A Look at the Rise of Antisemitism Around the World NFTY Study Theme Program Adapted from a program run at the UAHC Kutz Camp, Academy I, Summer 2003 Goals: • To educate about the NFTY 2002-2003 Study Theme by informing participants about issues pertaining to Jews around the world • To connect participants with Am Yisrael – the people of Israel • To make participants aware of the rise in global antisemitism Objectives: • Participants will be introduced to the some events indicating the rise in global antisemitism through a skit. • In small groups, participants will have a chance to learn about Jewish life and analyze antisemitic incidents in specific countries. • Each group will be asked to present information about their assigned country to a model UN General Assembly addressing the issue of global antisemitism • Participants will be asked to form responses to the rise in global antisemitism Background Information: Fact Sheets for the following countries can be found at the end of this program: - Argentina - United Kingdom - Germany Articles about the following can be found at the end of the program: • Jews often alone against antisemitism • Anti Defamation League (ADL) European Survey Findings: "A Potent and Dangerous Mix" • Antisemitism. It's not a History Lesson. It's a Current Event. Web Sources on antisemitism: The Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism. www.antisemitism.org.il JTA - Jewish Telegraph Agency Daily News Bulletin www.jta.org The Anti Defamation League (ADL) www.adl.org Materials: Copies of the respective country fact sheets for each group Piece of butcher paper and a marker People: 2 News Anchors 3 News Correspondents “Extras” to act out the “footage” of each storyline (optional) 3 Group Leaders (GL) Space needed: One large room for entire group for the “intro skit” and “wrap-up” Mock UN General Assembly It would be ideal to have participants in chairs rather than on the floor 3 breakout spaces for groups to discuss and prepare mock assembly Time Table: 00:00 – 00:10 “Laila Line” 00:10 – 00:15 Break Into 3 Groups (or more if you are working with a large group) 00:15 – 00:35 Discussion & Prep for model UN General Assembly 00:35 – 00:40 Re-Group 00:40 – 01:10 Model UN General Assembly 01:10 – 01:15 Wrap-Up Total time needed for program is 1 hour and 15 minutes Notes for Program Leaders: Adapting this program for different size groups: • If you have a large group, add the number of countries represented at the Model UN General Assembly to allow for more breakout groups. Use the web resources listed at the bottom of the fact sheets to create additional fact sheets for more countries. • If you have a small group, feel free to forego the Model UN General Assembly model, and simply allow for the groups to present their countries and have a discussion about ways to combat the rise in global antisemitism. Ways to insure the participants remain engaged in the program: • In larger groups, it is possible for participants to opt out - make sure the breakout groups are not too large if possible. • During the Model UN General Assembly, encourage your group leaders to find creative ways to use the entire group to present the information about their country so it is not just two people representing the entire group. Other suggestions to enhance this program: • Are there members of your TYG or congregation who are from foreign countries who could speak first hand about Jewish life there? • Does your community have a local ADL office that can send over someone to speak or materials to hand out to your participants? • Call consulates from the countries you plan to represent at your Model UN and ask if they can send flags and or other decorations to enhance the look of your meeting. • Have the participants who are participating in the “Laila Line” skit dress the part and really get into their characters Detailed Procedure: 00:00 – 00:10: “Laila Line” The script below can be acted out with the 2 anchors in the front of the room sitting at a news desk. The correspondents can be spread out around the room with “extras” used to act out the “footage” respective to each story. This will help maintain the focus of your participants as well as provide a handful of leadership opportunities for those who help out with the skit. Stone Philips: Hello and welcome to this edition of “Laila Line” for Sunday, July 7th 2002, I’m Stone Phillips. Tonight we will be taking a look at the rise of antisemitism in the global Jewish community. Jane Pauley: I’m Jane Pauley. Our top story this evening took place in September 2001 in Durban, South Africa at the United Nations Conference on Racism and Xenophobia. Here’s Katie Couric reporting. Katie