Collaboration 2.0
December 15, 2024
At Samis, we take pride in our commitment to strengthening Jewish education and identity in the Seattle area. That’s why we’ve chosen to fund tickets for Jewish educators to attend Limmud Seattle 2025, even as we recognize the concern and frustration from some members of our community about this decision given the presence of several anti-Zionist speakers on the announced program.
We understand why people are upset. With the rise of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Seattle and beyond, it can feel like supporting attendance at an event featuring anti-Zionist speakers gives an undeserved platform to a vocal minority in our community. These views can feel like a direct attack on Israel—a place so deeply important to all of us as the heart of our Jewish national identity. It’s painful to see that even within our own community, some are working to delegitimize Israel. We hear this pain, and we share it.
Let us be clear: Samis does not endorse anti-Zionist views. We are a proudly Zionist organization that values the role of Jewish education in the preservation and continuity of Judaism and the State of Israel. Our funding of Limmud tickets for Jewish educators is not an endorsement of any specific speaker or perspective. Instead, it reflects our belief in the importance of preparing Jewish educators to engage with the unfortunate realities they and their students face in the world today.
A Challenging Reality
The unconscionable arguments likely to be presented by anti-Zionist voices at Limmud are not new. These are the same ideas our students and community members will encounter in classrooms, museums, and public discourse. Avoiding them won’t make these arguments go away. If anything, ignoring them leaves our community less prepared to respond.
We are encouraging Jewish educators to attend Limmud because we can’t prepare ourselves to have a meaningful debate unless we have that meaningful debate among ourselves. Limmud offers a unique opportunity for Jewish educators to encounter these challenging perspectives in a relatively controlled, supportive environment. They can experience and practice responding to the accusations and misinformation about Israel they will hear elsewhere, without being physically threatened or shouted down completely. This preparation is invaluable.
We must also remember the bigger picture. If we avoid spaces like Limmud altogether, we risk ceding the conversation to anti-Zionist voices. The last thing we want is to cede this ground to the anti-Zionists. By ensuring that our educators attend and represent Zionist perspectives, we are making sure that those perspectives are heard and thoughtfully defended.
Why Jewish Educators Are Key
Jewish educators are on the front lines of shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders. Our hope is that the knowledge and confidence they will gain from attending Limmud and taking on difficult conversations will equip them to return to their classrooms and communities better prepared to guide meaningful, nuanced conversations about Israel.
Debate about Israel with those who seek to undermine and delegitimize it is difficult. We hope Limmud will provide our Jewish educators with the opportunity to practice this vital skill. It allows them to sharpen their arguments, understand opposing viewpoints, and respond with confidence, clarity and facts.. In doing so, they become even stronger advocates for our shared values and identity.
Moreover, the students they educate today will be the ones to carry Jewish identity forward, which includes our eternal connection to Israel as our Jewish national homeland. By empowering our educators, we are ensuring that the next generation grows up with the knowledge, pride, and resilience to navigate a complicated world.
A Message of Gratitude and Pride
We recognize the challenges our Jewish educators face. The reality of anti-Zionist rhetoric—especially when it comes from within our own community—is especially painful and dumbfounding. But we have immense confidence in the dedication and skill of our Jewish educators in facing down these arguments. Their commitment to excellence in Jewish education inspires us, and we are proud to support them.
To our educators: We thank you for all you do to nurture Jewish identity and connection in our community, and admire your courage in having difficult conversations. You are preparing the next generation of Jewish leaders, advocates, and community builders, who will continue to honor our heritage and uphold our connection to Israel.
Together, we are building a vibrant Jewish future—one that embraces our identity, engages with the complexities of the world, and stands unwaveringly in support of Israel as our Jewish national homeland.
