JAHM 2023 – Behind the Screen – Standing Up Against Antisemitism

Countering the steady rise of antisemitism is a monumental task. In this program, co-presented by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), we celebrate the work of three young Jews who use their popular social media channels to stand up against antisemitism and promote Jewish culture, heritage, and joy. The panelists represent international and diverse perspectives yet a common goal to stop the hate to celebrate.

What inspires them to do this work? How does content that aims to change how people perceive Jews look? How do they deal with trolls? Where are they seeing success in the fight? Join us for this livestream conversation and get to know some of the people fighting antisemitism on the social media frontlines.

Event Info

Monday, May 8th, 2023
Live on Zoom, registration required
Virtual doors at 12:30pm ET | Program at 1:00pm ET
Free with suggested $12 donation

Click HERE to register.

Meet the Panelists

• Jordyn Tilchen (she/her) is a New York-based journalist, editor and SEO expert who’s worked for MTV News, the New York Post, Page Six, and several other renowned celebrity and entertainment news organizations. Jordyn’s expertise lies in producing and editing engaging content that quickly goes viral due to her proficiency in conducting keyword research, optimizing headlines, and creating robust content strategies across various digital platforms. Jordyn’s unparalleled knowledge of the internet and viral content creation led her to become a leading voice combating antisemitism on social media today. In 2020, amid a noticeable rise in anti-Jewish hatred, Jordyn — a Hunter College alum with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies — began her online advocacy journey. She uses her growing platform to educate about antisemitism, respond to Jewish current events, provide advice on how to handle antisemitic bigotry online and in person, and to — most importantly — be an example of Jewish pride in an overwhelmingly intolerant world. Follow her on Instagram @jtilch and Twitter @jordyntilchen.
• Matthew Nouriel (he/him), aka The Empress Mizrahi, is a non-binary digital activist and content creator of Iranian Jewish descent living in Los Angeles, California. In recent years, Matthew has been using their voice to passionately advocate and fight for the causes they believe in – namely LGBTQ+ rights and equality within the Iranian and Jewish communities, and combating antisemitism – using their social media as a means to reach those who relate to their perspective and lived experiences, as well as engaging audiences on panel discussions and speaking engagements across the country. They have taken on leadership roles with both queer and non-queer organizations such as JDC Entwine, JQ International, Tel Aviv Institute, and work as the Community Engagement Director at JIMENA – Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. Matthew has had articles published in JNS, The Forward, and Hey Alma, as well as being featured in Jewish Journal, Tehran Magazine, The Algemeiner, and more. In 2021 they were the recipient of the TrailBlazer Award at the JQ International annual Impact Awards.
• Tova Ricardo (she/her) is a content creator, Jewish community advocate, and award-winning spoken word poet and writer from Northern California. As a Black Ashkenazi woman invested in Torah, Israel advocacy, and uplifting American Jewish communities of color, Ricardo’s community engagement work and writing have been featured in Hillel International, Jewish Journal, Jews of Color Initiative, Jewish Women’s Archive, Jewish Women International, Jewish Federations of North America, UJA-Federation of NY, and more. She is a former Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, was a finalist in the national collegiate poetry slam competition, and is a digital producer at the Tel Aviv Institute. You can find her on Instagram @tovathepoet.

Meet the Moderator

• Mahrinah Shije (she/her) is Founding General Partner of Endemic Venture Capital. Ms Shije began her career as an Investment Analyst with UBS and has spent two decades in high tech startups. She holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School and a BA/MS in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms Shije is a Partner at Zia Impact, through which she works with clients on impact strategy and tribal infrastructure development and CEO and Board Chair of Pueblo Development Commission, an NGO in United Nations consultative status. Mahrinah is a contributor to the Forward, Board Member of Panim Hadashot in New Mexico, public speaker (for organizations ranging from synagogues to Universities, the United Nations, CAMERA, Combat Antisemitism, Hadassah, Hasbara Fellowships, Zioness, and more), and an online advocate who was one of the Jewish United Fund’s 36 Under 36: Double Chai in the Chi. She served as an appointed member of the All Pueblo Council of Governors’ Legislative Committee from 2019-2022 and has been a member of the Democratic Party’s Ethnic Coordinating Council since . She is Tewa and Sefardi Jewish and married into the Pueblo of Zia. Ms. Shije is a 2023 Fellow at Leadership New Mexico, VC Lab in Palo Alto, and the Nahum Goldmann International Fellowship. Find her on instagram @mahrinah, and on twitter @mlvs.

An Official Program of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM).