14 | NOVEMBER 14 • 2019
COURTESY OF LAUREN HERRIN
Lauren Herrin’
s family
Jews in the D
R
ecently, anti-Semitic inci-
dents have not only been
plaguing our country,
but our Michigan communities
as well. From neo-Nazi flyers
hanging in the Clover Hill Park
Cemetery to Michigan State
University’
s Hillel sukkah being
destroyed, there is a noticeable
rise in anti-Semitic incidents.
From Sept. 11 to Oct. 6, the
American Jewish Committee
(AJC) surveyed American Jews’
attitudes toward anti-Semitism.
Eighty-eight percent of par-
ticipants view anti-Semitism
as a problem in the United
States, and 84 percent believe
anti-Semitism has increased
over the past five years.
Lauren Herrin, associ-
ate director of the Jewish
Community Relations Council
(JCRC)/AJC here in Michigan,
was not surprised with the
results of this survey.
“In my position here at
JCRC/AJC, I’
m quite hyper-fo-
cused on the topic of anti-Semi-
tism.
” Herrin said. “These num-
bers confirm everything I’
ve
been reading — the increase of
incidents, the increase of how
terrifying these incidents have
been and even the fact that a
majority of people aren’
t report-
ing incidents.
”
While the numbers don’
t
lie, what do the results mean
for younger generations who
are growing up surrounded by
these events? How can parents
engage in conversations with
their children to make sure they
understand the principle of
these acts?
Herrin has two young chil-
dren: a 3-year-old son and a
7-year-old daughter.
“I believe when talking to
your children about anti-Sem-
itism, it is important to keep
the discussion age-appropriate
and as basic as possible,
” Herrin
said. “My daughter has been
very matter-of-fact about every-
thing, but I think it’
s important
to do as much as you can to
make it a learning moment.
”
David Holden, president of
Temple Jacob in Hancock that
was vandalized at the end of
September, has four kids: two in
college, a senior in high school
and a fifth-grader.
Holden makes it a point
during dinner to talk about the
day’
s events and news. More
often than not, anti-Semitism
naturally comes up in conver-
sation.
“Discussion of anti-Semitism
is a basis for discussion of other
social ills affecting minority
populations,
” Holden said.
“
Anti-Semitism is one facet of
hate — one that is focused on
us — but hardly unique in our
culture. Thus, we cannot afford
to witness the variety of social
injustices and think it does not
involve us.
”
Holden believes that when
talking to your children about
anti-Semitism, you can’
t allow
it to become overwhelming and
anxiety-inducing. He has two
strategies that have worked for
him with his children:
“First, a thorough ground-
ing in the specific history of
anti-Semitism and Jewish
oppression over the past several
thousand years and an equal
grounding in the struggle that
other populations have faced
here and abroad,
” Holden said.
“Second, instill the knowledge
that we have fought it and have
overcome it repeatedly in our
history.
”
Along with Herrin, Holden
stresses the power that educa-
tion can have in these moments,
especially with younger chil-
dren. In addition, he believes
these hateful incidents can pro-
vide opportunities to instill the
power of Torah.
“Speak proudly of being a Jew
and the magnificent tradition
of Torah in all its forms as a
far-reaching and relevant guide
to living with meaning and
intention,
” Holden said.
Carolyn Normandin, regional
director of the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL) in Michigan,
encourages schools to bring
the ADL into the classroom to
have open discussions, either
proactively or after an incident
happens.
“
At ADL, we work in class-
rooms all the time, discussing
bias with young people — not
just bias against Jews — but bias
that includes anti-Semitism,
which is often overlooked when
Jews and non-Jewish people are
talking about the ‘
list’
of dis-
crimination traits,
” Normandin
said.
When parents take the first
step and encourage these con-
versations, children can begin
to understand ways to empower
others and stand up to these
hateful incidents.
If parents are struggling to find the right
way to have these conversations with
their children, the ADL website has an
“Education” tab. There, you can find
material on “Table Talks,” which are
family conversations about current
events and books for children of all ages.
ISTOCK
Communicating With Your
Child About Anti-Semitism
With the rise of anti-Semitic incidents, parents should embrace
having conversations with their children about these issues.
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER