Jewish Federations to hire 100 professionals to combat rising antisemitism across North America

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) have announced an ambitious plan to combat the surge in antisemitism across North America. To address this growing issue, the organization will be hiring 100 new professionals to bolster their community outreach and advocacy efforts. These new hires will focus on various aspects, including local and state advocacy, education, and interfaith partnerships, to tackle hate crimes and discriminatory behaviors that have become increasingly prevalent in recent times.

The $35 million initiative, known as Frontline, is supported by over 25 funders and aims to distribute targeted grants to 120 local federations. Alongside providing these financial resources, JFNA is also offering professional training, shared tools, resources, and expert guidance to help these new personnel effectively navigate and address the challenges they will face.

The urgency of this initiative stems from the alarming statistics that have emerged since the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, with physical assaults reaching record highs and Jews targeted in 64% of religiously motivated hate crimes. Moreover, a poll conducted by JFNA revealed that an overwhelming 65% of Jews in the US believe that antisemitism is a significant issue, a stark contrast to the 45% reported in 2020.

JFNA's Executive Vice President, Shira Hutt, emphasized the need for this expanded outreach, stating that federations have long been engaged in community relations and civic engagement. However, the rapid rise of antisemitism calls for new tactics and increased resources to combat the problem effectively. She added that these new hires will serve as a critical "community defense line" in various settings, such as municipal meetings, healthcare environments, school boards, and educational curricula.

The Frontline program also includes several targeted engagement projects, such as year-round training sessions, the Project Halo messaging hub for strategic guidance related to security and Israel advocacy, and the Student to Student high school initiative. The latter operates in 50 communities and has already engaged over 60,000 students within three years, with nearly half of those interactions taking place within the past year.

Julie Platt, Chair of Frontline and immediate past Board Chair of JFNA, underscored the importance of targeted and focused engagement after observing that many allies remained silent during the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. In her words, "Only through deep, sustained, and strategic engagement can we ensure that antisemitism is neither tolerated nor normalized, and that our communities remain safe."

This new initiative mirrors the successful operational model of LiveSecure, a $130 million security initiative launched in response to the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. LiveSecure has expanded its national infrastructure from fewer than 20 communities to over 140 within just four years, demonstrating the potential impact of such large-scale, strategic engagement in addressing antisemitism and promoting safety within Jewish communities.