Couric: That’s right Jane. It was a little more than a year ago in this very city that the UN held its infamous conference, which resulted in the United States and Israel packing their bags and leaving. The purpose of the conference was to start a dialogue on how countries can deal with issues of racism and xenophobia. However, the original intent of the conference was quickly distorted. The delegations from the United States and Israel were both shocked and appalled when the Israel delegation was greeted with chants of “kill the Jews.” The Arab delegations brought copies of “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, the most famous piece of anti-Semitic literature. Also, signs equating the Star of David with a swastika could be seen throughout the conference. There were many proposed resolutions condemning Israel, equating Zionism with Racism, which was supported by many countries in attendance. A conference ON racism and xenophobia turned into a conference OF racism and xenophobia. Jane Pauley: Fascinating Katie, simply fascinating. Stone Philips: Now to our next story. Ever since the violence began to flare up in Israel, antisemitism has been on the rise around the world, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Let’s go to Maria Shriver in France with that story. Maria? Maria Shriver: Antisemitism has been on the rise in the Mediterranean region. There have been many incidents in France over the course of the last year in particular. In general, anti-Jewish sentiment was brought to a head during the spring of 2002 when Jean-Marie Le Pen made it into the Presidential runoff ahead of the widely popular Prime Minister Jacques Jospin. Le Pen ran on a platform of expelling all non- French and non-Catholic people from France, and said that the holocaust was a “detail of history”. Stone Philips: Hard to believe that anyone could refer to the Holocaust as a “detail of history.” What was the reaction from the Jews in France? Maria Shriver: Well Stone, there is little comfort for Jewish interests in today's French politics. The question is whether, or when, a succeeding French government will find new approaches to these issues, especially when it comes to the security of the large Jewish community in France. Stone Philips: Thank you, Maria. Jane Pauley: Our next story takes us to Ireland where an Israeli journalist was not shown any Irish hospitality. For more we go to Lester Holt. Lester? Lester Holt: Thanks Jane. It seems that an Israeli journalist was denied reservations at a popular destination in Ireland simply because of his nationality. This form of discrimination was recently condemned in a letter to the Killarney Lakeland Cottages in Muckross, which said, “We strongly urge you to immediately cease such a discriminatory policy and accept bookings, regardless of nationality. We are certain you would find it unacceptable if Irish citizens were treated in this manner due to negative perceptions and stereotypes of Ireland." The response from the proprietor of the Cottages replied “We are sorry, but we are not accepting bookings from Israeli citizens due to the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government. We realize and abhor the suicide bombings but also feel that Mr. Sharon’s policy is unwise, unhelpful and counterproductive." Jane Pauley: Thank you Lester. Stone Philips: That is all the time we have for this edition of “Laila Line”. Stay tuned for our next episode tomorrow night that focuses on Jewish music. Some of our guests will include Dan Nichols, Rick Recht and Noam Katz. Thanks for tuning in. Good night! 00:15 – 00:20: Break Into Groups At the beginning of the program, give participants a piece of paper with one of the following words on it: Germany, United Kingdom, or Argentina. Each word(s) will correspond to a breakout group. Groups should be assigned 3 locations to hold their discussions. Have the program leader announce where each of the groups is meeting and who their group leader will be. 00:20 – 00:45: Discussion & Prep for Model UN General Assembly GL: First, let’s go around the room and say our names and where we go to school. Also, let’s use this time to share any personal stories of antisemitism if we have them and if we feel comfortable. Be sure to encourage those that have stories to share to be brief – hopefully, there won’t be too many stories since very few in the group, hopefully, have come in contact with antisemitism. GL: Can someone recap the stories depicted in the news show? o The UN conference on Racism and Xenophobia o Anti-Semitic incidents in France o Discrimination against Israeli wanting to stay at a hotel in Ireland GL: Let’s talk more in depth about these events.