
On October 27, 2018, a gunman took the lives of 11 people worshipping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community. It was also the latest in a series of antisemetic events and growing antisemtic sentiment around the country and the world.
Antisemitism is similar to other forms of hate and prejudice, but key differences lie in the perceptions of power and ability. The Tree of Life murders—and other recent anti-Jewish crimes—spurred O’Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel to action.
“We talk a lot about social equity, inclusion, and anti-racism but antisemitism is largely overlooked in many fields, including public affairs,” she says.
As a Jewish faculty member at a public affairs school, Levine Daniel wanted to know how she could make an impact and equip her students to better address these issues in the future.
“Antisemitism can affect how people deliver public and nonprofit goods and services, and how those services are consumed,” Levine Daniel adds. “Without understanding this relationship, we’re doing a disservice in training our students to be leaders in diverse societies.”