Partnering With Project Shema to Combat Antisemitism

March 2024

By Jessica Goldfarb, JFGC Communications Specialist

In the face of rising antisemitism across the globe, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte (JFGC), through its Jewish Community Relations Council, has taken proactive steps to address this pressing issue headon. As part of JFGC’s Outshine Hate initiative, its partnership with Project Shema is central to these efforts. Project Shema is a roundbreaking program dedicated to educating and empowering Jewish communities to confront and combat antisemitism effectively.

Project Shema, named after the Hebrew word for “to hear” or “to listen,” embodies a mission deeply rooted in understanding, compassion, and bridge-building across communities. Founded by Jewish leaders with extensive backgrounds in social justice movements,

Project Shema brings a fresh perspective to the complex issue of antisemitism, emphasizing strategies for meaningful conversation and intersectionality with other forms of oppression and discrimination.

A central element of Project Shema’s approach is its focus on training and supporting Jewish communities and allies to recognize and address modern antisemitism, particularly in relation to anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist remarks arising from the discourse around Israel and Palestine. The program’s facilitators, who are themselves actively engaged in progressive spaces and the fight against antisemitism, regularly host virtual workshops in partnership with the JFGC. These sessions provide invaluable tools and insights for professionals, educators, and community leaders within the community, equipping them to combat antisemitism effectively. Federation’s involvement with Project Shema runs deep, having hosted numerous workshops since August 2022. However, recent events have seen a renewed emphasis on strategies for combating antisemitism, particularly following a troubling 337% increase in antisemitic incidents following the October 7 attack in Israel. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Federation has expanded its collaboration with Project Shema, re-centering workshops to address this alarming trend.