On behalf of our generous funders and dedicated partners, JTConnect is pleased to share our reflections, recaps, and resources from our first Teen Conference on Antisemitism. This event took place on November 5, 2023 at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford, and would not be possible without the support of The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. This timely conference brought together teens, their parents, and the Jewish communal organizations that love them to talk about the recent rise in antisemitism and how it impacts teenagers today. This conference was designed to equip teens and parents to address issues of bigotry and antisemitism head-on. As a convener of Jewish teens and families in the Greater Hartford area, JTConnect was excited to open this meaningful community conversation. At the Conference we were be joined by Keynote Speaker, Amy Spitalnick, the CEO for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
We were inspired and strengthened by our community throughout this impactful day. Since October 7, 2023 we are living in a new reality for the Jews around the world. We met this critical time and rise in antisemitism with fierce conviction and in strong support of Israel, and with the priority of enhancing the competency and confidence of our students and parents to combat and stand up to antisemitism. We were proud to be there for families within our Community.
At JTConnect we believe teens can and should grapple with and question the big issues that impact the world we live in and the global Jewish community. Through this conference we helped develop this generation of proud Jewish thinkers and change-makers, who appreciate their heritage and engage confidently in dialogue about complex issues that impact the Jewish community. Thank you so much for being with us for this timely and important day of learning. We will learn from this first Conference and we will continue to offer programming that addresses antisemitism for our students, parents, and the community.
We have compiled resources from the Teen Conference on Antisemitism for your reference. If you need support because your child(ren) has been the target of antisemitism, we are here to help. First and Foremost, Report it. The more we report antisemitism targeting students, the more swiftly organizations like The ADL can track trends any incidents, and provide resources to families who need them.
Thank you to our conference sponsors:
Lead Sponsor: Gayle and Steven Temkin and Family
Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies
United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien
Teen Resources on Antisemitism
We will continue to update this page with new and additional resources as they become available. Please check back often. If a link is not working, please reach out to Marcus at marcus@jtconnect.org for assistance.
Even if your school is responding effectively, we encourage you to report the incident using the resources below:
Click here to Report and Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident
Click here to report Campus Hate (also for K-12th grades)
Organizations Represented on November 5, 2023:
JCPA – Jewish Council for Public Affairs
GHIAA – Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance
Project Shema Resources:
We’re excited to share our NEW comprehensive resource guide and supporting materials: Addressing Antisemitism During This Crisis. The materials include an overview of our analysis of this moment and strategy for engagement. You’ll also have the ability to view conversation guides for each of our three suggested audiences in your network.
We encourage you to read the guide in its entirety. We are here for one-on-one coaching if you have any questions on the materials.
Remember, these are incredibly trying times for the Jewish community, and each individual is experiencing it in different ways. We must prioritize self care in the weeks and months ahead in order to thoughtfully engage those around us.
Click here for Project Shema Resources *If you didn’t receive the email with the password, please contact marcus@jtconnect.org
ADL Resources:
- Can We Talk? Tips for Respectful Conversations in Schools, Workplaces and Communities
- 10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (English and Spanish)
- Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories about Bias and Injustice
- Tips for Engaging and Disengaging on Social Media
Resources for what is happening:
- We Stand with Israel
- Hamas Backgrounder
- Hamas Attack Draws Cheers from Extremists, Spurs Antisemitism and Conspiracies
- Questions, Complexities and Context: Insights into Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
For resources about antisemitism and anti-Zionism: