More than 100 high school and college students gathering in Krakow, Poland for March of the Living’s first Emerging Leadership Conference to fight anti-semitism. Photo courtesy of Elie Klein/March of the Living. (Krakow, Poland)- March of the Living kicked off its first Emerging Leadership Conference May 1 discussing the Shoah and how to combat anti-Semitism and intolerance around the world.
Twenty one young leaders who have previously attended the March in Poland were selected from around the world to help educate and inspire more than 100 high school and college students from Canada, Panama, South Africa and the United States to take a stand against anti-Semitism, ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Rabbi Dr. Danny Schiff, foundation scholar at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said in the wake of the April 27 attack on Chabad of Poway in Southern California and the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh six months ago, “It is true – there is rising anti-Semitism. But it is also true that there are those who want to embrace us and support us, to hold us up and help us rebuild.”
He added, “The Jewish people do not dwell alone, we have friends who want to offer their support. So if we are serious about combatting anti-Semitism, let us choose our allies and work together. Let’s not pretend that we are by ourselves.”
March of the Living Emerging Leaders program director Michael Soberman; Dr. Zohar Raviv international VP of education for Taglit-Birthright Israel; and Alberto Levy also shared their experiences of first-hand exposure to anti-Semitism and how they will not let hatred and bigotry define them.
Twenty-five-year-old Izzy Lenga who is one of this year’s emerging leaders works with the UK Labour Party and the Jewish Labour Movement. Her activism came after experiencing direct anti-semitism during her first year at the University of Birmingham when she saw a “Hitler was right” sticker on campus among many other incidents.
“I’ve got complaints for a few years and I am seeing an absolute lack of action from the Labour Party,” Lenga told the Journal. “[Anti-Semitism] exists everywhere right to the top of the leader [referring to Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn] and who he surrounds himself… It’s words without action… What we need is action, not words.”
She added it’s been difficult to support the progressive British Labour Party because it attacks her faith by not calling out anti-Semitism in the UK. However, she said the best way to gain support for the Jewish people is with a shared dialogue.
“What I‘ve been saying to my progressive friends is [to] listen to Jewish people when they share about their experiences with anti-Semitism just like you would, just like you should, with all other minority groups when they talk about their oppression,” Lenga said. “Listen, understand, believe and take action with us. Stand with us. Help us lead this fight against anti-semitism.”
Emerging leader Ye’Ela Eilon-Heiber from Vancouver was excited to attend the conference and march this year to learn more about anti-Semitism in different countries. She said although there aren’t as many anti-semitic events occurring in Canada, it still exists.
“Having only a Canadian perspective sort of limits it [experiences with global anti-Semitism] but now that I’ve gotten to speak to people all over the world, it opens my mind about how anti-Semitism can show itself and how we can work against it,” Eilon-Heiber said. “I have actively chosen not to hide my Judaism and with the volunteer work I do I try to bring together the Jewish community and other communities I’m a part and try to create that dialogue where we can openly talk about why anti-semitism or racism are problems in other communities as well.”
The conference later divided the young adults into groups and asked them to draft a resolution that they would agree to follow when fighting future anti-Semitism. The final draft will be released at the 31st annual March of the Living event May 2.
The one message Schiff, Lenga and Eilon-Heiber emphasized is that they will continue to stand strong despite the hate towards Jews.
“We must acknowledge that the best response to anti-Semitism is to embrace our Judaism ever so fervently and deliberately. Embracing Jewish life is the best way to frustrate the well-laid plans of anti-Semites,” Schiff said. “Every one of you can undermine their plans by committing to become the finest Jews imaginable.”
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