04/06/2026
Empowering Educators to Combat Antisemitism
Table of Contents:
1. Engaging School and Community Leaders as Partners
2. Real‑Life Examples: When Antisemitism Demands Action
3. Looking Ahead
Two Summits, One Shared Mission
In schools across Greater Cleveland, teachers and administrators face a rapidly changing reality: students are encountering more antisemitism, ignorance, and bias – often without the tools to understand or respond. For many educators, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, that challenge can feel isolating.
To help address it, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland launched two initiatives designed to support educators and foster more inclusive school environments: the Education Leaders Summit and the Jewish Teachers Summit.
The Jewish Teachers Summit, an event in collaboration with the Jewish Education Center, convened Jewish educators from local, non-Jewish K-12 schools to learn, connect, and build community. The Education Leaders Summit brought together Jewish and non-Jewish superintendents, principals, athletic directors, and other administrators – represented from across Northeast Ohio – to learn how to prevent and effectively combat antisemitism.
Engaging School and Community Leaders as Partners
For teachers like Devra Levine, a middle and high school choir director in Willoughby, the last year made it clear how critical support can be. After October 7, she found herself feeling deeply alone in her school environment. “I just started to feel very isolated,” she said. “I would talk about my Judaism less and less with my students.”
That changed when she received the invitation to join the Jewish Teachers Summit. The Federation’s commitment to providing a space for educators to connect across districts has become a lifeline. “When I got the invitation, it was a much-needed opportunity to talk with like minded teachers,” Levine said. “The Federation provided an awesome list of resources – organized by topic – about Judaism, fostering civil discourse, and Holocaust education. There are also links about identifying and responding to antisemitism. Having that is incredible and has given me more confidence to not be so afraid to have these conversations.”
For Mark Swaim Fox, president and CEO of The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio – a non Jewish ally who sees the work as essential – the Federation’s leadership helps break through the ‘disillusionment phase’ that often follows surges in hate. Swaim-Fox has co-chaired the Education Leaders Summit for the past two years. “I’ve seen from last year’s conference to this year’s – the organizations involved have followed up and have built relationships with the other schools and many organizations in Northeast Ohio.”
“There are more non Jews than Jews in this country; the burden of this work can’t be on the shoulders of Jews – it has to be in partnership and allyship,” Swaim-Fox said. “Working with the Federation and its partners is vital because we’ll continue to stay siloed if we don’t. We can’t get out of this phase unless we start partnering together.”
Alan Rosskamm, Federation’s Community Relations Committee chair, who also served as co-chair of the 2025 Education Leaders Summit and as an advisor of the 2026 Summit, said these moments are exactly why schools need preparation – not just good intentions. “Antisemitism doesn’t show up as an abstract concept for educators. It shows up in classrooms, on athletic fields, and online, often without warning. Given the rapid rise in antisemitism, teachers and schools need new training and tools to respond in ways that preserve a sense of belonging for every student.”
He added that many schools already address bias related to race and ethnicity, but antisemitism is frequently overlooked. “Jews are often perceived as a mainstream group rather than a vulnerable minority, so hatred of Jews isn’t always included in anti‑bias curricula.”
Real‑Life Examples: When Antisemitism Demands Action
When an accused incident occurred involving a student at Fuchs Mizrachi School, Rabbi Avery Joel, head of school, reacted immediately. He also relied on the Federation’s support and guidance for how to handle this situation. “One of our soccer players reported hearing an antisemitic comment from an opposing team athlete on the field. It was essential that we took care of this as soon as possible so this one student as well as our entire student body felt supported,” Joel said. “We sent a clear message about what would and would not be tolerated.”
The incident at Fuchs Mizrachi had a ripple effect beyond the school itself. After the issue was raised, leaders at the opposing school took it seriously and responded appropriately, ultimately reforming school policies to help prevent similar incidents in the future. The experience also opened the door for broader dialogue; leaders from both schools appeared together on a panel at the Education Leaders Summit, using this incident as a case study in how schools can respond quickly and constructively to antisemitism.
Navigating these conversations was complex and that’s where the Federation became indispensable. “Being able to turn to the Federation for guidance was critical,” Joel added. “Their collective wisdom and communal relationships made sure we all felt supported.” These summits are part of a growing ecosystem the Federation is building – one that gives educators practical tools, fosters meaningful connections, and ensures no teacher feels alone in confronting antisemitism.
Levine felt that impact firsthand in an unexpected moment at a statewide conference when, during a breakout session, a fellow teacher made a comment about ‘avoiding Jewish music in the current political climate.’ She froze, until she realized another teacher from the Jewish Teachers Summit was sitting right beside her. “Thank goodness she was even there,” Levine said. “If I was sitting alone, I may have burst into tears or gotten up and left the room. We drafted a thoughtful follow up email together to send to the presenter of the session. It was really an act of courage, thanks to the community the Federation helped build.”
Looking Ahead
Rosskamm said the Jewish Teachers Summit and Education Leaders Summit were created to meet an urgent need, noting that school leaders felt that same urgency. “More than 40 schools and districts chose to participate because they wanted to learn, prepare, and respond thoughtfully to hate‑based incidents. The demand for this information is real, and the Federation helps schools recognize that dehumanization of any group creates space for hate. Addressing antisemitism is essential to creating safe, inclusive learning environments.”
Across the Education Leaders Summit, one theme was loud and clear – teaching about antisemitism isn’t just for Jewish day schools, and it isn’t just for older students. “We encourage schools to start this education in elementary school,” said Swaim-Fox. “Our work helps teachers and students create spaces without judgment, without shame, and to embrace the full complexity of their identities. Research shows academic engagement goes up, academic achievement goes up, attendance rates go up and truancy goes down. It’s a proven fact. This is why we have to dive in early.”
Whether it’s supporting a teacher seeking community, guiding a school through an antisemitic incident, or empowering non Jewish allies to step forward, the Federation is helping build a network of committed, informed educators – one that spans faiths, districts, and backgrounds. The Federation’s mission is to help reshape how schools across our area confront antisemitism.
As Swaim-Fox put it simply, “We need people to understand what happened in the Holocaust, what Jewish history and antisemitism is all about. I think that's essential and why schools here need to think about the work in that way. Keep being that trusted partner and know you have allies. There are people in this community, Jewish and not Jewish, who care about this subject deeply.”
For more information on the Federation’s Education Leaders Summit and the Jewish Teachers Summit, contact Sara Garfinkle at sgarfinkle@jewishcleveland.org.
