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

