Our Social Action Committee’s Antisemitism group addresses hate and intolerance through education, advocacy and rapid response.
If you’d like to get involved, please reach out! For any questions, contact Rabbi Samantha Natov at (212) 877-4050, ext. 244 or socialjustice@swfs.org.
How We Fight Antisemitism
With a broad focus on history, the group seeks to contextualize and then give congregants the tools to fight antisemitism in our community and beyond. To accomplish this, we utilize museum trips, lectures, hands-on experiences and missions to deepen communal knowledge of antisemitism. This group works to respond to breaking instances of antisemitism and other forms of hatred that revolve around race, sexuality or religion. We pride ourselves on responding rapidly to current events and creating opportunities for our members to put their boots on the ground.
We also seek to educate our community on the rhetoric and tactics of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, and to prepare students who will be attending schools where BDS is rising to prominence.
Our advocacy sub-group works to respond to breaking instances of antisemitism and other forms of hatred that revolve around race, sexuality, or religion. We pride ourselves on responding rapidly to current events and creating opportunities for our members to put their boots on the ground.
Upcoming Social Justice Events
Meet Rabbi Sam Natov
Rabbi Samantha Natov grew up in Dundas, Ontario. She holds a bachelor’s from McGill University and a master’s in musicology and ethnomusicology from the University of Virginia. Following her time as a cantorial soloist in Toronto, Rabbi Natov came to New York to earn her degree in sacred music from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After working as a cantor at congregations in New Jersey and Brooklyn, she decided to become a rabbi. Rabbi Natov was ordained by HUC-JIR in 2015 and joined Stephen Wise Free Synagogue a few months later in July 2015.
As associate rabbi at Stephen Wise, she oversees the congregation’s adult education programming and social justice work.