266: Combating Antisemitism – Standing Up to Jewish Hate
“We're seeing opportunities for education where conversation and dialogue are being stifled. And that has to be part of the work that we're doing.” — Matthew Berger
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Guest
Matthew E. Berger is executive director of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. He oversees the foundation’s programs to raise awareness about hatred against Jews and to monitor and analyze antisemitism on social media. As executive director, Berger is leading FCAS’ launch of “Stand Up to Jewish Hate,” a multi-platform advertising campaign to educate non-Jews about modern antisemitism and empower them to address hate in their communities. The campaign has introduced the Blue Square emoji as the national symbol for addressing antisemitism, encouraging people everywhere to speak out against intolerance.
Summary
In this episode, Matthew discusses the work the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) has undertaken. (Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, launched FCAS in 2019.) FCAS aims to raise awareness about antisemitism and build alliances to fight Jewish hate. We explored various strategies, including advertising, education, and symbolizing support through the Blue Square campaign.
Points of discussion
• The importance of recognizing and building partnerships to address all forms of hate.
• The importance of uniting Jewish groups and building partnerships with other communities to address antisemitism and hate.
• How to sustain interest and concern beyond Pride Month and how to increase the impact of the foundation's message.
• Ways to combat antisemitism, including demystifying the Jewish community, education, and addressing antisemitism with the same vigor as other forms of hate and injustice.
• The issue of increasing levels of hatred and antisemitism in society and the need to build a society that values quality and tolerance.
• The role of social media in amplifying extremist views and the importance of addressing antisemitism as part of a broader societal problem.
Social Media / References
Show Credits
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