More than 85 people filled the Barrington Public Library auditorium to support East Bay’s Jewish population.

Attendees were welcomed by Jacob Brier, volunteer organizer, who shared their experiences with antisemitism as a member the Barrington Town Council and since then. “It came from within and beyond town, across the full range of the political spectrum, from members of the public as well as colleagues serving in government,” Brier said.

Brier began with a moment of silence to honor all innocent lives lost in Gaza and Israel. 

Wendy Joering, Executive Director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, started the formal presentation with a history of antisemitism and larger impact of the Holocaust, beyond the Jewish community. 

Joering said, “those who hate the Jewish people tend to be equal opportunity haters.” 

Stephanie Hague, Chief Policy Officer of the Jewish Alliance of Greater RI, continued by sharing information about Rhode Island’s Jewish community, statistics about the years-long rise of antisemitism, the forms it takes, and how allies can support Jewish neighbors.

Panelists included three members of the Jewish community: Temple Habonim’s Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman, Bristol Warren Regional School Committee Member Carly Reich, and Barrington High School student Dahlia Weller. Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia shared his experiences investigating antisemitic incidents.

Brier explained that the discussion would focus on local experiences, and actions this community could take, then posed questions that were both prepared in advance and submitted by audience members.

Reich shared a metaphor about the community being like a beloved old garden. People have to “commit to do the work to tend it, water it, weed it… To actually bend down and get your hands dirty, knowing that it’s for the greater good.”

Chief Correia expressed gratitude for being included in the program and stated it was his department's role to “reduce the fear and anxiety,” that he knows has existed, and recently increased, in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Voss-Altman said security needs at Jewish institutions increased substantially over his career, stating that there had been bomb threats made to Temple Habonim – Bristol County’s only synagogue – nearly once a month over the past six months, and that other area temples had received even more than that. He urged attendees to listen to Jewish people’s experiences to learn about them.

Weller spoke about her efforts to have Holocaust and antisemitism education incorporated in school curriculums. 

Weller also shared an anecdote about a game in one of her classes that used an offensive name for a team. Weller explained how using “Anne Frank'' as a team name impacted her, and that the teacher was responsive. This was an important reminder, as she said she “truly believes most of the antisemitism we see isn’t coming from a place of hate, but from ignorance.”

At the program’s close, a Temple Habonim member told attendees that “although Rabbi Howard said our doors are locked, we are welcoming.” She encouraged non-Jewish attendees to visit Temple Habonim or another synagogue to continue learning.

— Contributed by Jacob Brier