A unique initiative aimed at preparing Jewish American high schoolers for the challenges of rising antisemitism on U.S. college campuses has recently been launched by Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. The Beren Scholars Program seeks to equip these students with the tools necessary to combat antisemitism, advocate for Jewish causes, and build interfaith allyships. Amid increased reports of antisemitic incidents across various educational settings, this program is seen as timely and necessary.
Rabbi Erez Sherman, the co-senior rabbi at Sinai Temple and leader of the program, emphasized the urgency of the endeavor, stating, "Today, we are asking our college freshmen to be leaders in this field even though we have never trained them. It’s because we need them to. We are not [on college campuses], but they are there. So let’s start actually training them on how to identify antisemitism, combat antisemitism, and learn how to form allyships." The inaugural group of 16 high school students began their training last October.
The program will conclude with students traveling to Sacramento, where they will engage with state lawmakers on behalf of Jewish causes, practicing the advocacy skills they've acquired throughout the course. Rabbi David Wolpe, Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple, underscored the importance of educating the younger generation to tackle antisemitism, noting, "This program is vitally important to confront and combat the rising antisemitism casting a shadow over the Jewish future."
The impetus for the program stems from alarming trends showing rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism, prompting Sinai Temple leaders to reach out to local faith communities for support. Churches such as the Church of Latter-day Saints and Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church have partnered with the temple to address these issues. Rabbi Sherman expressed hopes to instill this model of interfaith cooperation within the Beren Scholars.
"We want the kids to reach out to the Jewish community once they’re on campus, but we also want them to connect with Christian clubs to explore what they can do together to improve their college experience," he explained. This inclusive approach is fueled by the desire to forge alliances against prejudicial practices.
Philanthropist Julie Beren Platt, who funded the program via the Robert M. Beren Family Foundation, also questioned how to improve the college experience for Jewish students. Platt's motivations are deeply personal; she seeks to honor her late father, who passed away last year, and believes empowering students is pivotal for their success. Participants are affectionately dubbed Beren Scholars.
Such initiatives are particularly relevant as students like Eli, who expressed feeling insufficiently active within his school community, view the program as a valuable opportunity to connect with their Jewish identity and history. "I thought this was perfect to learn more about my Jewish side and how to be a Jewish person living in the world," said the 16-year-old. Similarly, Leah, another Beren Scholar and 18-year-old high school senior, pointed to her experiences with antisemitism as motivation to join the program, seeking skills to engage thoughtfully with opposing views at the college level.
Students benefit from mentorship as part of the program, which has attracted guest speakers from various spheres such as celebrity Jonah Platt, the current host of the podcast Being Jewish. Platt reiterated the program's significance, stating, "Now more than ever, empowering our Jewish students to be loud and proud about their Jewish identity is vitally important." The program is clearly poised to have lasting benefits for all participants.
Meanwhile, the situation is equally pressing at the Lower Merion school district of Pennsylvania, where community discussions about equity issues dovetail with building response mechanisms against antisemitism. During recent board meetings, school officials highlighted their commitment to developing training on antisemitism, amid increased public pressure following disturbing student incidents.
The Lower Merion school board has expressed its intention to clarify its approach to antisemitism training, with board president Kerry Sautner confirming they were working on finalizing details and expected to share their strategies shortly. Previously, they announced plans to partner with organizations such as the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and the Jewish Community Relations Council to bolster their training efforts.
Backlash over comments made during equity policy discussions has prompted Jewish community members to call for prompt action against antisemitism. At one meeting, a young Jewish student recounted being subjected to not only hateful words but gestures, saying, "Donald Trump will kill all the Jews" accompanied by Nazi salutes. This incident underscored the urgent need for enhanced programming to aid both students and educators.
Omer Dekel, board member of the Jewish Families Association of Lower Merion, stressed the significance of institutional education to combat rising antisemitism, asserting, "We need moral clarity and must unequivocally denounce such events." This perspective aligns with acting superintendent Megan Shafer, who acknowledged the rising antisemitism issue and highlighted the need for systemic evaluations to prepare staff adequately.
The board’s commitment includes plans for data collection systems to track incidents of hate speech and broader discussions on how to define and respond to antisemitism within their protocols. Yet community members expressed confusion over the slow rollout of specific training measures, prompting board officials to assure them more comprehensive plans were forthcoming.
There are underlying currents of frustration among various community members, with some feeling their needs are being overlooked. For example, Black parents have pointed out the irony of heightened attention to antisemitism when instances of anti-Black sentiment remain inadequately addressed. Such worries encapsulate the delicate balancing act educational institutions must undertake: to provide comprehensive education and create constructive dialogue around all forms of discrimination.
What’s evident from both the Beren Scholars Program at Sinai Temple and the initiatives at Lower Merion school district is the pressing recognition of antisemitism as part of broader educational equity issues. Awareness and action are intertwined, with advocates across the board striving to forge paths toward meaningful acceptance and collaboration, dismantling ignorance one discussion at a time.
