Outsmarting Antisemitism
How to Beat Antisemitism with Purpose, Positivity and Jewish Pride
We cannot let antisemitism define our Judaism, but we cannot ignore it either. As direct memory of the Holocaust fades, Jews around the world are wondering whether the patterns of past centuries are returning, in both the Old and New Worlds, where Jews experience more hate crimes than any other group.
Are Jewish people doomed to be stuck in this cycle forever? Is there a way to escape this history of hate?
Outsmarting Antisemitism takes this dark subject on squarely, with a sense of unabashed optimism, profound faith, and a distinctly Jewish approach.
Through illuminating source texts and captivating case studies, this course considers the sources of this ancient scourge, along with the appropriate strategies for overcoming it. It’s time to find the confidence to fight hate with hope and to stand tall against antisemitism with positivity, purpose, and plenty of Jewish pride!
4 Mondays | October 25th – November 15th
Option #1: 1:00pm – 2:30pm (Zoom)
Option #2: 7:30pm – 9:00pm (In-Person)
Instructor: Rabbi Zushi Rivkin
Fee – $89/pp $169/couple
Lesson Outline
Lesson 1: The Eternal People
By taking another look at the statistics, studying our people’s remarkable perseverance, and exploring the concept of Providence, we can find eternal cause for confidence and optimism while we implement plans to secure ourselves and our communities.
Lesson 2: No Apologies
We look at some of the explanations for antisemitism that have been offered throughout the ages to emerge with an important principle: the problem with hating Jews lies not with the Jews but with the haters. Internalizing this hate is not a healthy response.
Lesson 3: The Promised Land
Today, hatred of Jews commonly manifests itself as antagonism toward the Jewish State. This class distinguishes all-out antisemitism from some more nuanced sub-strains. It also examines the state of Israel education and the very nature of Jewish nationhood.
Lesson 4: Change of Heart
Israel’s pre-1967 borders subsequently became known as the “Green Line,” to distinguish them from territories captured during the Six-Day War. Israel immediately offered to return her newly-acquired territories in exchange for Psychology, neuroscience, and recent history show us that neither friend nor foe should ever be taken for granted. With a bit of subtlety and conviction, and always with trust in G-d, we find that the dark days of the past are no cause for pessimism ahead.