Shining a Light

By Patrick Bohn ’05, November 22, 2022

“Addressing Antisemitism” event brings IC community together for discussion.

Yasin Ahmed, director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, facilitated a panel with students (from left) Alexa Rahman ’24, Taya Thompson ’26, and Shosh Cohen ’23.

(Photo by Patrick Bohn)

On Tuesday, November 15, members of the Ithaca College community came together in the Hockett Family Recital Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music to take part in a day of learning titled “Addressing Antisemitism: Fighting Hate for Good.” The event featured speakers as well as a student panel.

Lauren Goldberg, executive director of Ithaca College Hillel, opened the program by likening antisemitism to mycelium—the root-like structure from which mushrooms sprout.

“Like mushrooms, antisemitic acts can seem to pop up independently overnight,” said Goldberg. “But they are part of an elaborate and interconnected web that is hidden underground, and when conditions are right, they show themselves. That is what we are experiencing right now, on our campus and in the world at large. But it shouldn’t really be a surprise, since this system has been visible to some of us for a long time.”

Rabbi Ron Fish, the northeast division director of antisemitism advocacy and education for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), appeared via zoom and delved into the history of antisemitism.

He described the myths, tropes, and conspiracy theories that have existed regarding Jews over the centuries, such as that they have too much power, are disloyal, and are greedy.

“I wanted to come to support my teammates and everyone else on campus who felt targeted by these acts. I think it is important for non-Jewish people to learn and understand the history of antisemitism because there are some things you might see that you don’t realize are antisemitic. It is more common and affects more people than you realize, so education and awareness are needed.”

Chloe Nordyke ’24

“They have been expelled from nations again and again because they were seen as a danger to the Christian world that might infect them, as an economic force that might strip wealth from a local community, and as a foreign political entity that might shake the local power structures,” said Fish.

He noted that America has been one of the best places for Jewish people in all of history, but that Jews and their allies must continue to speak out against antisemitism whenever and wherever it appears.

Women’s lacrosse student-athletes Halle Daino ’25 and Chloe Nordyke ’24 attended the sessions to both show support for their Jewish teammates and learn more about the history and impacts of antisemitism.

“When I got the email about the swastikas being discovered, I was very upset because I couldn’t understand why someone would go out of their way to purposely harm others,” said Daino. “It was helpful to hear about the roots of antisemitism and how it has been expressed over the years.”

“I wanted to come to support my teammates and everyone else on campus who felt targeted by these acts,” said Nordyke. “I think it is important for non-Jewish people to learn and understand the history of antisemitism because there are some things you might see that you don’t realize are antisemitic. It is more common and affects more people than you realize, so education and awareness are needed.”

Lauren Goldberg (on stage), executive director of Ithaca College Hillel, helped facilitate discussion at the event

(Photo by Dave Maley)

Following that session, Cyndy Schiebe, executive director of Ithaca College’s media literacy program Project Look Sharp, and Chris Sperry, director of curriculum and staff development for Project Look Sharp, spoke to the audience and engaged them on decoding antisemitic messages and tropes throughout history, ranging from Marin Luther in 1266 to Dave Chappelle’s recent comments on Saturday Night Live.

“One of the questions [we’ll be asking] is ‘Why are we looking at this?’” Sperry said. “Knowing the history of representations is important.”

Next to the stage was Elyse Nepa, Clery Act and crime prevention coordinator in the Ithaca College Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, and Tom Dunn, Lieutenant in the Office Public Safety and Emergency Management. They spoke to the attendees about ways to report an incident, the processes that are started when a report of an incident is made, and the support that is available to members of the community who make those reports.

“It was eye opening to hear other stories from students, and now I’m feeling more empowered to do more. This was an opportunity to practice using my voice and to continue speaking out against antisemitism. I hope that, together, we’re able to foster a more inclusive environment in the topics we learn about in classroom environments and across our campus community.”

Shosh Cohen '23

The series of events closed with the “Facing Antisemitism, Racism and Prejudice Student Panel.” Facilitated by Yasin Ahmed, director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the event featured students Shosh Cohen ’23, Taya Thompson ’26 and Alexa Rahman ’24. Each student shared their own personal experiences and expressed how others can be allies during difficult times, as it can be exhausting being the ones speaking up against bias constantly.

“The best thing you can do for a person is to listen to them,” said Cohen. “Sometimes you might not have all the answers, especially if you’re not part of that marginalized group. But I wish my friends would say ‘What can I do to take this burden off of you?’ And to everyone who is here now, thank you. Because that is the first step. Sometimes you need other people to amplify your voice.”

Cohen reflected on the experience after the event.

“It was eye opening to hear other stories from students, and now I’m feeling more empowered to do more,” they said. “This was an opportunity to practice using my voice and to continue speaking out against antisemitism. I hope that, together, we’re able to foster a more inclusive environment in the topics we learn about in classroom environments and across our campus community.”

Attendee and Hillel member Anya Weinrieb ’26 appreciated the panel and the speakers.

“Even though this was intimate, and it pulled your heartstrings, and it got the message across,” she said.