JUF's first-ever Communal Summit on Addressing Antisemitism was convened on May 12. Drawing together representatives from 22 Jewish organizations across the Chicago metropolitan area, the summit reflected both the urgency of the current climate and a groundswell of Jewish communal energy and concern.
Participants included leaders from the Anti-Defamation League Midwest, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and Jewish Labor Committee, alongside rabbis, legal experts, and community activists.
The primary goal of the summit, Dan Goldwin, JUF's Chief Public Affairs Officer, explained, was to "increase the coordination, collaboration and communication amongst organizations and synagogues working to confront surging antisemitism." Goldwin noted that, "antisemitism will be best dealt with when the Jewish community addresses it together, rather than when we act within silos."
A rise in incidents--and engagement
The ADL reported a tripling of antisemitic incidents since October 2023. Emily Briskman- Vice President of JUF Campus Affairs, and Executive Director of the Hillels of Illinois- shared one particularly alarming trend: while 79% of Jews remain concerned about antisemitism, that figure is down 11% from the last year--despite an increase in the number of incidents. "We're seeing signs that people are beginning to normalize antisemitism," she warned.
On the other hand, engagement is surging within the Jewish community. Diaspora Jews, said Briskman and Goldwin, are reconnecting with their identity and spending more time in Jewish spaces. This is in part a result of increasing discrimination, but also, because they are seeking a better understanding of their heritage and belief system.
Tools to combat antisemitism
Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke and Attorney and K-12 civil rights expert Jennifer Deutch discussed actions that can address the growing sense of vulnerability in the Jewish community. Presenters addressed how threats--from assault, vandalism, and hate speech to the intimidation of Jewish students and the politicization of Israel--are impacting Jews in schools, workplaces, and public life.
They discussed various tools to document and respond to hate crimes and hate speech, to ensure Jewish Chicagoans feel safe going about their daily lives, ensuring equal access to education and other public services. Deutch encouraged the audience to "distinguish between what's unfortunate and what's unlawful" when assessing each situation.
Media strategist Matthew Berger, President and CEO of Mashber Strategies, advised Jewish institutions with regard to messaging, telling them to know their audience, speak with purpose, and be creative using their organizational voices.
Community complexity
A panel of Chicago-area rabbis spoke candidly about their communities' experiences since October 7, highlighting growing alienation and insecurity felt by Jews across all areas of life--particularly within progressive, academic, and civic spaces. The panel included Ezra Balser, Luba & Bernard Friedman Base Loop; Shoshanah Conover, Temple Sholom of Chicago; Leonard Matanky, Congregation KINS of West Rogers Park; and Max Weiss, Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion. All four rabbis emphasized leading with empathy, staying engaged, prioritizing unifying relationships over divisive politics-and living Jewish lives loudly, proudly and publicly.
This last message resonated strongly in conversations about engaging younger progressive Jews, many of whom feel disconnected from Jewish institutional messaging. Oren Jacobson, co-founder and CEO of Project Shema--an organization focused on confronting antisemitism in progressive spaces--stressed the need for inclusion. "We must guide, not alienate, young Jews navigating complex political environments. Keep them in the tent," he urged.
Emily White, Associate Vice President of Campus Affairs and Executive Director of JUF's Israel Education Center, addressed the evolving perception of the word "Zionist" among younger progressives. She encouraged Jewish institutions to reclaim and define the term. "For most Jews, it simply means belief in the Jewish right to self-determination," she said. "We can debate that meaning internally-but we should not let others define it for us."
Looking ahead
While the mood was weighty, the summit sparked a sense of resolve. Jewish leaders acknowledged the discomfort and disagreement within the community but stressed the importance of turning concern into action. That can mean supporting Jews through policy advocacy, legal support, communications strategy, or spiritual care.
There is communal anxiety--but the community is also energized. During the rabbinical panel, Conover remarked that more people plan to convert to Judaism through her synagogue this year, than in the year leading up to October 7. Even at a time of pervasive antisemitism, that rising surge of interest in Judaism should give the community hope, she said. "Increased antisemitism has put both Jewish faith and Jewish peoplehood on display in a very public way," she said, "and people who have been drawn to Judaism for their own reasons have intentionally chosen now as the time to convert."
Soraya Fata is a Chicago-based freelance writer and attorney specializing in immigration and refugee issues.
