SAN FRANCISCO (Press Release) — JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa is offering a new training program to help educators and administrators learn about antisemitism and to provide them with resources and support to teach the histories of Mizrahi Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa in the classroom. The training program aligns with the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism’s recommendation to teach the histories of the one million Jewish refugees from North America and the Middle East and take an additive approach.
“This new training program will equip state, county, and district level education leaders with essential knowledge to counter historical revisionism and antisemitism within educational systems – both inside and outside the classroom,” said Sarah Levin, executive director of JIMENA. “Now more than ever, educators must understand the complexities and nuances of antisemitism and the Jewish people—and impart that understanding onto their students.”
The program will provide customized training sessions and support for teaching Jewish topics that have been overlooked in public school curricula. Grounded in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, this initiative strategically addresses the pressing issue within educational settings, specifically targeting state- and district-level officials.
“In addressing the critical surge in antisemitism, JIMENA develops impactful solutions for public schools nationwide,” added Levin. “These solutions, including this new program, aim to educate about antisemitism’s various manifestations and the experiences of Jews and other religious minorities from North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel. At this crucial time, providing training, countering misinformation about the Middle East, presenting factual information, and proposing solutions related to antisemitism from the Middle East are paramount aspects of JIMENA’s mission.”
Through JIMENA’s coalition of AIMEE: Advocates for Inclusive Middle Eastern Education, when appropriate, JIMENA will include other minority communities in the training.
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Preceding provided by JIMENA