Throughout their history, Jews have endured intense antisemitism in forms ranging from social exclusion to violent genocide. Despite global awareness and condemnation of the horrors of the Holocaust, antisemitic acts have been on the rise. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the number of recorded antisemitic attacks in 2023 was almost five times the number recorded in 2018. As the Israel-Hamas war continues, these numbers are expected to rise even more. 

Hoping to combat the spread of antisemitism in Orange County, juniors Justin Kline, Ethan Davidoff, and Justin Glasser recently joined the Jewish Federation’s Student to Student Program. 

“While I wasn’t interested at first, I began seeing a scary amount of antisemitism online and in person. It had become socially acceptable, and I felt like I had to do something about it,” Davidoff said. 

As Student to Student ambassadors, the juniors travel to various middle and high schools in Orange County to talk about their experiences with Judaism. Their presentations about different aspects of Judaism and personal experiences as a Jewish teenager help foster appreciation and respect within developing and impressionable minds. They end each session by sharing challah bread, a common Jewish tradition observed during the Sabbath, a day of rest observed from sundown on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. 

“When I present, I try to put a face to the problems going around the world. I want the kids to see something relatable rather than some mythical thing they’ve heard of online,” said Davidoff.

Students in the middle and high schools they visit are not the only ones learning. Through their experiences, the presenters gained an increased sense of pride within themselves and their identity. 

“The speaker series has given me a cause I genuinely care about, and I’m proud of the difference we’ve made so far in combating the hate in our society,” said Davidoff.