Elman guest speaker at local event on Israel and antisemitism

Miriam F. Elman (associate professor, Political Science) spoke recently at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas in Dewitt, NY on “Fighting the Hate: When Does Anti-Israel Become Anti-Semitic?”. The event was free and open to the greater Syracuse community. Elman discussed both classical and contemporary forms of antisemitism, which increasingly involve virulently anti-Israel positions. Drawing on the writings of experts and scholarship from multiple fields of study, Elman offered insight into how legitimate criticism of Israeli politics and policies can be distinguished from anti-Semitic hate speech. She also spoke to the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement and to the question of how the rise in antisemitism internationally is increasingly being mirrored on university and college campuses across the United States. Following her talk, Elman directed a workshop where participants had an opportunity to break into small groups for further discussion of both the nature of the “new antisemitism” and how local, national, and international Jewish communities should respond to it. The Adult Programming Committee of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, which sponsored the event, plans to use Elman’s program as a basis for a series of follow-up events and a continuing conversation on these topics. 11/10/15