With a nearly 900% rise in antisemitism incidents in the U.S. in the past 10 years through 2024, approximately 75 community members gathered Sunday, Feb. 1, to discuss “How to Fight Anti-Semitism” by Bari Weiss at a JCRC Book Club program at the Weinstein JCC.

Co-moderated by community leader Andy Brownstein and Amy Berman, Board Chair of the ADL Capital Area Chapter, the session featured attendees sharing comments about the book, personal stories of anti-semitism and break-out group discussions.

Led by Brownstein and Berman, community members in break-out groups and individually discussed the current anti-semitism climate locally and in the U.S.

The program opened with a summary by Berman of current ADL statistics regarding the growth of anti-Semitic incidents in both Virginia and the nation as a whole, highlighting the rapid growth in that data.

She also discussed the unique nature of anti-semitism in America and why it might differ from other places in the United States. Berman also shared that there has been a substantial increase in anti-Israel and anti-Zionism incidents post Oct. 7.

Next, she highlighted the three major categories of anti-semitism focused on by Bari Weiss in her book (right wing extremism, left wing, radical Islamic).

In his introductory remarks, Brownstein read some quotes from the book and referred to statistics that Berman had provide, He noted, “the numbers are shocking,” as he reflected on the 9,354 incidents recorded in 2024.

He also posed questions to both Amy and the full group regarding which of the three major categories do they find the most troubling at the moment. He also opened up to a larger discussion by the community members of their own experiences of anti-semitism both individually and communally.

They broke out into  breakout groups to discuss the following questions:

       “Which of the major tools Barry Weiss describes in her book for fighting in Islamism did you find the most resonant, and the least resonant?"

      “What tools did she not identify that you believe could be helpful?”

        “What should we be prioritizing both individually and as a community to fight anti-Semitism?"

Following the sessions, the individual groups then reported out to the larger group on their findings and then the session concluded.

Next Book Club

On March 22, Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt will talk about her book "Finding Thalhimers" and how her family was an influential Jewish family in Richmond since 1842.

Look for more details soon on registration and more.