Artists Against Antisemitism

07/12/2026

The Artists Against Antisemitism stand in solidarity with the Jewish and Israeli authors and literary professionals whose experiences of discrimination and antisemitism are captured
in a recent PEN America article.

Jewish authors, like authors of all backgrounds and religions, should have the freedom to create, celebrate, and showcase their work and represent their own identities and experiences without fear of professional and personal repercussions.

07/01/2026

This past Sunday marked an exciting milestone for The Artists Against Antisemitism: we sponsored our first panel at an industry event, the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago.

We’re thrilled to share that the panel was a tremendous success—and it’s already opening doors to even more opportunities to bring conversations like this to new audiences.

JEWISH STORIES BEFORE AND BEYOND THE HOLOCAUST featured authors Jean Meltzer , Elyssa Friedland , Zeeva Bukai , and Yardena Schwartz | Author | Public Speaker | Journalist (who also happens to serve on our board).

Moderated by librarian and ally Ron Block, the discussion explored why it’s so important to write, publish, and read stories that reflect the full breadth of the Jewish experience—not just stories of persecution and tragedy, but also of family, identity, belonging, humor, resilience, and love.

Our panelists spoke candidly about why they write, what keeps them going, the challenges of publishing in today’s climate, and why sharing authentic Jewish stories feels more important than ever.

A special thank you to Sally Liebman Stieglitz for championing this panel from the very beginning and helping make it a reality, and to Ron Block for guiding such a thoughtful and meaningful conversation.

We were also excited to officially launch a new resource we created in partnership with Assoc. of Jewish Libraries : a guide for libraries on supporting Jewish patrons, communities, and authors. You can download it now through the link in our bio or at www.theartistsagainstantisemitism.com.

This is just the beginning, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!

06/24/2026

If you’ll be at ALA in Chicago this weekend, we would love to see you at the panel we’re co-sponsoring on Sunday morning: JEWISH STORIES BEFORE AND BEYOND THE HOLOCAUST.

The panel features four amazing Jewish authors Jean Meltzer , Elyssa Friedland , Zeeva Bukai and Yardena Schwartz | Author | Public Speaker | Journalist (who is also one of our board members!). The conversation will be moderated by Ron Block , an incredible librarian and ally.

A HUGE thank you to Sally Stieglitz and Assoc. of Jewish Libraries for their help pushing this panel through. It wasn’t easy and we’re grateful.

Here’s what you can expect from the panel:

At a time when many Jewish writers and readers are confronting rising antisemitism in the literary world, expanding the lens on Jewish storytelling is more important than ever. This panel invites us to move beyond a single defining chapter—the Holocaust—to recognize the depth and diversity of Jewish literature.

Panelists will explore narratives of migration, joy, spirituality, daily life, and cultural transformation, while also discussing the expectations and assumptions placed on Jewish writers and the stories they are most eager to tell. Together, we’ll consider how these works connect to a broader and more inclusive literary tradition—and how libraries can play a vital role in amplifying, curating, and sustaining these voices for the communities they serve.

This program is presented by the Jewish Information Committee of EMIERT and The Artists Against Antisemitism.

We hope to see you there – Sunday, June 28, 9am in McCormick W195.

05/13/2026

In case you missed it, we sent out a newsletter last Friday with a lot of great links and information! Check it out!

It’s May—which means it’s Jewish American Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month in Canada—and we’re celebrating with our third annual Community Arts Project. We hope you’ll visit our virtual gallery to look at almost 100 pieces of art including paintings, photography, poetry, prose, m...

05/13/2026

TOMORROW NIGHT!!! We hope you’ll join us for the second event of our READ WITH JWI x AAA series where we’ll be talking with Maya Arad about her book, HAPPY NEW YEARS. This will be a spoiler-free conversation so you can join if you haven’t read the book yet.

Happy New Years, a novel by Maya Arad (trans. Jessica Cohen) was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in Fiction.

The book follows Leah Zuckerman, an Israeli immigrant building a new life in America. Happy New Years unfolds through decades of letters Leah directs to friends back home in Israel. It’s a tale of ambition, reinvention, and more than a few challenges and missteps.

Please register to join us on Thursday, May 14, 8-9pm ET - the link is in our bio (www.jwi.org/read-with-jwi).

You can purchase this book and get free shipping from our friends at in Severna Park, Maryland, by using the code JWIAAA at checkout.

04/21/2026

Mazel tov to , one of our Founders and Co-Presidents on the launch of her latest children’s book, CAN YOU GROW A STRIPED BANANA?

🍌Vibrant, adorable illustrations accompany a mother’s explanation to her daughter, who makes outrageous requests that simply can’t be met.

“I can’t grow a striped banana. I can’t stretch like a giraffe. I can’t hear an earthworm’s whisper or make a spider laugh,” Mom admits.

But the girl’s requests just get sillier, until the funny and touching moment the next day when Mom shows her daughter that she might have to disappoint her sometimes, but she’ll always find a way to demonstrate just how much she loves her.

Don’t miss CAN YOU GROW A STRIPED BANANA? written by Jill Santopolo and illustrated by Momoko Abe!

Mazel tov, Jill!

04/21/2026

This evening marks the beginning of Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and civilian victims of terror. It is set, intentionally, on the day before, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.

The image we’re sharing reflects the Jewish custom of leaving stones on graves instead of flowers. There are many reasons given for this custom, but one that seems apt for Yom HaZikaron is that stones reflect the permanence of memory.

We wish all of you a meaningful Yom HaZikaron.

04/13/2026

As Yom HaShoah begins tonight, we honor all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, and those who survived to bear witness.

We will never forget. We will always remember.

Scroll to read a poem by Adrienne Asher, who has been writing poetry since she was 12 years old. She wrote this piece for our first Community Arts Project in 2024.

04/01/2026

Chag Pesach Sameach to all who celebrate!

Since storytelling is such a big part of this holiday, we wanted to share our retelling of the Passover story with you. Scroll through to read it!

Here’s to finding the afikomen—and discovering new and interesting ways to enjoy matzo over the next eight days! Tell us your favorite “matzo hacks” in the comments.

Wishing everyone a holiday filled with peace, love, and light.