Neighbor News
Talking to Your Kids About Hate
Having conversations about hate can be difficult for everyone. Remember to follow your child's lead and pace.
Antisemitism has been rising at an alarming rate over the past several years. Few of us can forget high profile incidents capturing the media’s attention including the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 or the echoes of “Jews will not replace us” chanted during the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Recently, high profile public figures have openly spouted antisemitic rhetoric or embraced those who do. But this rise in hate is not only affecting us on a societal level; it is touching us in very personal ways. Last year, 41% of American Jews, young and old, experienced an act of antisemitism.
It is hard for us, as adults, to process the hate or comprehend why there seem to be people who condone it, either outright or through their silence and indifference. What’s more, hatred and discrimination take a toll on our mental health. It can affect our day-to-day quality of life, triggering fear, anxiety, stress, doubt, and insecurity. Whether it is apparent or not, our children are paying attention to what is happening. They are hearing the messages of antisemitism and may also be direct targets of hateful words and actions. How are our children to make sense of what is happening if it makes no sense to us? How can we, as parents and grandparents, guide and support our children?