STAND UP AGAINST HATE

After reading about Live and Learn at Meer Apartments, where I marveled about the recent eight sessions on News & Misinformation: Finding Accurate, Reliable Information in Today’s Information Age, I felt newly inspired to seek out informative and impactful programs. This quest led me to a presentation I heard of by The Women of Temple Israel TWOTI last Monday night, which featured the dynamic and inspiring “Accidental Activist,” Lindsay Pinchuk.

Lindsay, an entrepreneur, consultant, coach, public speaker, podcaster, and teacher, is a force to be reckoned with. In her forties, she exudes a vibrant, hardworking spirit, coupled with wisdom and intellect. Recently, Lindsay gained global recognition for being among the first to speak out on her Instagram account in the wake of the October 7th attacks. Confronting antisemitism head-on, she’s a voice of resilience, proclaiming, “It’s never wrong to do what’s right.” Her activism is driven by a profound sense of justice, fueled by the memory of the hostages taken during the conflict.

She finds inspiration in the words of Anne Frank: “I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.” These ideals were solidified for Lindsay during her trip to Majdanek, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Poland. It was on this March of the Living journey that Lindsay’s life was forever changed. “Never Again is Now,” she says, reaffirming the enduring significance of the Holocaust and its lessons. Majdanek, now a Holocaust memorial and education center, stands as a solemn reminder of the atrocities committed—a place where Lindsay’s passion for justice was ignited.

After October 7, 2023, Lindsay took to her social media platforms, speaking out with urgency. She shared heartfelt posts about the victims, expressed her grief over antisemitic hate, and shed light on the war’s devastating impact. She’s unafraid to call out misinformation and hold those who spread hate accountable. Her mission is clear: to combat false narratives and stand against those who perpetuate lies about the Jewish community.

Originally from Michigan, Lindsay now resides just outside Chicago with her husband and children. Her deep concern about antisemitism, particularly within the educational systems of our high schools and colleges, is at the heart of her activism. Lindsay believes that speaking up strengthens our connections to one another. She urges us all to keep talking about the hostages, to keep sharing their stories. You can even read some of them here: Bring Them Home.

Lindsay offers practical ways to make a difference:

• Support Jewish content creators on social media.
• Donate to organizations that support Israel and the Jewish community.
• Review the curriculum in your children’s and grandchildren’s schools; challenge any bias you find.
• Write letters to elected officials to combat antisemitism.
• Speak out to companies that remain silent on supporting the Jewish community.
• Send letters of praise to those who are doing good work.
• Attend charity events that support justice.

As Lindsay reminds us, education is key. We can all learn more about the history of Israel and the truth behind the conflict. More importantly, we can—and must—speak up whenever we hear falsehoods. She powerfully quotes Fannie Nahmias Krispis from Mitch Albom’s The Little Liar

“A lie told once is easy to expose, but a lie told a thousand times can look like the truth. And destroy the world.”

The work ahead is vast, but thanks to people like Lindsay Pinchuk, we are reminded of the strength that comes from standing up against hate.

Shabbat Shalom.