Question 1

How can I engage the Project Shema team for a workshop or speaking engagement?

Accepted Answer

Please share as much information as possible with us via our online booking form and a member of our partnerships team will reach out to you to discuss your inquiry.

Question 2

Does Project Shema endorse any public definitions of antisemitism, such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Association working definition of antisemitism, Nexus, or the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism?

Accepted Answer

No. Project Shema has never endorsed or promoted these, or any other organization’s definition of antisemitism. The goal of our work isn’t to get partners or participants to embrace a specific policy definition of antisemitism. Our goal is to give participants the understanding and tools to unpack their anti-Jewish biases and disrupt language and behavior that is harmful to the Jewish community. As institutions, regardless of the definition we use, we must work to counter anti-Jewish harm so Jews can experience psychological and physical safety, inclusion, and belonging.

Question 3

How does Project Shema define antisemitism then?

Accepted Answer

Rather than offer a one-size-fits-all definition of antisemitism, we believe it is more productive to describe what “anti-Jewish harm” looks like. Our focus is on disrupting ideas and actions that undermine individual and collective Jewish inclusion and safety. We recognize that anti-Jewish ideas often go unnoticed in society and a critical part of our work is empowering people to identify, understand, describe, and respond to anti-Jewish harm.

This is why we often shift our language from “antisemitism” to “anti-Jewish-harm” and why we focus much more on describing the way ideas and actions can erode the safety and inclusion for Jews. This enables a less polarized space to discuss complex and emotional issues and nurture empathy even when people disagree.

Anti-Jewish ideas have existed for thousands of years and impact all of us. We understand antisemitism as a systemic bigotry and an ancient set of conspiracy theories about Jews. These bigotries or conspiracies include motifs about Jewish power, untrustworthiness, greed, corruption, and evilness. And these ideas have morphed to meet the moment over thousands of years, showing up differently across generations, cultures, and political communities.

Project Shema understands antisemitism as both a systemic bigotry and an ancient conspiracy theory. The conspiratorial nature of antisemitism fuels white supremacy, divides movements for progress, undermines democratic institutions, and erodes pluralism in society. In this way, anti-Jewish bigotry undermines safety for everyone, especially marginalized communities.

Question 4

Are you an Israel-Palestine organization?

Accepted Answer

No. We are an antisemitism education organization. While we do not teach about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we do explore how the conversation about the conflict can undermine safety and inclusion in our communities. This is because our implicit biases about Jews (and also about Muslims, Palestinians, and Arabs) can be carried alongside discussions about Israel and Palestine. Our work focuses on helping upstanders understand Jewish identity and nurture empathy for Jewish traumas and lived experiences, in a way that honors the lived experiences and trauma of everyone.

Question 5

Does Project Shema address questions around Zionism and anti-Zionism in your programs?

Accepted Answer

We do not teach about the history of Zionism and Israel or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though these are terms that often come up in our workshops.

Because these words mean different things to different people, it is critical to treat this conversation with a lot of nuance. One definition many of us at Project Shema believe represents how many in the Jewish community understand Zionism, is that it is a belief in the right to and need for Jewish national self-determination in some portion of the Jewish people's ancestral homeland and is, in part, a response to a millennia of anti-Jewish harm.

We recognize that within and outside the Jewish community there are diverse definitions, perspectives, and associations with these terms. We do believe that understanding Jewish identity requires understanding the ancestral connection many Jews feel with the land, people, and state of Israel and the (often complicated) relationships many Jews today have with the state of Israel. We also recognize that biases about Jews can show up in  discourse about Zionism or Israel and Palestine. Regardless of our positions on Zionism or Israel and Palestine, we all must ensure that we do not accidentally perpetuate ideas that undermine inclusion and safety for Jews and others when discussing these topics.

Question 6

How does Project Shema determine which organizations to partner with, run programs with, or speaking invitations to accept?

Accepted Answer

At Project Shema, we seek partnerships with organizations committed to holistic approaches to ensuring Jewish inclusion and safety. This means deeper engagements, meaningful education, and a commitment to building a pluralistic and inclusive culture, rather than a one-off, “check the box” approach to addressing antisemitism.

That said, few organizations share 100% of our values. Providing a training program to an organization or community, or speaking at one of their events, is not an endorsement of their policies.

We recognize that, for some, our participation in certain spaces may be seen as lending credibility, but we also know that the partners and spaces that do not align with our values are often the ones that need our message of compassion and nuance the most.

We believe in the power of modeling respectful disagreement and advocating for empathy across divides. Shema is a command that means “listen” and Project Shema’s work is to build bridges through understanding. We will continue to interact with many different people and organizations as part of our work to ensure collective Jewish safety, inclusion, and pluralistic societies.

We also take pride in the fact that we’re transparent with our partners about our values and, while we always tailor our workshops to the audience, we do not change our language or approach based on the views of our partners.

Common Questions