Jews and Allies United to End Anti-Semitism
The Maryland/Washington, D.C., USA, Jews and Allies United to End Anti-Semitism team did our first going-public project. We were among dozens of local community organizations at a Maryland Folk Arts Festival.
It was a powerful day. There was lots of discharge, lots of listening, and lots of connecting with each other. We discharged when we first saw our eight-foot banner with “Jews and Allies United to End Anti-Semitism” on it. It was so big and so out there!
We had a question on a flip chart, “Have you noticed anti-Semitism recently?” and about seventy-five people came by our table. Some came over immediately. Some raised a fist in support. When an onlooker hesitated, one of us would reach out.
A teenage boy approached on his bike and said, “I’m Jewish.” He was happy we were there. He told us he had been called anti-Semitic names at school and was pleased to get a copy of the anti-Semitism pamphlet [Anti-Semitism: Why Is It Everyone’s Concern? by Cherie R. Brown and Amy Leos-Urbel; available from Rational Island Publishers (see page 26 of this Present Time)]. Several veterans in wheelchairs came by. One of them whipped out [suddenly took out] his Jewish star and said he was amazed we were there.
We had conversations about Israel, Zionism, anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism on college campuses, and more. Some people told us incredible stories of anti-Semitism. Others said they had never noticed it.
Most people assumed we were all Jews. Some greeted us with “Shalom” [a Hebrew word meaning “peace” that’s used for both “hello” and “goodbye”] or “Leshana Tova” [a greeting during the Jewish New Year]. The non-Jews enjoyed talking to people about being allies.
We sold or gave out forty anti-Semitism pamphlets. Ten people wanted more information about RC and signed up to be contacted.
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion
list
for leaders of wide world change