Yale Forum for Jewish Faculty and Friends Expands on Educational Offerings

Rabbi Diana Fersko, Senior Rabbi of the Village Temple in Manhattan, will be speaking on “Antisemitism in a Post October 7th World" on January 22. The talk, open to the public with RSVP, is sponsored by the Yale Forum for Jewish Faculty and Friends (YFJF&F).

YFJF&F was founded in 2022 with a 3-year grant from the Academic Engagement Network to Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Evan Morris, PhD. The goal of the group has been to foster education about anti-Semitism on campus. Last year, the group hosted Dara Horn, novelist and author of People Love Dead Jews, for discussions with students and faculty, and a public lecture attended by 300. Horn, a prolific author, podcaster, and lecturer, was recently appointed to an anti-Semitism advisory group at Harvard to advise the president of Harvard on how to confront anti-Semitism on campus. YFJF&F also hosted Anna Krylov, PhD, of USC, a co-founder of the Academic Freedom Alliance and a leading thinker, writer, and activist on how to preserve free speech at universities.

This year, YFJF&F is planning new events. In January, the group will host Rabbi Fersko, author of We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, for meetings with faculty, medical students, and a public event. Her book is informed by her experiences of ministering to a mostly liberal Jewish congregation. Rabbi Fersko will also be conducting a lunchtime training session, “Understanding the Jewish Experience”, for DEI staff and volunteers in the medical and engineering schools. “The Rabbi’s message should resonate with anyone who, prior to October 7, believed that anti-Semitism was nonexistent or in retreat,” explained Dr. Arthur Seltzer, the event organizer.

“There is much to be done to educate the Yale community about Jews and Israel,” said Morris. “We cannot do it all, but our group can take a step. Jews and their allies have been increasingly uneasy with growing anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus at official and personal levels. This phenomenon only simmered before Oct. 7, but it exploded immediately afterwards. Massacred Jews had not even been buried before anti-Jewish venom exploded all around us in the guise of pro-Palestinian protests. We are angry and dismayed at the words and behaviors of some of our colleagues, but we are taking the high road by opting for education.”

For members of the community who may be interested, YFJF&F has a website, https://yfjfandfweb.godaddysites.com, to curate resources for discussing Israel and anti-Semitism, including articles, videos, and podcasts from numerous and varied sources and authors. The group maintains a discussion on the group.io platform that faculty can subscribe to via the website. “Yale community members - Jewish and non- who feel isolated by anti-Semitism may be unaware of our group and its meetings. Sometimes, it is simply good to join in fellowship with friends,” said Morris.