Dear Friends,
 
As August draws to a close, we find ourselves in the midst of the back-to-school season, marking the transition from the unscheduled days of summer to the scheduled year ahead. In many ways, the change in season helps to guide us toward a familiar path and prepares us for the year to come. This year it feels awkward. The comfort of the familiar is absent. Replaced by the anxiety of not knowing if our kids will feel welcome at school. I am sure many of us are feeling this as we send our kids back to school and off to college.
 
Jewish Federations across the country are working tirelessly to ensure that our children can safely and proudly express their Jewish identity in school. Here at Jewish Federation of Orange County, we have been working diligently to ensure that Jewish history and the current conflict in Israel are being taught accurately. Locally, we have met with and educated school district leaders and superintendents, building allyship and fostering strong bonds to keep antisemitism out of schooling. We are incredibly proud of the young leaders who have stepped up in this moment. Your own children—our Student to Student ambassadors—are actively fighting misconceptions about our community as they present the dangers of antisemitism and share their connections to their Jewish heritage with their peers. Last weekend 63 teen ambassadors attended our orientation program for the coming school year. Through educational efforts like Student to Student, we are building a more inclusive Orange County, one without hate.
 
Jewish Federation programs work to transmit Jewish identity and keep youth from opting out of Jewish life. PJ Library, Student to Student, Passport to Jewish Life, and our Teen Engagement & Wellness Initiative all strengthen Jewish identity and ensure that we are supporting our youth, creating opportunities for them to engage Jewishly, and build a more just world.
 
Yet, despite our best efforts, I fear the upcoming school year will present both individual and community challenges. I was deeply disturbed by the recently disclosed antisemitic texts from Santa Ana Unified School District employees, revealed through the lawsuit by the Anti-Defamation League and other organizations. These comments, labeling our Federation as “racist Zionists,” make clear that antisemitism remains a serious issue in our community. This situation emphasizes the importance of our ongoing commitment to build relationships with community leaders, work with schools, and establish programs that can end hate in Orange County. In this most challenging time, we must lean into our Jewish values and allow their wisdom to be a guide for our community.
 
I urge you to report any incident of antisemitism, witnessed or experienced by you or your family, to the ADL or CA vs. Hate.
 
If you have a college-age child and seek additional resources to address antisemitism on campuses, I encourage you register for the Jewish Federations of North America webinar on Thursday, September 5 at 1:00 p.m. PT. 

For more information and resources, check out the JFedOC Power of One community toolkit, our comprehensive guide for addressing these incidents as well as engaging our neighbors during this time of increased tension.
 
Wishing you a good beginning to a school year in which our children experience opportunities to learn and grow without experiencing hate.
 
Shabbat Shalom,

Erik Ludwig, PhD
President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Orange County