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Diverse and Complex Narratives Cultivate Empathy and Action

Article
Image of a protest from NBC's Superstore TV show.
November 10, 2020 How people are portrayed on television – matters. Increasingly diverse storylines, characters and content creators are widely seen as positive, but how is this trend affecting the prevalence of stereotypes in our culture? Is it increasing our ability to empathize and act? In a recent study, Define American and USC’s Norman Lear Center examined depictions of immigrants on television and the impact of those portrayals. The study examined depictions of 129 unique…
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Government 101: What is a Government?

Lesson Plan
Close up angled view of the U.S. Supreme Court
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is a Government? What are Different Forms of Government? What is My Relationship to Government?   Governments, and the act of governing, have been part of human society for thousands of years. Governments have shifted and changed in the way they represent, operate and control, but one thing remains the same: they are created to organize groups of people and provide structure and accountability. Understanding the concept of…
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ADL Hails U.S. Decision Allowing American Citizens Born in Jerusalem to Have "Israel" Listed on Passport

Press Release
American Passport
New York, NY, October 29, 2020 ... ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) welcomed today’s announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that American citizens, born in Jerusalem, can finally choose to have their city of birth listed as “Jerusalem, Israel” on their U.S. passports.   Through advocacy and in the courts, ADL consistently has opposed the longtime State Department policy that did not permit Americans born…
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Words Matter: Reflecting on the 25 Years Since Yitzhak Rabin’s Assassination

Article
Photo of Yitzhak Rabin
by: Ken Jacobson October 28, 2020 Note: This blog originally appeared in The Times of Israel on Oct. 28, 2020. Twenty-five years have passed since the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his attempts to achieve a lasting peace with the Palestinian Authority. Inevitably, a sad milestone like this causes us to look back at that day, to assess its significance from the perspective of a quarter of a century later, and to…
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Writing a Bill

Lesson Plan
Close up on a notary public hand signing a document
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How Do I Write a Bill? When a change in the law is desired, whether at the community, state, or national level, people need to understand the processes of making that desired change, a bill, into a law. Submitting a bill for consideration by the legislature involves writing, revising and sharing bills with a focus on passing them in a Senate hearing. About the Lesson Plan In this lesson, students will brainstorm to identify changes they…
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The Supreme Court and the Right to Marry

Lesson Plan
John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney during a Marriage Equality Rally stand in front of the U.S. Supreme Court
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What Were the Multiple Perspectives of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court Based on During the Repeal of DOMA? According to the Supreme Court Decision, Who Has the Right to Marry? What Assurances Do We Have that the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are Able to Be Non-partisan and Avoid Bias When Deciding a Case?   The Judicial branch of the U.S. government is headed by the Supreme Court. This court analyzes and judges cases…
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What is the Electoral College and Why Is it Controversial?

Tools and Strategies
Electoral College Map Numbers by State in the U.S.
Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsThe Electoral College is an election topic that inspires confusion, controversy and conflict. Many people know that the Electoral College is part of the Presidential election process but may be unsure about its importance and how it works. In the early days of our country’s formation, deciding on the process for electing a U.S. President was a controversial topic. Some suggested that Congress should choose the President. Others…
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Studying the Holocaust

Lesson Plan
Jews Forcibly Pulled Out of Dugouts, 1943
Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. They partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world. GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening This unit introduces students to the Holocaust by providing a…
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Books Matter™: The Power of Children's Literature

Article
Kids Reading Books
Anyone who has ever read to or with a child—parent, family member, teacher or friend—knows books leave lasting impressions. Beyond the educational benefits, books have the power to instill empathy, affirm, teach, transport and inspire action. Books matter. EmpathyIn exposing children to other people’s stories and the motivations and feelings behind those narratives, children begin to connect with others on an emotional level, which is the foundation for bridging differences…
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Antisemitic Arabic-language Cartoons in The Wake of Israeli-Arab Normalization

