opinion
N Paula Joffe
Nothing compares to a trip to
Israel to help provide perspective
on where you want to be now.

So when I returned from a recent visit, I
realized that the time was right for retire-
ment. People’s inevitable response when I
tell them this is, “So you’re moving there?”
No, I answer. I can do so much more for
Israel and the Jewish people from here.

In Israel, middle- and high school-age
children are not likely to tell you that
their classmates draw swastikas on the
bathroom walls and make jokes such
as “why don’t Jews like dolphins? Because they are
scared when you say ‘a-dolph.’” (These are actual
incidents that occurred in our region.) Antisemitism is
part of the Diaspora. It is spread by virulent groups on
the left and the right, together with misinformation and
demonization of Israel and Zionism.

In the 3½ years that I served as the executive director
of StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic, I’m most surprised at the
depth of this hatred — especially as it appears in educa-
tional institutions. Middle school, high school and college
students are faced with having to battle anti-Israel/
anti-Jewish agendas only to sometimes encounter resis-
tance from teachers and administrators to take action.

How did this phenomenon happen? I never experi-
enced this; neither did my children. But it has turbo-
charged us into action, including the formation of
StandWithUs in 2001.

I was lucky to join this organization that has so many
mechanisms and tools already in place.

My phone rang almost nonstop with people who
needed help. Many, despite their educational levels,
had never experienced this kind of hatred and were
lost on how to respond.

Using SWU resources, we gave real solutions to real
people with real problems. Their relief was palpable. I
was especially gratified when callers were able to use
the information and guidance we gave them to coura-
geously tackle the problem on their own.

Sometimes, unfortunately, there are less satisfac-
tory outcomes, and that was the most dismaying. For
example, at Johns Hopkins University, a teaching assis-
tant in the chemistry department tweeted a poll asking
whether she should give Zionists lower grades. The
StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department and Center
for Combating Antisemitism wrote multiple letters to
the administration, worked with partner groups and
community members and generated ample publicity.

16 JANUARY 12, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT
While the administration said it opened an investiga-
tion, it did not publicly condemn the TA’s actions.

But there is hope because of the dedication and
creativity of our students and activists.

SWU has a college Emerson Fellowship and Kenneth
Leventhal High School Internship. Both programs select
and train student leaders from hundreds of schools on
how to fight antisemitism and educate about Israel in
their schools and communities. They work closely with
our campus and high school regional managers.

Drexel University’s Emerson fellow devised, “Spread
Cheese, Not Hate.” If a student signed up to help fight
antisemitism, they got a bagel and cream cheese. More
than 300 students said yes!
In Baltimore, the Park School was implementing a series
of reforms, including to its “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”
initiatives due to pressure from a group that denounced
Jews as “parasites,” “wealth-hoarding” and “Zionists.”
Working with the Mid-Atlantic regional high school
manager, the Leventhal intern got the administration to
agree to a school-wide assembly with SWU educator
Hussein Aboubakr, who spoke about the real-world
consequences of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. I’m
so proud of this intern and the courage it took for a
16-year-old to stand up to this.

A supporter who saw SWU’s meme about the Australian
government rescinding its recognition of Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital was so outraged that he called me to take
action. Together with activists on the ground in Australia,
we took an ad in The Australian, the nation’s highest-cir-
culation newspaper. It reminded readers that “Jerusalem
was the capital of Israel when Australia’s only inhabitants
were the indigenous people of the land.”
SWU’s new Holocaust Education Center made a presen-
tation to 200 eighth-graders at a predominately African-
American charter school in Philadelphia. The lesson began
in Namibia, where Germany carried out the 20th century’s
first genocide, and also explained that Hitler
targeted and murdered Black people even
as he planned and executed the ethnic
cleansing of the Jews in Europe.

Sitting at home, people toured Israel
through SWU’s “Discover Israel” live and
interactive tours. The Baltimore Zionist
District partnered with us on five such
trips, including a strategic tour of the
border. Many synagogues in the Greater
Philadelphia area also enjoyed being in
Israel remotely.

I am proud of the SWU Mid-Atlantic gala
this year, “Athletes Against Antisemitism.”
In conversations with college coaches,
I realized the reach and impact of collegiate athletes
as “influencers” not only is influential at their schools
but continues when they leave to become professional
athletes, business and/or community leaders. Getting
them to realize the truth and beauty of Israel and pass
that message to others is very powerful in battling
antisemitism. One person who really understands this is the gala’s
keynote speaker, Bruce Pearl, head coach of the
Auburn University men’s basketball program. He took
the team to Israel not just to play ball but to learn about
the country. I was thrilled that he made our event his
first stop upon returning.

The gala was well-attended and memorable. The
event’s panel discussion was moderated by former
Philadelphia 76ers play-by-play announcer Marc Zumoff.

Temple University’s Sasha Westrick explained that
she quit the crew team and eventually left her univer-
sity because, among other assaults, her teammate
took a photo of her and posted it on Snapchat with
the caption “I Hate Jews.” Her coach’s reaction to this
antisemitic post was to disregard it and call it a “lie.”
How many more “lies” do we tolerate? It is incumbent
upon us to know the issues and gain knowledge of how to
best respond to them. I’ve learned that it’s important that
each of us is actively engaged in finding solutions. Get
to know your local school board members and elected
officials. Use the resources of organizations including
StandWithUs, sign their petitions and join their campaigns.

Bring speakers to your communities and help educate.

Even in retirement, I won’t stop working on behalf of
Israel and the Jewish community. Oh, and in my spare
time, I am learning Hebrew.

L’hitraot! ■
Paula Joffe served as the StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic
executive director until her retirement in 2022.

Roman / AdobeStock
To Israel and the Decision to Retire