MW - GP - Facing Antisemitism: From Classrooms to Communities (Region on the Road, Kansas City)

Please join us for a forum about the continuum of antisemitism from our classrooms to our everyday lives. We'll be joined by panelists who will discuss what’s happening and with creative exercises offer interactive tools to respond to incidents in all types of educational environments. Rita Shapiro, Hadassah National Board, Education/Advocacy/Zionist Affairs, Antisemitism Team, is our moderator for the event.

Topics to be discussed:

• Issues facing our youth, educators, and communities
• Call to action - what Hadassah is doing, what you can do

Panelists:



Diana Diner is the Zionist Educator in the Education and Advocacy Division at Hadassah. Diana’s first experience with Israel was going on a Birthright trip and those 10 days sparked a career. Before coming to work for Hadassah, she spent almost 20 years working with teens and young adults on Israel and Zionist education and programming, including four years as the Young Judaea Israel programs manager. In 2024 Diana was chosen by Hadassah as one of their “18 American Zionist Women to Know.” She attended Rutgers for her bachelor's degree in psychology and broadcast journalism and the Jewish Theological Seminary for her master’s degree in Jewish education.



Samantha von Ende is a scholar, advocate, skillful educator, and strategic visionary who has worked in legal education, and as an international development consultant on constitutional processes and diplomatic affairs. Sam’s unique interdisciplinary background marries her expertise in academia, diplomacy, law, and constitutional design with the most pressing issues facing the Jewish people. A recognized expert and frequent speaker on modern antisemitism, Zionism, and the Israeli political system, Sam takes pride in her work with Hadassah, Israel Policy Forum, Limmud, Birthright Israel, and her impactful work directing academic affairs for the Consulate of Israel to the Southeast.



Rachel Kaseff is the Programs and Development Coordinator at JCRB/AJC Kansas City. She earned her BA in Religious Studies with a minor in Judaic Studies from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. Her senior thesis explored the intersection of religion and politics in America. She will highlight and discuss various proactive initiatives focusing on combating antisemitism in schools and supporting Jewish students, as well as in the wider Kansas City community.

*All attendees will be required to sign a Hadassah Event Participation Release to attend Hadassah in-person events. There will be no exceptions to this policy.