FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 | 51

want us to leave her lecture 
discouraged. 
We learned throughout 
her presentation that 
antisemitism has existed 
throughout history and 
presents itself in many ways. 
“Antisemitism will vary 
in time, place and context, 
and you cannot start to 
work on a cure if you do not 
understand the problem,” 
Bergman said. After her 
many years of research, 
she compiled several 
examples of children’s 
books, adult cartoons, 
newspapers, rallies and 
other forms of propaganda 
to show us. These were all 
used to demean, degrade 
and dehumanize Jewish 

people from different 
locations and time periods. 
She emphasized that 
antisemitism is taught and 
starts with children. She also 
gave us her own personal 
definition of the word. So? 
What does she suggest we 
do when confronted with 
antisemitism and false media 
today? 
Educate yourself! 
Attending this presentation 
and others like it is one 
example. You must do 
your own research and be 
knowledge about a topic 
to engage in discussion. 
Call it out when you see 
it; recognize propaganda 
and media literacy. How? 
You must dig deeper 

and decipher facts from 
opinions. Look at the 
language being used. Check 
out the sources, URLs, photo 
credits, etc. Determine who 
the target audience is. Use 
more than one news outlet 
to gain information. Vote 
and be empowered to take 
action! 
We must all continue 
to learn as well as take 
actionable steps to stop 
antisemitism and all forms 
of hatred, so long as it is safe 
to do so. In a country that is 
known for being a melting 
pot, and a world that is full 
of differences, we must love 
and accept one another 
and come together to live 
harmoniously. There is just 

no other choice. 
I will leave you with one 
last profound quote from 
Bergman’s presentation:
“All of the views of the 
world have to be based on 
fact. We cannot stop people 
from hating, but there are 
things we can do.” @

Amy Goldberg earned an 
associate degree from Oakland 
Community College in American 
Sign Language interpreting. 
She is currently a student at 
Oakland University working on 
her bachelor’s degree in health 
sciences, majoring in health and 
wellness. She is proud to hold 
the position of vice president 
on Oakland University’s Jewish 
Student Organization board as 
well as working at her family’s 
bagel delicatessen.

ARE WITHINReach

Mention this ad 
and get:

A FREE 
SAT Practice Test
+
$125 OFF our
SAT Prep Program!

Mention this ad 
and get:

A FREE
SAT Practice Test
+
$125 OFF our
SAT Prep Program!

“I would like to thank all of the staff at 

Sylvan for helping my daughter achieve 

her goal of attending the University 

of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a full 

scholarship. My daughter increased her 

SAT Score by 200 points as a result of 

attending Sylvan.” -Theresa J 

(
Google Review)

CANTON CENTER
7752 N. Canton Center Rd.
Canton MI 48187
734-259-3818

LIVONIA CENTER
37727 Professional Center Dr.
Livonia MI 48154
734-237-1323

DEARBORN CENTER
2090 Monroe St.
Dearborn MI 48124
313-406-8352

WEST BLOOMFIELD CENTER
5829 W. Maple Rd. #127

248-419-0048