How to Talk About Antisemitism
Adapting the Message Platform:
The full narrative message platform above is language you are welcome to use directly. You may copy and paste it into your statements, emails, social media posts, speeches, op-eds, letters to the editor, petitions—any time you need to communicate about antisemitism, you are welcome to use it.
In fact, we encourage you to copy the message platform directly—the more people hear this message from multiple sources, the more it becomes thought of as “common sense.” This is how we succeed in changing the narrative!
You may also adapt it so that it is more specific to your needs. For example:
Highlight the connection between antisemitism and another form of oppression by adding in specific language about racism, Islamophobia, anti-transgender bigotry, or any other connected component
Add a specific policy ask or call to action
Add examples of solidarity across differences from your own community, from history, or from a top news story
Respond to an antisemitic incident
Later in this guide, we offer advice on specific language choices and rhetorical strategies. But any adaptation of the message platform should adhere to the following messaging principles:
Start with a positive statement affirming the need for freedom and safety for all people, specifically naming Jews.
It is tempting to jump into the problems, but grounding in a positive statement based on basic human needs draws audiences in and leads to greater agreement.
Show that antisemitism is a problem we can solve by expressing a solution rooted in working together across lines of racial and religious difference.
This may be a specific call to action relevant to your topic—the more concrete, the better. Avoid vague actions that won’t really solve the problems, like “pushing back” or “calling out”—more on this below.
Tell a coherent story of WHO uses antisemitism and WHY they do so.
This should include naming specific people or political movements and explaining their motivations clearly. Show what those people gain by using antisemitism. Never attribute agency to “antisemitism” as an abstract concept (see examples of language to avoid below).
Use metaphoric language that supports this overall message.
Always avoid using the “water” and “disease” metaphors—it takes a while to unlearn these, so use this guide to help you recognize and avoid them. Instead, use the machinery metaphor and always talk about antisemitism as an object—not an actor with agency of its own.
Show how antisemitism is a threat to our country or democracy and directly connected to other forms of oppression.
Use the machinery metaphor to express how antisemitism is directly related to other issues, and consider naming the related systems of oppression that are relevant to your situation. Doing this shows you understand your stake in this story and prevents Jews from being isolated. In particular, make sure to acknowledge the existence and needs of Jews of color and avoid drawing artificial divides between Jewish communities and other communities. (See below for more examples of how to do this.)
End with a positive vision for the future, specifically naming Jews and including people across races and religions.
