COSI (Conversations on Social Issues)

Antisemitism & Instrumentalized Claims of Antisemitism in an Era of White Christian Nationalism

Description: Half of this session was devoted to exploring the past and present of antisemitism as a conspiracy theory that scapegoats Jews. The other half examined the ways in which the organized Right is using bad faith accusations of antisemitism to silence criticism of Israel and divide the Left.

Guest Facilitators: Dr. Rachel E. Luft is Associate Professor of Sociology at Seattle University with affiliation in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. An activist-scholar, her primary areas of research specialization are race, gender, intersectionality, social movements, and the utopian imaginary. Her current project, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, explores the role of politicized healing and transformative practice in social movements for racial and gender justice.

Diana Dvora Falchuk is a mother, artist, facilitator, strategist, coach, organizer and organizational change consultant who works nationally and internationally in diverse contexts – including government, social services, Jewish communal organizations, legal and political advocacy, arts and culture, elementary / secondary / higher education, grass roots community groups, and faith communities – to cultivate racial equity, social justice, and belonging, and support individual and group transformation. I focus in particular on understanding and dismantling racism, antisemitism, and interconnected forms of oppression in mindsets, strategy, policy, and culture. 

Both contribute to Diaspora Alliance, an international organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism and its instrumentalization by promoting the values of multiracial, pluralistic democracy.