Responding to Antisemitism: The Vermont Way

The JCVT convened Antisemitism Task Force continues to evolve. This work is obviously not easy nor will it be something finished in a few weeks or months. There is no magic recipe out there for how effectively address antisemitism so we need to find a path that works for Vermont. Like so many ways Vermont can be a leader for the rest of the country (such as our response to covid or our ice cream), we hope our approach to antisemitism can be a model for the rest of the country.

I think this means we will aim to be proactive as well as reactive, promote positive messages as well as confronting the negativity of hatred, encourage pride along with indignation, and recognize the danger of hatred towards any group of people, not only that directed at Jews.

There are many ways you can be proactive in extending your Jewish identity and spread positive energy: invite others to Shabbat dinner in your home, read a Jewish related book (there are several recent publications that feel balanced in their consideration of the complexities in the Middle East), listen to the Unorthodox podcast, bake challah, engage with Tikkun Olam, take a real break for Shabbat, go out in nature and bring a spiritual component of gratitude, attend a service or event at a synagogue, do Tzedakah, or just connect for a conversation with another Jewish Vermonter.

It is these kinds of action you undertake that help us have a vibrant Jewish community in Vermont.