GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise across the country, rapidly increasing since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.
Both synagogues in Grand Rapids, Temple Emanuel and Congregation Ahavas Israel, say there luckily haven't been any major incidents in West Michigan. However, both say they're hearing the most issues from students and young people.
“I have so many reports from my students of, so-and-so said 'the gas chambers are getting heated up and ready for you,'" Cantor David Fair with Temple Emanuel.
The Anti-Defamation League says antisemitism is up 388% over the last month, recording a total of 312 anti-Semitic incidents between Oct. 7 through 23, 2023. They say 190 of those were directly linked to the war in Israel and Gaza. In the same time period last year, ADL recorded 64 incidents, four of which were related to Israel.
Fair is also the Director/Cantor Educator of the United Jewish School, the largest Jewish religious school in the region, meaning he works directly with students experiencing this in West Michigan.
"They already have to survive antisemitism on a regular basis, and now it's elevated, and they're getting into fights. They're getting into awful text battles," Fair said. "They're suffering."
Congregation Ahavas Israel is seeing similar issues with antisemitism in schools.
“We always hear about some anti-Semitic incidents in the school systems around. We've had conversations with the superintendents," Rabbi David Krishef said.
However, Fair says Temple Emanuel has heard nothing from school leaders in the region.
"I've been disheartened with the public school systems in this area," Fair said.
He says education and discussion in schools are important steps forward.
"Let's have representatives of the faiths have myself, or one of the three rabbis in town come and facilitate a really beautiful conversation," Fair said. "I understand that we might not handle it perfectly. I understand that we're not going to solve any actual Middle East issues, but we can at least come together and try to create a space of healing."
This all comes as the Biden Administration is warning schools and colleges about rising threats and harassment. On Tuesday, the administration released a letter, saying there's "renewed urgency" to fight antisemitism and islamophobia on campuses nationwide.
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