Article
September 17, 2020 Since Israel’s founding in 1948, only two countries have moved to establish ties with the Jewish State – Egypt in 1978 and Jordan in 1994. Last week saw two additional countries – the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain – sign normalization agreements with Israel, an indication that hostile regional attitudes towards Israel are shifting. And indeed, there are reports that additional Arab countries may&nbsp…
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7 Engaging Picture Books about Voting and Elections

Tools and Strategies
Collage of books about voting and elections
September 17, 2020 Talking with young children about voting and elections can open doors to conversations about fairness, democracy, citizenship and participation. As children grow, it is critical to help them understand how government works, the importance of civic participation and how voting is a key way to make your voice and your opinions heard. These picture books, some fiction and some non-fiction, provide discussion starters about voting, equity, gender, race,…
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ADL Marks “Historic Day” of Signing of Israel-UAE/Bahrain Agreement

Press Release
New York, September 15, 2020 … ADL (Anti-Defamation League) today celebrated the historic signing of agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain that usher in a new era of open and normalized relations between the Jewish state and these nations.   “In the midst of health, economic, environmental and political crises, we pause and celebrate the enormity of this historic moment of normalization between Israel and the UAE…
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Gaining Momentum: Lobbying for Change

Lesson Plan
Young woman shakes hands at interview
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How Do Lobbyists Impact the Democratic Process? What are Effective Ways of Lobbying? How Might I Lobby for My Bill?   “Lobbying” is an effort by individuals and groups to influence government decisions and actions, and specifically the writing of laws. Lobbying can take different forms including writing letters, making phone calls to legislators and meeting with people in the administration. As student activism in…
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ADL Welcomes Historic Israel-Bahrain Agreement

Press Release
New York, September 11, 2020... ADL (Anti-Defamation League) welcomed the historic announcement by the Governments of Israel, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United States to fully normalize relations between Israel and Bahrain, which comes on the heels of last month’s historic UAE-Israel agreement. "I applaud the Israeli and Bahraini leaders for reaching this historic accord," said ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt. "Making peace between nations in this manner is a courageous action…
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ADL’s Global 100 Survey: What Does it Actually Say about Muslim Attitudes toward Jews?

Article
September 09, 2020 By David Andrew Weinberg ADL’s Global 100 survey is one our greatest tools for measuring, assessing and fighting antisemitism.  First launched in 2014, this unique study documented levels of public acceptance of antisemitic beliefs in 100 countries around the world, and we have since updated it with follow-up surveys in many of these countries in 2015, 2017, and, most recently, in 2019. One outcome from the survey that has received particular attention was…
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Survey of U.S. College Students Shows Holocaust Education is Effective in Building Empathy, Tolerance and Open Mindedness

Press Release
Survivor Testimony Has Profound Impact on Students New York, NY, September 8, 2020 – A new national survey shows that Holocaust education in high school reflects gains not only in historical knowledge but also manifests in cultivating more empathetic, tolerant, and engaged students. The results also indicate that exposure to Holocaust survivor testimony is strongly associated with numerous positive outcomes in early adulthood including higher critical thinking skills and a greater sense…
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Let’s Talk about Voting!

Tools and Strategies
Hands hold a piece of paper with the message "Your Vote Matters"
Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsIn its simplest terms, voting is an act of expressing your opinion. Whether you participate in a poll, take an online survey or vote in the Presidential election, you are expressing an opinion or point of view with your vote. Merriam Webster defines voting as “to express one's views in response to a poll” or “to express an opinion.” In political elections, people vote for a variety of offices and laws. This includes…
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National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ideas for Educators

Tools and Strategies
U.S. Army South Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Flags
National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the achievements, contributions, culture, and history of Hispanic and Latin American people. The month-long celebration begins on September 15 commemorating the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. The 2025 theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month…
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Lead with Empathy, Teach with Anti-Bias

Article
Teaching High School Students in a Classroom During COVID-19
by: Scotland Nash August 26, 2020 Now more than ever, we need to build the capacity for empathy and compassion with our students and school communities.   The health crisis of COVID-19 highlighted again the racial disparities across the country. The racial violence embodied in the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and George Floyd re-ignited our understanding of the systemic racism that plagues our nation.  We can’t deny the staggering statistics that…
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