Grappling with Antisemitism

By Jenny Barnett, February 25, 2022

IC Day of Learning on Monday, February 28.

An opportunity to learn, participate in discussions, and engage in allyship-building activities around the multi-faceted topic that is contemporary antisemitism will be hosted by Hillel at Ithaca College in partnership with the college’s Center for IDEAS and the IC administration on Monday, February 28. This special one-day event, entitled “IC Day of Learning: Grappling with Antisemitism,” will offer a variety of formats and take place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Emerson Suites. Participants can attend for the whole day or individual sessions; registration is not required.

After an introduction led by Interim President La Jerne Terry Cornish and keynote speaker Erin Schrode, Aviva Snyder from the Schusterman International Center will present “Antisemitism 101: Defining Our Terms.”

“Let’s Talk About the Whoopi Goldberg Thing: Race, Jews and the Holocaust,” jointly hosted by Omega Hollies, associate director of the Center for IDEAS; Lauren Goldberg, interim director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and executive director of Hillel at Ithaca College; and Hillel’s Max Kasler, will offer the opportunity for audience interactions while “Intergenerational Holocaust Trauma,” led by associate professor of world languages, literatures, and cultures Annette Levine, will combine personal reflections and teaching.

"The Ithaca College community isn't immune from the rising trends in antisemitism which are happening on a global scale. But on our campus, we have the power to use this disturbing moment to rouse us from complacency."

Lauren Goldberg, interim director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and executive director of Hillel at Ithaca College.

After a break, Uriel Abulof, an Israel Institute Visiting Professor with Cornell University’s Department of Government, will present “How Does the Israel/Palestine Conflict Interact with Antisemitism?” Abulof will be attending via Zoom and his talk will conclude with a Q and A session.

During her keynote address, “On White Supremacy, Hate Speech, and Neo-Nazis,” Schrode will reflect on her experience as the target of aggressive antisemitism while running for Congress in California in 2016. This session will also offer the audience an opportunity to ask questions.

The immersive mini-conference has been created in response to antisemitic incidents that have recently occurred on Ithaca College’s campus. A swastika was found drawn on a window on Baker Walkway on February 4 and another was found scratched into a poster in the School of Music’s Whalen Center several days later.

“The vision of this institution is to build thriving communities, rooted in the values of equity, accountability, and respect, among others. We cannot achieve this goal in an environment that tolerates antisemitic, racist, or other threatening symbols, words, behaviors, or ideologies,” Cornish said in a statement shortly after the first incident. “Ithaca College, as an institution, is committed to proactively seeking out best practices to support our Jewish community.”

The Day of Learning is intended to give space for students, faculty and staff to react and grapple with those events. It will also allow participants to find a collective learning space for open discussion and be educated about antisemitism in all its complexities, with a view to fostering community and a shared responsibility for creating a safe, respectful campus environment free of hate, bias and discrimination.

"The Ithaca College community isn't immune from the rising trends in antisemitism which are happening on a global scale,” says Goldberg. “But on our campus, we have the power to use this disturbing moment to rouse us from complacency.  When we see things on the news or on social media, it becomes disconnected from the impact, and we run the risk of becoming numb to dangerous trends. But right now, we are taking the opposite approach and allowing our shock to activate us to fight hate and educate ourselves. I am so proud to be a part of this community, where everyone has come together to make sure that we face this moment and rise to the occasion—to grow in our humanity and live our values though it."