Why we have created this resource guide
Many in the Jewish Community hope to become more knowledgeable about Ethnic Studies: what it is, the various versions, the pros and cons of each and the effects that each may have on Jewish students and other minorities. Community members can take advantage of the many resources for learning more about Ethnic Studies and the current state of affairs in schools across the state and in their own districts.
There are also resources available regarding advocacy (educational, social, legislative and legal). We have found that the biggest challenge to individuals and communities in taking action is often the ‘how to’. This resource guide addresses these issues: how to educate, inform, advocate, and influence in collaboration with leadership organizations and like-minded community members.
This guide is based on the September 8, 2022 program on “Does Ethnic Studies Have a Jewish Problem?” organized by the Israel Action Committee of Temple Israel of Natick, Ma. and hosted by the Lappin Foundation. We are grateful for generous donations by Christians and Jews for Israel and The Friends of the March of the Living, New England and the support of 25 community partners. There are additional resources from those deeply involved in addressing these important issues.
Organizations
Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies (ACES), – Elina Kaplan, Co-founder and President.
ACES is a diverse, nonpartisan coalition working to remove narrow ideological agendas from Ethnic Studies, enabling curricula that inspire mutual respect, fight racism, and celebrate ethnic accomplishments. The Action Toolkit provides ‘how tos’ in the ACES Guide to Action, Tips & Resources, and Know Your Rights. Antisemitism in the Classroom and A Sample Ethnic Studies Letter for Legislators are available to download.
American Jewish Committee (AJC), - Robert Leikind, Regional Director, New England. AJC will be putting together Advocacy talking points. We invite you to To sign up to receive them by contacting Andrew Max, Assistant Director for Advocacy and Program at maxa@ajc.org.
Committee for Accuracy in Middle Eastern Reporting in America (CAMERA), - Steve Stotsky, Director, The CAMERA Education Institute
People who are looking for help with a school or curriculum issue can contact the CAMERA Education Institute at schools@camera.org or call 617-789-3672 and ask to speak with an analyst in the education institute.
The CAMERA Education Institute will soon be introducing:
A website that provides a wealth of information on a range of topics dealing with anti-Israel and anti-Jewish school materials and curricula. It will continually update news stories, reports of legal action and cover in detail controversies at various universities and high schools across the nation.
Scholarly pieces that discuss important topics relating to Israel's founding, the history of Jerusalem, Zionism, the facts underlying competing land claims, terrorism and incitement, biased media coverage and many other topics. Many of these are already available at www.camera.org.
A multi-component curriculum that provides an accurate history of the Jewish people's connection to Israel, the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and addresses myths and misperceptions about Israel and the conflict with the Palestinians.
A webinar series featuring parents and educators who have challenged anti-Israel programs in schools.
The Deborah Project, - Lori Lowenthal Marcus, Legal Director, LoriLowenthalMarcus@DeborahProject.Org
The Deborah Project is a public interest law firm that represents, on a pro bono basis, those who have been discriminated against in educational settings, because they are Jewish and pro-Israel. We represent clients from the initial interview all the way to the resolution of the issue, and we are the ones who represent the clients, we don't farm out cases to other law firms and lawyers. Our primary legal focus is ensuring that the civil rights of Jewish Americans are protected and promoted while they are in educational settings, whether they are students, teachers or professors, or they belong to academic associations.
The Lappin Foundation | Enhancing Jewish Identity Across Generations, - Deborah L. Coltin, Executive Director
The Lappin Foundation accomplishes its goal of enhancing Jewish identity across generations by funding exciting programs for children, teens and adults that spark an interest in Jewish living and learning, building Jewish pride, fostering positive relationships through education with individuals of all faiths, among other activities. The Lappin Foundation generously hosted the September 8 program, ‘Does Ethnic Studies Have a Jewish Problem?
Christians and Jews United for Israel (CJUI), - Rev. Dr. Tricia Miller, President Christians and Jews United for Israel
Christians and Jews United for Israel provides information and resources through our website, newsletters, Facebook page, speakers and events to strengthen advocacy, education, and cooperation among like-minded people and organizations to combat anti-Israel and anti-Judeo-Christian values. We bring people and resources together to take action in the face of evil and we are making a difference.
