SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — On Monday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., there will be a community-wide event featuring Ben M. Freeman, an internationally acclaimed gay Jewish author, educator, and advocate who will inspire and empower people in the fight against antisemitism — from one of fear and frustration to one of introspection, pride, and strength.
Founder of the modern Jewish Pride movement and author of Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride, Freeman is an educator focusing on Jewish identity as well as historical and contemporary Jew-hatred. A Holocaust scholar for over 15 years, he came to prominence during the Jeremy Corbyn antisemitism crisis in the British Labour Party and quickly became one of his generation’s leading Jewish thinkers and voices against anti-Jewish racism.
Freeman’s message and his Jewish Pride movement are more relevant than ever for the Jewish community at-large, including here in San Diego, with antisemitic incidents and sentiments increasing regularly. This has made it abundantly clear that we need to reclaim our identity, our history, our culture, and our heritage from a place of empowerment, from a place of pride that will engender a strength within each of us to stand proudly as in the individuals we are and together in dignity as a people. All are welcome.
The topic is: “Rebuilding & Reclaiming: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride.”
This community-wide event is open to all including parents, teens, and college students.
Location: Hillel of SDSU, 5717 Lindo Paseo, San Diego.
Cost is $18. Pre-registrants will receive a copy of Freeman’s book, “Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride.”
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/1v9W4ACWmjFd2Nm- QjijLLtMOX6nuN7bs_v9WKgw2qNQ/ viewform?edit_requested=true
For questions: INFO@PEERK12.ORG
Co-sponsored by: Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Israeli-American Council, PEER K-12, StandWithUs, JFISC, and KEN JEWISH Community.
Then, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 8:30-10 a.m., Freeman speaks at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego.
His topic is “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Allyship and the Jewish People.”
This DEIB workshop will feature practical steps to create allyship with our Jewish community, students, teachers, and families through a more nuanced understanding of Jewish identity, the Jewish experience, and anti-Jewish racism in both a historical and contemporary context.
The event is open to the community at-large but is geared specifically towards educators and policymakers, including, but not limited to DEI professionals, administrators, heads of schools/principals, board members/trustees, teachers, curriculum developers, and community leaders.
Educators and policymakers are essential to the education, conversation and accountability around antisemitism in our society.
Light breakfast and complimentary parking.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/1RTakufQAZ6EmTN4CVObcE6cT8- HXWHC6ywsf0uLu6Mw/viewform? edit_requested=true
For questions, including requests for interviews: INFO@PEERK12.ORG
Co-sponsored by: StandWithUs, PEER K-12, and JFISC.
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Preceding provided by StandWithUs