Digital initiative aims to counter stereotypes and encourage schoolchildren to be allies in fight against Jew-hatred
May 24, 2022 14:36
America’s premier Jewish defence organisation, the Anti-Defamation League, is to develop a digital education programme on antisemitism for secondary school students in partnership with the Board of Deputies.
The ADL will put close to £100,000 into Digital Antisemitism for High Schools(Dash), which aims to give students basic facts about Jews and antisemitism and to counter the spread of stereotypes via social media.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s chief executive, said it “routinely hears from Jewish communities around the world that one of their top concerns is the lack of knowledge about Jews among the general public.
“We’re thrilled to begin this work with the Board of Deputies – a long-time partner with highly qualified professional staff. We’re confident that Dash's relatable stories will lead students to build knowledge, empathy, perspective and allyship.”
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said the “exciting initiative” would enable the Board o to educate secondary school students about the unique and mutating aspects of antisemitism as well as giving them a grounding in what it means to be Jewish in Britain today. We are very happy to be doing such important work with the ADL.”
Dash is expected to be rolled out in the 2022/23 academic year.
At the Malmo International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism last October, the ADL pledged its support for working with other Jewish communities on digital education.
In the USA, it says it has educated more than 10 million high school pupils on Jews, antisemitism and the Holocaust either directly or through teachers.