Friends of the March of the Living, New England (NEMOTL) - Irving Kempner, Chair/CEO
The International March of the Living is an annual educational program, which brings individuals from all over the world to Poland and Israel, in order to study the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hate.
We are very grateful for the generosity of CJUI and NEMOTL whose sponsorship of our program made a difference.
The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) - Andria Spindel, Executive Director.
The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation provides information and education on Israel's historical, legal and Biblical rights to the land, combating antisemitism, and building allies to End Jew Hatred. CAEF also provides the’how tos’ under the program, Advocacy and Action. Currently, under the heading of Resources, CAEF offers a program for teachers: creating lesson plans on Jews, Israel, and antisemitism for all grades in the public school system.
We are grateful for their generosity in setting up a recording of the September 8 program on their YouTube channel which can be seen here.
AMCHA Initiative, - Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, Ph.D., is co-founder and Director of AMCHA Initiative. AMCHA is a Hebrew word meaning ‘your people.’ AMCHA Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to investigating, documenting, educating about, and combating antisemitism at institutions of higher education in America. (see op-eds authored by Tammi Rossman-Benjamin on this page below). Her op-ed on November 19, 2021 titled It’s Ethnic Studies ‘Ground Hog Day.’ This Time in Massachusetts inspired the September 8 program.
Op-Eds on Ethnic Studies Curricula
Op-Eds authored by Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, Ph.D., Director, AMCHA Initiative
02/23/2022
The Jewish Journal
11/19/2021
The Algemeine
10/06/2021
The Jewish Journal
08/25/2021
The Algemeiner
08/09/2021
The Jewish Journal
08/04/2021
The J. Weekly
07/26/2021
The Algemeiner
07/13/2021
Jewish Journal
07/01/2021
JNS
04/13/2021
The Jewish Journal
04/02/2021
The San Diego Union Tribune
09/25/2020
The Jewish Journal
03/04/2020
San Francisco Chronicle
Articles on Ethnic Studies Curricula
Sean Savage and JNS
Published on 10-10-2021 18:30 Last modified: 10-10-2021
By Max Eden
April 19, 2022
Arizona Public Media / Modified Jun 16, 2011 11:35 a.m.
“Political fight over ethnic studies should never have been ignited at all” Raul Grijalva, US Rep.
“Commonsense Understanding of Equality and Social Change: A Critical Race Theory Analysis of Liberalism at Spruce Middle School” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Vol. 22:6, (Nov.-Dec. 2009), 755-768 Angelina E. Castagno
October 13, 2021 Lance Izumi
Sean Savage and JNS
Published on 10-10-2021 18:30 Last modified: 10-10-2021
Books
by Alasdair Elder ISBN-13: 9781548830502
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date: 08/02/2017
Pages: 174
Report from a constituent on advocacy – How it works
Check out the resources on this list – op-eds and reports in networks like the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), Algemeiner News, New York Post, The Times of Israel, Americans for Peace and Tolerance
Get to know the organizations such as the ones in this Resource Guide and contact people there for updates or staff involvement in the issue. If they have info on bills, get as much info you can and also visit the website for your state that lists the bill by numbers in each side of the legislature (H235, S365)
Get as much information as possible so you understand the content and the sponsors and the people behind those who sponsor the bill(s).
Call your state representative’s office and get to know the prime staff. Usually the Staff Director and the Legislative Director (or sometimes called the Legislative Researcher). Get as much information as you can from them as well (status of the bill, who is involved, future of the bill for that session or beyond)
When you feel comfortable with the information you have, contact the Staff Director and set up a meeting with your Representative and your Senator. Being a constituent has a lot of pluses in that arrangement. (Legislators like to know what their constituents are thinking, what additional information they may have. You also have a vote they’ll need)
Be respectful, listen carefully, and share the information you have that may bring more clarity to the discussion and also influence how the bill is perceived by the legislator. Keep the door open for another meeting in the future.
Follow up the meeting with a note of thanks to the Rep or Senator and the staff person who set up the meeting.
Set up a future meeting if needed. Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with the staff to get info on the current status of the bill in which you’re interested. Keep checking your news sources for any changes as well. Establish and keep lines of communication open with like-minded people as well as with the organizations most involved with the issue.
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