Willamette Institute for Continued Learning - The Normalization of Antisemitism in American Society 2-26-26

"A study conducted by George Washington University revealed that a majority of 10,000 13- to 35-year- olds did not know what antisemitism is. This at a time when we are seeing an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents and hate crimes in the U.S as well as Oregon. Education about antisemitism is therefore essential. This presentation will explore what antisemitism is (and what it is not), how it has evolved over time, and how it is being normalized in American society on both the far right and far left. Importantly, it will dispel deep-seated misconceptions about Jewish identity that feed ignorance around antisemitism and delve into the reasons why antisemitism is often overlooked or even dismissed by those working in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Bob Horenstein has served as Chief Community Relations and Public Affairs Officer for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland since 1994. He is also a freelance writer. Horenstein has been awarded the American Jewish Press Association Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary, and he was recognized by the Oregon Society of Professional Journalists for Excellence in Journalism. He speaks frequently before government organizations, grassroots human rights groups, and including the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. Horenstein earned a Master’s degree in political science from Portland State University in 1993. Rachel Nelson is the Director of Educational Initiatives and Associate Director of Community Relations at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. She leads collaborative efforts with educational institutions and plays a key role in the Federation’s Community relation initiatives. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from the University of Oregon, as well as a Bachelor of Literature and a Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Experiential Education from American Jewish University."