Confronting Hate: When Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism Overlap Webinar

Discussions about Israel and Zionism can shift from an historical investigation or geopolitical discussion to one that traffics in antisemitic messages, tropes, and/or motivations, which consequently can affect the treatment-and sense of safety-of Jewish and non-Jewish students alike. As writer Shane Burley writes, "Anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic...but the way in which anti-Zionism often plays out, the types of strategies it utilizes, the language it is comprised of, and the way it can place double standards on Jews, can certainly be." 

How can we understand and navigate the overlaps–and distinctions–between antisemitism and critical discussions about Israel? When is “Israel'' or “Zionist” a modern replacement for the word “Jew”? 

It is imperative that educators and students have support and tools to navigate this distinction so that important world events can be unpacked thoughtfully in the classroom without incorporating antisemitic ideas or behaviors.

During the webinar, we will: 

• Identify when anti-Zionism crosses into the realm of antisemitism
• Examine when criticism of the State of Israel and its policies actually mask antisemitic messages and tropes
• Explore how antisemitism shows up in conversations about Israel and the impact it has on young people and Jewish communities
• Strategize how to have thoughtful and critical classroom conversations about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict without perpetuating antisemitic ideas and behaviors