Empowering Youth Against Antisemitism

Charlotte Jewish News, September 2024

By Adam Stone, Student

Fighting antisemitism can feel like an insurmountable feat, especially to young adults navigating a world increasingly hostile to Jewish people. When I joined Club Z, a national organization aimed at educating middle and high school students about Israel, Jewish identity, and Zionism, I learned that taking on the challenge of figuring out how to replace misinformation with truth is not only possible, but also extremely empowering.

As a Charlotte Jewish Day School (CJDS) student, I developed a profound pride in my Judaism, a deep love for Israel, and a penchant for fact-finding thanks to an education that emphasized using a historical lens to understand the present. Shortly after graduating from CJDS,

I celebrated my bar mitzvah by participating in a ceremony at Yad Vashem. As I zig-zagged through the museum, listening closely to my guide, I began to understand how antisemitism takes root and spreads, leading to unfathomable devastation. I was told the story of Naftali, a teenager whose parents begged him to watch over his younger brother during transport to a concentration camp. Even though the boys were forced into separate cattle cars, Naftali willed himself to live so that he could seek out and care for his brother at Buchenwald. The story induced a fear in me that I still carry, as I would do anything to protect my two younger brothers. This fear feels even more amplified in the current climate of record levels of antisemitism

in the United States. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States have increased 361% compared to last year.

I left Yad Vashem with the realization that antisemitism is given oxygen through misinformation disguised as education aimed at dehumanizing Jewish people and portraying them as a threat. I also left Yad Vashem determined to gain the skills needed to correct the misinformation that feeds antisemitism so that I can do everything in my power to never be in Naftali's situation.

I joined Club Z in 2020 as an 8th grader. Each session focused on facts about the Jewish people and our history. Through fun and engaging discussions and activities, my peers and I learned that Jews are from Judea and indigenous to the land now called Israel, how the state of Israel was established, the details of nearly every conflict between Israel and

its Arab neighbors to the present day, and how modern-day antisemitism presents itself. By studying the comprehensive history of the Jewish people and Israel, such as how in 1948, the Jewish Agency invited all Arabs to remain in the land partitioned for Jews as full and equal citizens (a promise the Agency kept, which is why over 21% of Israelis today are Arab), my peers and I were able to easily debunk the most prevalent and provably untrue narratives that aim to delegitimize Israel and dehumanize Jews today: Israel was established through genocide, Israel is an apartheid state, and the Jewish state was a colonial endeavor. And we quickly realized that the newest incarnation of antisemitism is disguised as anti-Zionism. If Israel is falsely portrayed as a nation built upon ethnic cleansing and racist laws, then calling for its destruction through campaigns such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) seems socially just. Armed with facts and skills to advocate, I used my knowledge from Club Z and wrote a speech about antisemitism. I traveled across the nation during 10th grade and competed at dozens of speech and debate competitions, winning first place at Stanford University and qualifying to compete in the two most prestigious and selective tournaments -the Tournament of Champions and the National Speech & Debate Association National Tournament. I explained the history of Jew-hatred and how it has evolved, how antisemitism is perpetuated through the media and positioned as social justice, and the negative impact that antisemitism has on all people in society. My words reached thousands of ears, and I knew that the skills I had gained through Club Z were making a real impact when competitors and judges went out of their way to tell me that they learned something new. This experience confirmed that most people are willing to listen to, and even eager to learn the facts, but the facts need to be presented.

In the days after October 7, as I grieved for all of Israel and a family member I lost at Kibbutz Nir Oz, I prepared myself for a rise in antisemitism. Thanks to Club Z, I had the skills and knowledge to speak up, which made this very difficult year easier to navigate with a feeling of empowerment rather than despair. And when I start college next fall, I will have the confidence to continue to be proudly Jewish and vocal about the truth.

“I am thrilled that Adam's Club Z education helped him to develop this topic for debate competitions. What a fantastic way to inform people about antisemitism and change minds! Not only did he win, so did everyone who heard the truth. Adam's courage is so inspiring! To any parents reading this, I hope you'll share this story with your teens." Marcy Goldstein, Ph.D. Club Z Charlotte Educator Club Z creates a network of educated and articulate activists with a commitment to Zionism, who advocate for themselves, Israel, and the Jewish people. To learn more and register your 8th-12th graders, visit clubz.org.