Off-Campus, But In Touch: Students Learn Tools From CAMERA Conference To Fight Antisemitism

For decades, explained Washington, American Jews and the American black community have fought against discrimination and racism, which has continued as young Jews from across the country have pledged to support those in the black community in their struggle for equality. However, some activists and organizations, including the official BDS campaign, want to connect the fight against racism to the anti-Zionist cause, pushing many Jews into a corner.

As part of this dialogue, Washington told JNS, education is the key to strengthen solidarity. “Invite black students to campus events that tackle the controversial issues Jews are facing,” he told the students. “Face them head on, and have the discussion and debates. IBSI also exists to assist with those conversations as well. This will build not only a strong allyship, but genuine friendships as well,” he related.

Washington also suggested finding other ways of support outside of Black Lives Matter, pointing, for example, to the Woodson Center that helps blacks and faith-based organizations solve issues facing their communities.

CAMERA Fellow Sophie Sklar, a student at McGill University in Montreal, and incoming president of the Chabad on Campus chapter and the Religious Studies Undergraduate Society, told JNS that the fellowship has taught her how to be a strong ally for Israel who is supported and “well-informed and armed with facts, to be open to dialogue and discussion and to properly combat those on my campus who spread misinformation.”

“On a campus such as mine,” said the 20-year-old, “sometimes advocating for Israel and challenging the dominant narratives can be an isolating experience. However, this conference has shared resources, information and other means of support that has demonstrated to me that I am never truly alone in my fight.”

Since McGill will be online this fall, she said “CAMERA has provided us with the resources to be able to continue our activism in an online format. From Zoom workshops to remote gatherings, this year will be a different one for Israel activists. Though the coronavirus has physically shut down my campus, I will still be writing as much as ever and fighting as much as ever for this cause I care so deeply about.”

As a Mizrahi Jew, Sklar appreciated the discussions on communities that are often “overlooked and overshadowed.”

“It was an amazing experience to see my identity and personal story reflected in one of the speakers and to see that my family’s history is valued by CAMERA,” she said. “It was also an incredibly positive experience for me to learn more about Mizrahi history, which will allow me to better speak up for myself when I return to campus.”