OZ is bringing a workgroup together to participate in the ADL’s Kulanu: Synagogues In Action Against Antisemitism Program. Kulanu is Hebrew for “all of us”. All of us at Ohavi Zedek are part of an effort sponsored by the ADL to empower communities to address antisemitism through education, engagement of advocacy. OZ’s Kulanu workgroup is one of more than 235 synagogues in the United States and Canada planning internal initiatives within the congregation and community initiatives with local partners or potential partners. ADL helps the workgroup educate its members about antisemitism through webinars, workshops, facilitating communication with other congregations, and resources. As part of Kulanu, the OZ workgroup will learn how to have critical conversations about antisemitism and other forms of bigotry and learn about the tools to fight them.
As part of Kulanu, we have committed to:
- Forming a workgroup.
- Promoting Reporting of antisemitic and bias incidents to the ADL.
- Implementing an internal and community initiatives.
- Participating in Kulanu webinars
- Engaging in a community of practice for at least two meetings (community of practice is meeting virtually with other synagogues in the New England region)
- Sharing the impacts of the initiatives as they are completed.
We are discussing a community initiative building on interfaith and community work to better educate our partners in the community about antisemitism and ways to respond.
Reporting of antisemitism and bias — Why report to the ADL? The ADL has been collecting reports of antisemitism and bias for years. The ADL can study the data for to learn about how antisemitism and bias are expressed, what the trends are, and to help provide information and tools to local communities. They can use the data to help shape public policy. You can report what has happened to you or what you have witnessed. TO REPORT AN ANTISEMTIC OR HATE INCIDENT, VISIT ADL.ORG/REPORTINCIDENT-KULANU
Project Esther Statement by Kulanu Workgroup Fighting Antisemitism and Hate
Project Esther, Antisemitism and Democracy / Reference List / September 14, 2025
Local Resources fighting for democracy and fighting antisemitism
ACLU Vermont: https://www.acluvt.org/
Chittenden Assylum Seekers Assistant Network: https://www.casanvermont.org/
Since 2019, CASAN has assisted numerous families from different countries who are in Chittenden County, Vermont while they are in the legal process of seeking asylum.
Nexus Project: https://nexusproject.us/
We equip policymakers and communities with tools to combat antisemitism. We oppose and counter efforts to exploit false accusations of antisemitism for political gain and we foster unity against all forms of hate and discrimination.
Shalom Alliance: https://www.shalomalliancevt.org/
Shalom Alliance is a Jewish-led organization that empowers Vermont schools and communities to recognize and respond to antisemitism through education and local partnerships.
T’ruah: https://truah.org/
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights brings the Torah’s ideals of human dignity, equality, and justice to life by empowering rabbis and cantors to be moral voices and to lead Jewish communities in advancing democracy and human rights for all people in the United States, Canada, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Standing Together: local email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.standing-together.org/
Our goal is both simple and challenging: to build a new majority within Israeli society that supports peace, equality, and social and environmental justice.
