UPJ offers workshop to respond to heightened antisemitism
After discerning a high level of urgency to respond to heightened levels of antisemitism and ways to effectively engage when confronted by anti-Zionist and anti-Israel voices, the Union for Progressive Judaism has held an online workshop.
David Knoll
UPJ Co-President David Knoll said: “We have acted urgently on a felt need to empower our communities across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.”
Close to 100 people from the Progressive and wider Jewish community registered to attend the workshop, which was co-presented by Lynda Ben-Menashe (Community Relations and Policy Manager, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies), Bren Carlill (Director of Public Affairs, Zionist Federation of Australia – ZFA), Associate Professor Josh Keller (UPJ Executive member, University of New South Wales) and UPJ Co-President David Knoll.
Attendees received information and resources, including guidance on “water cooler discussions”, and choosing when and how to respond on social media. They were provided with suggestions on talking about Israel and a ZFA factsheet prepared during the recent violence with links to the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law database. Associate Professor Keller, who lived and worked in Asia, provided an expert perspective on the situation in that region.
To view the recording of the workshop and receive resources, contact the UPJ office: upj@upj.org.au
It does not help our cause when we have the likes of progressive left Jews like former head of the far left wing Australian Jewish centre Civilisation at Monash or head the anti Zionist NIF going on our mainstream media during the peak of the Gaza war blaming Israel bagging Israeli Jews thus inciting more hatred against our Jewish community using Israel as the excuse .
The UPJ have a chutzpah considering in my view they are part of the problem.