June 18, 2024

The Jewish Federation of Orange County’s Rose Project is committed to securing the safety and well-being of our Jewish community. Recent events, including antisemitic incidents at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and Chapman University, among others across Orange County, have underscored the importance of our ongoing efforts. While these incidents are deeply troubling, they represent just one facet of the broader challenges our community faces in a longstanding battle to thwart antisemitism and the delegitimization of Israel.
 
To keep our community informed, the Rose Project plans to provide regular updates and informational materials on the actions that the Federation and other partner organizations are pursuing. These updates will be focused on Orange County and cover a range of critical topics, including:

• Issues that affect the security of the Jewish community in Orange County;
• Antisemitic incidents on university and K-12 campuses;
• Antisemitic incidents in local government;
• Efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel; and
• Other pertinent issues affecting our community and coalition partners.

We encourage you to stay informed by visiting our website for these updates and for content on related topics of interest.
 
The Rose Project was established to make Orange County a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We are committed to supporting the Jewish community through these challenging times and are working to foster an environment where all members can feel secure.
 
Should you need assistance or wish to report any incidents, please do not hesitate to reach out to Chen Shterenbach, Rose Project Director, at cShterenbach@JFedOC.org.

“At a time when Jews across Orange County are facing historic levels of antisemitic hate, including calls for the destruction of Israel, we need community leaders to serve as upstanders, not bystanders. History is watching, and what our community has experienced in recent weeks at the University of California, Irvine should shock anyone with a conscience. No student should have to endure vile hate speech or feel unsafe on their campus. We thank UCI leadership and law enforcement for intervening to restore civility and protect all students.”

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Good evening, honorable members of the Irvine City Council.

My name is Erik Ludwig and I’m the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Orange County.

In recent months, we have witnessed a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic rhetoric, not just in the broader public domain but distressingly, within these very chambers. Remarks made in previous council meetings have not only pained our community but have also sown division and fear among us.

It is with a heavy heart that I note the silence—or worse, the implicit endorsement—of some council members regarding this hate speech. This silence is deafening and serves to legitimize prejudice and bigotry.

The Jewish community, a vibrant part of Irvine's mosaic, deserves to feel safe and respected. The continued use of antisemitic tropes and speech in public forums threatens the very fabric of our inclusive society. It emboldens hate, undermines democracy, and contradicts the values that define us.

I urge members of this council to use all tools at its disposal including the Council’s own Meeting Decorum Rules to address and curtail this dangerous trend. It is imperative to enforce policies that not only condemn hate speech but also hold those accountable who use public platforms to spread divisiveness and intolerance.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Thank you for your time.

Erik Ludwig
President & CEO

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The Jewish Federation of Orange County is deeply concerned by the antisemitic rhetoric on display at recent Irvine City Council meetings. We firmly oppose the use of city resources beyond municipal affairs and urge the Council to avoid engaging with divisive, hate-fueled speech.

While today’s ruling by the International Court of Justice is deeply troubling in multiple aspects, it importantly affirms Israel’s right to self-defense after the horrific attacks of October 7th and demands the immediate release of all hostages. On the day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is vital to preserve the integrity of the term “genocide” and ensure that it is not perverted or cheapened for political ends.
 
Click here to read a full statement from the Jewish Federations of North America.

When Noah Lederman joined the Jewish Federation of Orange County’s Student to Student (STS) program in high school, he couldn’t foresee that speaking to students in Orange County would lead to meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What started as a local initiative to educate peers about Jewish culture and combat antisemitism became the foundation for Lederman’s remarkable path in Jewish advocacy.

Lederman, now a college sophomore, said his experience with the STS program gave him the confidence to speak out against the antisemitism he witnessed firsthand during his first year at Columbia University. “The Student to Student program taught me how to speak out against those that sought to shame Jewish students for their Judaism or their support of the State of Israel,” he said.

As a peer ambassador for the STS program’s inaugural cohort, Lederman spoke with students about Jewish culture and antisemitism. They covered Jewish lifecycle events and holidays, Shabbat rituals, Israel’s history, and the impact of the Holocaust. During their interactive presentations, the STS team would pass out challah and Lederman would blow a Tekiah Gedolah on his shofar. One of his favorite activities was showing students how to write their names in Hebrew. 

Research conducted by LS Associates found that 83% of teachers strongly agree that Student to Student presentations break down stereotypes and effectively engage their students.

What surprised Lederman was how little the majority of students knew about Jewish culture or the Holocaust. He was glad to be able to use his platform as a peer ambassador to humanize Jewish people and break down stereotypes. “These students tended to view a lot of the antisemitism at their schools as just a ‘joke,’ and it wasn’t until they heard our presentations that many of them realized the pain and suffering that their ‘jokes’ caused Jewish students at their school,” he said. “It became clear to me that their actions were motivated more by ignorance than hate.”

The following year, Lederman was asked to be an STS team leader, a role that required managing multiple groups of students, creating educational presentations and mentoring new team members.  He believes educating students about antisemitism is more important now than ever. In February, while walking back to his dorm wearing a shirt with the Israeli flag, Lederman was harassed and pinned against a wall by a group of student protesters. This and other recent incidents revealed to him how normalized antisemitism has become and how important it is to fight back with education and engagement.

“I grew up largely believing that antisemitism was a relic of the past. However, this last year has taught me that many people still hold antisemitic beliefs,” he said. “Only through education can we hope to fight the lies spread about Israel and the Jewish people.” 

Earlier this year, Lederman was flown out to Israel by Olami, a nonprofit Jewish community organization, to speak at the Knesset and meet with Herzog and Netanyahu. He spoke about how the ongoing conflict was affecting Jews in the United States and how Israel could support Jewish students in the United States. Lederman was also invited to the White House, where he discussed the steps the administration was taking to ensure the safety of Jewish students and combat antisemitism on college campuses. 

At the Knesset and the White House Lederman emphasized the rapid acceleration of the antisemitism Jewish students are facing, highlighting the importance of responding to the false narratives being promoted in the public sphere. “If we are to be effective in combating the propaganda and misinformation being spread across America and elsewhere in the West, we are going to need to get accurate information out and find ways to rebut the lies, spread the truth, and finally get ahead of the curve,” said Lederman.

At the Knesset and the White House Lederman emphasized the rapid acceleration of the antisemitism Jewish students are facing.

Lederman has continued his Jewish advocacy work in college. He believes advocating for the Jewish people is his true calling. “Throughout my life, I have strived to stand up against injustice wherever I see it. Whether it is rooted in ignorance, misunderstanding, or in some cases actual Jew hatred, I am committed to doing my part to combat antisemitism in all its forms.”

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