Anti-Semitism has been an ongoing issue in the world for years, and it's only getting worse. I know as a Jew this is a scary thing to see, and it can feel difficult to be a Jew right now. You might be scared to wear a kippah, hamsa, Star of David necklace, or anything else that identifies you as a Jew. But you should still wear it, you should still be loud and proud. If you're wondering how to help protect the safety of yourself and others, I’ve got you.

1. Educate your friends!

A lot of non-Jewish people don’t know a lot about anti-Semitism or how often attacks against Jewish people happen. It's been shown that 63% of millennials and Gen Z do not know that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. By educating your friends, you're stopping them from saying or doing something anti-Semitic. One way is using your Jewish club at your school, if you have one, to educate a big group of people. Invite non-Jews to come and learn about anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, and Judaism in general. You can have fun games or good food relating to Judaism, and use that to help advertise it.

2. Speak out!

There are so many different ways you can speak out, either at school or in your neighborhood. You could put up signs around your school with information on anti-Semitism and how to help or find more information. You can also speak out using social media by putting links in your bio or just resharing when an attack against Jewish people occurs.

3. Research!

Doing research can help you learn more about what is happening, where it's happening, and more. This way you can educate your non-Jewish friends and find more ways to help. You can also urge non-Jewish people to do their own research on the Holocaust and anti-Semitism now. Some helpful websites for this type of research are The United States Holocaust Musem and Anti Defamation League.

4. Make sure your school is educating students on the Holocaust

I don’t know about you, but where I live (Chicago), it's mandatory for schools to have Holocaust education. A lot of people have realized that their schools don’t have it, and are making sure they include it in their curriculum. If your school does not have it, talk to a teacher or administrator about how to teach it. At my school, we have assemblies every week, and on Holocaust Remembrance Day, a student spoke about anti-Semitism and we had the son of a survivor come in and share his mother’s story. This was a really impactful way to learn more and hear someone at our school’s experience with anti-Semitism.

I hope this helps. These tips may seem like they're not gonna help much because they're so small, but the more people who do it the more helpful it will be! I know it can be scary right now, and if you need someone to talk to, reach out to your advisor, board member, or staff member and they will be happy to help!