SAFE Cincinnati, a community-wide initiative to improve Jewish Cincinnati's readiness to deal with security threats and natural disasters, helps ensure the immediate and future security of our community by improving the physical security of local Jewish agencies and giving them the tools they need to respond to threats, violence, emergencies, and disasters of every kind.
The Cincinnati Jewish Community Relations Council is focused on challenging antisemitism and racism both domestically and abroad. Jewish communities continue to face antisemetic sentiments and behavior throughout Europe, on college campuses and in our daily lives. It is part of our mission at the JCRC to inform our local community about ways to fight antisemitism and other forms of bigotry while working to protect the dignity and civil rights of all. One way we do this is through SAFE Cincinnati, a community-wide initiative to improve Jewish Cincinnati's readiness to deal with security threats and natural disasters.
The JCRC has also developed resources to help students respond to anti-Israel and antisemitic situations on campus and effectively speak out for Israel and the Jewish community. While the resources are aimed at college students, many scenarios and suggestions are equally beneficial for high school students and adults who may find themselves in similar situations. You may also find them useful as you discuss the conflict with friends and acquaintances, both in person and online.
If you have been the victim of antisemitism or know someone who has been a victim, we need to know. Keeping track of such incidents allows us to respond, educate, and advocate more quickly and more accurately. You can fill out this confidential reporting form at any time. Please contact law enforcement immediately if you feel unsafe or believe a crime has been committed.
The ADL's Antisemitism Uncovered Toolkit is an excellent resource for learning how to identify, talk about, and combat antisemitism.
Community Program Offerings
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the Center challenges injustice, inhumanity, and prejudice, and fosters understanding, inclusion, and engaged citizenship.
The Upstander program is one of the most recent and visible efforts to inspire our community. Upstanders harness their character strengths to meet their moment and pursue justice, both great and small, inspiring others to do the same.
The Holocaust Speaker Series is held each Wednesday at 11 a.m. on Zoom. The series features Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors sharing stories of life before, during, and after the Holocaust and is sponsored by Margaret & Michael Valentine in partnership with the Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Hate at Home: Antisemitism and Why it Matters Today explores how antisemitism has changed over time. From the Holocaust in Europe to contemporary antisemitism and hate in our own state, be inspired to combat antisemitism and other forms of extremism in your own communities.
The Center offers numerous curricular resources focused on aspects of antisemitism, Holocaust survivor stories, and education about Jewish resistance before, during, and after the Holocaust.
Antisemitism on both sides of the ideological spectrum, exhibited in new and sometimes deadly ways, demands that communities find ways to combat it. What can you do? One of the best approaches to combating it is to build allies and an understanding that hate against one group of people impacts us all.
When does criticism of Israel cross the line into antisemitism? Unfortunately, the line is often blurry. It is perfectly legitimate to criticize Israel’s policies. But criticism crosses the line into classic antisemitism when it exhibits what Natan Sharansky called the “Three Ds”:
Delegitimization—It is said that the Jewish State has no right to exist or Israelis do not belong in the Middle East.
Double Standards—Israel is condemned harshly for self-defense measures and social problems that are seen as acceptable or inevitable in other nations.
Demonization—Through distortions and lies, Israel is depicted as an evil and dangerous country, and the claim is made that if the Jewish State ceased to exist, the Middle East’s - and the world’s - main problems would be solved
Ways to Combat Hate in Your Community
In response to on-going acts of hatred and discrimination across the United States and the world, it is the responsibility of our citizens to take action and stand up for what is right. In the spirit of understanding and unity, we would like to share The Southern Poverty Law Center's Community Response Guide for overcoming these negative barriers to social progress and combating hate in all its forms.
