For me, the most essential part of my Judaism has always been the Jewish value of “loving the stranger.” The Jewish community has faced persecution throughout history. The Torah instructs us to turn our memory of this persecution into empathy for others who have faced similar struggles. Exodus 23 tells us, “You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.” This verse has resonated with me throughout my life. Growing up Jewish in Birmingham, Alabama, where less than 1% of the population is Jewish, I was often confronted with anti-Semitism. I have since striven to stand up not only against anti-Semitism, but also against any other form of bigotry.
This summer, I had the chance to apply the Jewish value of “loving the stranger” by interning at the Anti-Defamation League. I could not have imagined a more meaningful way to spend my summer. ADL’s mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Every day presented an opportunity to learn more about and help prevent manifestations of discrimination and inequality today, and to advance ADL’s goal of creating a more inclusive society.
During the first week of my internship, the office was busy preparing for the annual Philadelphia LGBT Pride Parade. As I helped the staff prepare materials and activities, I was amazed at every staff member’s enthusiasm and dedication to making the event as successful as possible. I immediately saw that ADL’s organizational culture was one that celebrates diversity and pluralism, taking every opportunity to advance the mission of creating a more inclusive society. Over the course of the summer, I researched a variety of civil rights issues, including: the school-to-prison pipeline, immigration reform, the Redskins team name controversy, and a Holocaust denial incident. I learned so much about the challenges facing different minorities and all of the work that ADL does to confront those challenges.
Another major responsibility I had as an intern was researching grants for No Place for Hate®, an initiative that designates schools “No Place for Hate” after completing three school-wide anti-bullying projects that foster respect and inclusion. This was one of the most rewarding parts of my internship. After a few weeks of hard work on grant research, I had the opportunity to attend a No Place for Hate designation ceremony at an elementary school. The students were genuinely excited to be at the ceremony celebrating diversity and respect. The choir sang about the importance of accepting others’ differences, and students enthusiastically recited the No Place for Hate Promise, a pledge to promote respect and challenge bigotry in the future. The school principal also pointed out some of the projects students had completed, including art projects that celebrated their individual cultural identities. It was incredible to see students at such a young age already learning to accept and celebrate each other’s differences.
During my final week of my internship, I attended the Bearing Witness™ Program, an initiative providing Catholic school educators with the training and resources necessary to teach their students about the history of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, as well as the historical relationship between Catholic and Jewish communities. The program included a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. My tour of the museum served as a reminder of the importance of ADL’s work. I realized that the Holocaust was not inevitable; it occurred as a result of choices made by individuals who allowed discrimination and hatred to escalate to genocide. So many people allowed the genocide to occur by choosing to remain silent. The museum shows where hate unchecked can eventually lead. It also struck me that the Holocaust is not just a Jewish issue, but a human issue. Abolishing the civil rights of one group can lead to the abolition of those rights for all. A society that promotes hatred is a safe place for no one. I left the museum with a stronger resolve than ever to turn the memory of oppression into empathy and respect for all.
Interning at ADL was an incredible summer experience. Never have I felt prouder to be Jewish. My internship gave me a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the work that goes into combating not only anti-Semitism but all forms of bias and bigotry.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.