active campaign

Amid a widespread rise of Jew-hatred in North America, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has joined an unprecedented coalition of over 60 American and Canadian Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and corporations to launch “Shine A Light,” a comprehensive initiative to illuminate the dangers of antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement, advocacy, and media.

Shine A Light uses the powerful story of Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” to champion the message that light can dispel darkness. It seeks to catalyze conversations within and across communities, on school campuses, and in the workplace, so that people will better understand what constitutes antisemitism and take steps to respond.

Across North America, antisemitism is on the rise. In 2020, according to the FBI, 55% of all religiously- motivated hate crimes were against Jews, who make up just 2% of the U.S. population. One in every four American Jews has been targeted by antisemitism over the past year, and nearly four in ten report changing their behavior for fear of being identified as Jewish, or for their safety or comfort as Jews. Antisemitism persists across society in “polite” conversation as well as in explicitly dangerous and insidious forms, and typically tracks with broader patterns of discrimination, progressions of violence, and the fraying of democracy.

From November 28th-December 6th, during Hanukkah, Shine A Light will spotlight modern forms of antisemitism, raise awareness, and inspire action to fight it at every turn across America — in workplaces, schools and campuses, and online.

• Buildings Shining a Light: On November 28th, Shine A Light will make a visual impact on cities across America by lighting iconic buildings yellow, the color of candlelight and a symbol of Hanukkah. Shine A Light buildings will include Silverstein Properties’ 3 World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, and 7 World Trade Center, plus the Oculus in New York City; US Bank Tower in LA; 1735 Market Street in Philadelphia; and 100 Peachtree in Atlanta, with more to come.
• Community Events: Cities and towns including New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, Toledo, Miami, San Antonio, and Toronto will hold events to raise awareness about antisemitism.
  
• Educational Resources: Curricula, lesson plans, modules, articles, videos, and other educational materials designed to help people recognize antisemitism in all its modern forms will be available for teachers, parents, school districts, and all those looking to expand their knowledge.
  
• Workplace Engagement: Antisemitism resources for corporate partners to include in their Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) programming will be available.
  
• Social Media Tools: A full suite of stickers, filters, GIFs, and other social media assets will be available across all major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
  
• Advertising: A robust print, online, broadcast, and out-of-home media campaign will launch in all 50 states.

For more on the “Shine A Light” initiative, visit: shinealighton.com