Diaspora Alliance fights antisemitism and its political misuse.

Antisemitism is hostility, discrimination, prejudice, and violence toward Jews as Jews, and holds Jews collectively responsible for societal ills or perceived evils in the world. Antisemitism threatens us all by corroding democracy, fueling conspiracy theories and bigotry, and misdirecting people’s anger, fear, and understanding of power. Fabricated or reckless accusations of antisemitism are used to thwart and malign struggles for human rights, justice, and equality, and make it harder to challenge antisemitism when it arises.

Our Work

We work internationally with Jews and other diasporic and minority communities towards a world rooted in solidarity instead of division, possibility instead of fear. We engage with Jews and our allies who seek a world of freedom, dignity, and justice for all peoples, wherever they live. 

In the increasingly high-stakes and widespread battle between authoritarianism and democracy, Jewish identity, histories, and present-day fears are being used to justify attacks on civil society and advance deeply inhumane political agendas and policies. Our organization has come together to reject these tactics wholesale and instead seek effective ways to disrupt and dismantle antisemitism while enhancing civil society, human rights, and justice for all.

Developing a robust understanding of antisemitism and how it operates across the political spectrum is vital for all those who want to safeguard the values of a healthy, inclusive democracy, especially in this moment where antisemitic behaviors and attitudes have become more prevalent. Our work includes:

Education on Antisemitism
Providing workshops and trainings to support an understanding of antisemitism and its manifestations. Developing and publishing analysis, resources and explainers. 

Research & Investigation
Conducting research and developing investigative reports and studies to support our mission and those of our allies and partners.

Community & Network Building
Investing in progressive Jewish networks within and across different countries and communities – and doing our part to support and strengthen coalitions with other racialized, minoritized, or otherwise targeted groups.

Strategic Campaigns
Partnering with human rights organizations, scholars, and legal practitioners to counter repression and targeting of progressives, in particular Palestinians and their supporters. Offering policies and approaches to address antisemitism.

Ideas and Discourse
Programming international symposiums and other events on Jewish history, antisemitism, diaspora politics, and internationalism.

Why a Diaspora Alliance?

We hear a deep yearning and need for spaces where Jewish people and diasporic communities around the world can find each other, reject zero-sum approaches, and work towards a vision and politics rooted in internationalism, diasporism, and solidarity. That is why we became a Diaspora Alliance: to offer capacity and community; uplift voices that aren’t always heard; provide resources and analysis, and engage in transformative policy approaches.

Diaspora Alliance challenges divide-and-rule politics that ultimately hold little regard for actual Jews or the security of Jewish communities. We reject approaches to fighting antisemitism that have not only failed to be effective in stemming the spread of antisemitic ideology or incidents, but have also become a cover for right-wing movements and attacks on Palestinians and their supporters. In so doing, we offer pathways for tackling antisemitism alongside other forms of oppression and racist ideologies and violence.

International Advisory Board

  • Amos Goldberg, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel)
  • Anita Altman, Founder, ReelAbilities Festival (US)
  • Avraham (Avrum) Burg, Author, Former Speaker of the Knesset (Israel)
  • Anselm Franke, Zurich University of Arts (Germany/Switzerland)
  • Barbara Kane, Psychoanalyst and Author (US)
  • Barrie Kosky, Opera and Theater Director (Germany)
  • Rabbi Becky Silverstein (US)
  • Benjamin Seroussi, Artistic Director, Casa do Povo (Brazil)
  • Dania Rajendra (US)
  • Daniel Levy, US/Middle East Project (UK/US)
  • David Feldman, Director, Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, University of London (UK)
  • Eva Menasse, Novelist and Essayist (Germany)
  • Gary Younge (UK)
  • Heidi Grunebaum (South Africa)
  • Jessy Tolkan, Founder and President, The Driver Agency (US)
  • Jelena Subotić, Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University (US)
  • Kathleen Peratis, Co-chair, Jewish Currents (US)
  • Layla Al-Zubaidi (Germany)
  • Leah Greenberg, Co-Executive Director, Indivisible (US)
  • Libby Lenkinski, New Israel Fund (US/Israel)
  • Lila Corwin Berman, Professor of American Jewish History, New York University (US)
  • Marianne Hirsch, Professor, Columbia University (US)
  • Max Kenner, Executive Director, Bard Prison Initiative (US)
  • Michael Rothberg, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Omri Boehm, Professor, New School for Social Research (US/Israel/Germany)
  • Peter Beinart, Professor, City University of New York (US)
  • Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster (US)
  • Rachel E. Luft, Associate Professor, Seattle University (US)
  • Dr. Santiago Slabodsky, Kaufman Chair in Jewish Studies, Hofstra University (US)
  • Shahanna McKinney Baldon (US)
  • Simone Susskind, Former Member, Brussels Parliament and the Federal Senate (Belgium)
  • Stefanie Schüler-Springorum, Center for Research on Antisemitism, Berlin (Germany)
  • Susan Neiman, Einstein Forum (Germany)
  • Tom Haviv, Ayin Press (US)
  • Valentina Pisanty, Professor in Semiotics at the University of Bergamo (Italy)
  • Natalie Zemon Davis z”l
  • Alon Confino z”l

 

*Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

 

Staff

  • Amel Ouaissa
  • Ben Malley
  • Charley Katan
  • Chuck Bernsohn
  • Diana Falchuk
  • Dove Kent
  • Em Hilton
  • Emily Dische-Becker
  • Emma Saltzberg
  • Jess Schwalb
  • Michael Sappir
  • Natasha Josette
  • Natasha Soffer-Roth
  • Shoshana Brown
  • Zoe P Vallas