On February 10, the Anti-Defamation League launched the pilot of a new interactive program designed to empower and equip college and college-bound students with effective responses to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. Words to Action: Empowering Jewish Students to Address Bias on Campus, is a new curriculum based on ADL’s successful Confronting Anti-Semitism (CAS) program model for middle school and high school students.
ADL New York Regional Director Evan Bernstein and ADL staff from around the country attend a Words to Action training program
Words to Action uses core elements of the CAS program but includes fresh updates to reflect the unique nature of bias on college campuses, particularly as it relates to anti-Israel sentiment. The program elements incorporate methods of responding to a large range of issues including anti-Israel incidents, prejudiced comments, hate speech/free speech, bias in the classroom, anti-Semitic vandalism and Holocaust denial.
The program is designed for college students as well as high schools students in environments such as College Hillels, day schools, synagogue religious schools, and even summer camps. ADL professionals will work with an organization to tailor the program needs of individual groups based on their experiences.
“It is imperative that pre-college and college students possess the knowledge to respond to anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias when they encounter incidents while away at school, perhaps for the first time in their lives,” said New York Regional Director Evan Bernstein. “This curriculum offers students tools that can enhance their college experience and take them on a path to leadership.”
Words to Action is one more example of ADL’s critical role in empowering students with the knowledge, skills and resources to respond to anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias. To learn more about Words to Action, visit our webpage at www.adl.org/wordstoaction or contact smerkrebs@adl.org.
ADL’s provides many resources, including its College Campus Affairs website and publications, all free and available for students, faculty and staff including:
- Fighting Back: A Handbook for Responding to Anti-Israel Rallies on College and University Campuses (PDF)
- Fighting Holocaust Denial in Campus Newspaper Advertisements: A Manual for Action (PDF)
- Israel: A Guide for Activists (PDF)
- Confronting Anti-Semitism Myths and Facts (PDF)
- Responding to Bigoted Words (PDF)