Jewish identity isn’t understood? Do we exist in an echo chamber of commentary — wringing our hands about the problem? Or do we do something about it. Something shifted in me at some point along my growth, maybe in my 30s? Maybe when I became a parent and lost patience for most things? Whenever it was, I stopped having patience for the problem. For better or for worse, I struggled with people’s struggle. I know that makes me sound like a very insensitive social worker but hear me out. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to hear about the struggle — I do! I just struggle (Ha! Hypocrite!) with an extended focus on the problem. I yearn for the moment when a person is ready to begin the part where we work on the solution.
For the Jewish community worldwide, one of our many struggles is, of course antisemitism. For our students and greater Jewish community in Oxford, we are lucky to have partners who have wonderful intentions of of being inclusive of Jewish students but often, that is not enough. Our students deal with a more under-the-radar form of antisemitism that is far too often overlooked as just ‘par for the course in Southwest Ohio”. Whether its the random appearance of Proud Boys stickers around campus, comments such as, “you don’t look Jewish” or “Where are your horns” or worse. It is clear that the problem is not just antisemitism but the lack of education and opportunities for thoughtful conversations about who Jews are with the community of Miami University. As a result, our team at Hillel at Miami developed a solution — an education initiative for faculty, staff, administrators, and students. Entitled, Jewish Student Identity, Inclusion, and Antisemitism on Campus, our workshop was developed in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and not only includes learning for understanding who the Jewish community is as a religion, ethnicity, peoplehood, and nationality but also concrete tools for understanding antisemitism, Zionism, and how to become an ally to Jewish students on campus.
On Thursday, March 24th, we were so honored to host the Office of the Vice President of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion as well as the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity to our Hillel for our first training. What followed was an hour and a half of thoughtful conversation, active listening, and intentional community building. We look forward to offering this training to more communities on campus, including students. It takes just one small step to begin a culture shift. I’m excited to say, I think that has begun.
Shabbat Shalom,
Whitney
