From the Frontlines: How Jewish Day Schools are Responding to the Rise in Antisemitism

"From the Frontlines" is an ADL podcast which brings listeners to the frontline in the battle against antisemitism and hate. Since 10/7, Jewish students have been the victims of a steep rise in antisemitic incidents in their schools and universities. In some cases, Jewish students are left feeling angry, unwelcome and at times unsafe. However, Jewish day schools appear to be a safe harbor in this environment - free from the antisemitism that students face elsewhere. ADL New York/New Jersey’s Campus Committee decided to do a deep dive into this topic to understand not only what Jewish students in day schools were experiencing but also how well those schools were preparing their students and graduates to face a less welcoming world. So, they hosted a webinar a few weeks ago with four day school heads in the New York/New Jersey region. Scott Richman, the host of this podcast, was honored to serve as the moderator of this important discussion. It was a rich and fascinating look at how one part of the Jewish community is handling the issue of antisemitism. It was so interesting that this edited version is now being releases as a “From the Frontlines” podcast. The guests on this podcast are: 1. Steven Freedman, Head of School at Schechter Bergen in New Jersey 2. Dr. Michael Kay, Head of School at the Leffell School in Westchester 3. Rabbi Binyamin or Bini Kraus, Principal of SAR Academy in Riverdale, and 4. Rabbi Eliezer Rubin, Head of School at Kushner Academy in New Jersey Also, ADL’s Vice President for Advocacy Shira Goodman joined the conversation. This webinar took place on September 10, 2024.