Words to Action
ADL’s Words to Action program is designed to provide youth, family members, and communities the opportunity to increase their understanding and ability to address antisemitism and anti-Israel bias that crosses the line. Programs are customized to meet the needs of various audiences and educational environments.
Programs will help participants:
- confront insensitive or hateful comments
- challenge antisemitic myths with facts
- explore the history of antisemitism, and how it relates to contemporary antisemitic incidents
- increase understanding of pro-Israel and anti-Israel activism on college campuses
- develop a variety of strategies, both short and long-term, to respond to antisemitism
*specialized topics are also available*
The Need for this Program
Words to Action (originally known as Confronting Anti-Semitism) was created in the 1980s in response to a comprehensive survey of Jewish youth in New England conducted by the ADL. The findings indicated that middle and high school youth were regularly experiencing antisemitic comments, taunts, harassment and graffiti in the halls and classrooms of their schools and in their neighborhoods and communities. Rather than standing up to this prejudice, many youth remained silent, both in the face of oppression and later, when they returned to their homes and families. Today, as this type of antisemitism continues, many college students also face another form of antisemitism, that which is fueled by anti-Israel sentiment. In recent years, campuses have also faced an increase in white supremacist propaganda distribution, for more information read our recent report White Supremacist Propaganda Spikes in 2020.
For more information or to plan a Words to Action, please contact Tara Silberg at tsilberg@adl.org.
Words to Action workshops are around 90 minutes.
Words to Action – Campus Curriculum
Today, as traditional antisemitism continues, many college students also face another form of antisemitism – that which is fueled by anti-Israel sentiment. High profile academics, 
charismatic speakers, and influential student leaders have presented the Israeli-Palestinian situation in a one-sided manner, blaming the conflict solely on Israel and largely ignoring Palestinian terrorism and violence.
While the State of Israel is subject to critique just like any other government in the world, the criticisms against Israel often take a much harsher tone. Sometimes, this blatantly anti-Israel rhetoric even crosses the line into antisemitism. The Words to Action – Campus program is an opportunity for high school and college students to discuss these issues and develop strategies to address them using ADL’s wide range of resources and case studies. For information on all our campus offerings, visit nynj.adl.org/campus.
Words to Action helps Jewish youth, young adults, family members, teachers and community members address the changing face of antisemitism by:
- increasing their understanding and awareness of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias in their lives;
- countering antisemitic stereotypes and anti-Israel myths with accurate information;
- providing resources and skills to strategically respond to antisemitism in any form, from insensitive or biased comments to hate-motivated incidents.
Words to Action – Campus workshops are ideal for:
- Upper high school students and/or educators (10th-12th graders)
- Synagogues
- Student groups on campus
- College/University administrators, faculty and staff
Words to Action – Community Curriculum
Words to Action – Community is designed for middle and high school students, often including adult family and community members as well. The interactive workshop focuses on understanding antisemitism and the various ways it can manifest at school or in the community. Participants explore the origins of traditional antisemitic myths and stereotypes and utilize role-playing activities to practice responding to realistic scenarios of antisemitism.
Words to Action – Community workshops are ideal for:
- Youth Groups
- Synagogues
- Summer Camp Participants
Cost
The cost of a 90-minute or longer Words to Action workshop in your school or community is $350. For more information on cost or to request a workshop for your community, please contact Tara Silberg at tsilberg@adl.org.
