WALTHAM, Mass — This summer, Sarah Henry, Leslie Porter, Misty Searsy and Elizabeth SoRelle joined 40 educators from around the country who came to Brandeis University to participate in the inaugural Middle & High School Educators' Institute on Israel and Antisemitism at Brandeis University.
During the five-day institute, these educators heard from leading academics on topics including the historical transformations of Jew-hatred, cutting-edge research on antisemitism, history of Zionism and Israel; Israeli society, Palestinian society and politics; geopolitics of the Middle East, and learning constructive dialogue skills. They also met with faculty experts in Palestinian history and society; Arab and Israeli relations and conflicts; the geopolitics of the region and the relationship of Israel to antizionism and contemporary antisemitism. They and their colleagues obtained educational resources and materials for teaching about Israel in a time of conflict, including lesson planning and best practices.
“The educators who participated in the Institute invested serious time and energy into building foundational knowledge, hearing from outstanding scholars and experts, and developing shared language“ said Rachel Fish, PhD, Special Advisor to Brandeis University President and lead for the President’s Initiative on Antisemitism. “These educators and educational leaders are working together to develop initiatives to understand and combat antisemitism that they will bring back to their schools and school districts.”
Educators who attended the Institute represented states across the country, including Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“At a time when antisemitism has exploded in the U.S., I feel it is important to learn all I can to prevent hatred of the Jewish people in my classroom and my community,” said SoRelle. “Coming together with colleagues from across the country and hearing from top experts in their fields has provided me with valuable tools and new perspectives.”
The Middle & High School Educators' Institute on Israel and Antisemitism was hosted by the Brandeis University President's Initiative on Antisemitism. Established in response to surging antisemitism on American campuses, the Initiative on Antisemitism honors Brandeis’ distinct responsibility to the ideals of higher education and to the American Jewish community, which founded Brandeis in 1948.