New York State Bar Association To Launch Anti-Bias Training With Free Program on Antisemitism Feb. 27
2.14.2024
As antisemitism rises worldwide following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, the New York State Bar Association is offering free training to combat hatred against Jews.
The antisemitism training will be the first in a series of anti-bias programs. The association also plans to offer programs on Anti-Asian hate, Islamophobia, and related topics as part of its mission to educate and inform the public.
In the three months following the Oct. 7 attacks, the Anti-Defamation League has documented 3,291 incidents of antisemitic assault, vandalism and harassment across the United States for an average of nearly 34 incidents a day. Even before Oct. 7, the ADL documented that antisemitic hate crimes steadily rose throughout the past decade.
“Antisemitism is the oldest hatred in the world,” said Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association. “Throughout history, hatred and discrimination against Jews has ranged from subtle to overt. We are offering this training as part of the association’s mission to educate and inform, so that people may be empowered to combat this rise of hatred.”
The program, “Confronting Antisemitism: Contemporary Challenges and Historical Insights” will be led by Paola Tartakoff, professor and chair of the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tartakoff’s presentation will be similar to the training she provided for the Office of Court Administration. President Richard Lewis and President-Elect Domenick Napoletano will be giving opening remarks.
The webinar, which will take place on Feb. 27 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., will examine the historical roots of antisemitism and how it manifests in society today. The program will be free, and will count for 1.0 MCLE credit in Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias.