UJF Partners on "Shine A Light on Antisemitism" Campaign


United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien is partnering with UJA-JCC of Greenwich, Jewish Federation of New Haven, and the ADL of Connecticut for the “Shine A Light on Antisemitism” campaign during the Chanukah season. Now in its second year, the campaign draws inspiration from the story of Chanukah and is fueled by a coalition of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations from across the United States and Canada who have joined together to speak up about antisemitism.

As part of the “Shine A Light” campaign, three exciting events headline the campaign including a virtual conversation with author and comedian, David Baddiel (Jews Don’t Count) on Sunday, December 11 at 10:00 am, via Zoom. Baddiel argues that those who think of themselves as on the right side of history —fighting the good fight, particularly against racism— have often ignored the history of antisemitism. The moderator will be Mark Oppenheimer, co-host of the popular podcast Unorthodox, who is the former “Beliefs” columnist for The New York Times and the author of Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood. Register today to join us for a virtual Zoom conversation with David Baddiel.

The Man in the Basement, a French film, will be available to stream for free from Sunday, December 11 at 5:00 pm thru Tuesday, December 13 at 9:00 pm. In the film, Simon (Jérémie Renier) lives with his wife (Bérénice Bejo) and their daughter in an old Parisian apartment that has belonged to his Jewish family for generations. They decide to sell the cellar to a retired history teacher (François Cluzet), but after the deal is done, they uncover disturbing facts about his past. Based on a true story, this provocative and superbly acted psychological thriller about the antisemitism that lurks beneath the surface of modern society will keep you guessing. Please email Taly Farber at UJF to receive a link to the viewing for The Man in the Basement.

On December 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the JCC of Greater New Haven, Dr. Liram Koblentz-Stenzler presents “Shining A Light on Antisemitism on the dark web: The Sacred World of Extreme Far-Right Online” in this free in-person and Zoom call event. A Visiting Researcher in the Sociology Department of Yale University, Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler serves as the Senior Researcher and Head of the Global Far-Right Extremism Desk at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University. Reserve your place today by registering online!

With the global rise in antisemitism, “Shine A Light’s” mission is to stand up to hate and stereotypes against the Jewish community. Committed to dispelling the darkness and empowering people to band together to overcome, United Jewish Federation is extremely proud to help be a guiding light as we “Shine A Light” together in our communities.

If you have any questions or want to get involved in the “Shine A Light” campaign, contact Director of JCRC, Sharon Lewis.