Generous Futures: Antisemitism Online
- Date
- May 31, 2022
- Time
- 1:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT
- Location
- Online via Zoom webinar
- Contact
- Laura Greflund, Alumni Relations Officer, rsvp@torontomu.ca
Digital platforms have enabled disturbing and harmful antisemitic rhetoric to flourish online, leading to a devastating uprise of antisemitism in Canada and globally. Why have social media platforms failed to act on 84% of antisemitic posts? How can we ensure our digital platforms are safe and free from antisemitic hate speech and conspiracy theories? How can digital platforms be used to confront and create awareness around antisemitism? Join Toronto Metropolitan University for a crucial conversation that will unpack these questions and shed light on how Jewish leaders are stepping up to confront antisemitism in our digital world.
Moderator
Panellists
Biographies
Elyse Wieskopf serves as the Director of Hillel Toronto Metropolitan University, where she aims to enrich and support the Toronto Metropolitan University Jewish student community. Elyse’s passion for campus life began during her undergraduate experience at Wilfrid Laurier University where she participated in several committees including Orientation Week Lead, Safe Walk, Hillel, and the Alumni Call Centre. She is passionate about meeting students of diverse backgrounds, and working towards creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all communities on campus. Elyse holds a Masters of Social Work from University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Experiential Jewish Education from Yeshiva University.
Daniel Panneton manages the Online Hate Research and Education Project at the Sarah & Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre in Toronto. He is a heritage professional, curator, and cultural consultant with broad sectoral experience who sits on the Board of the Toronto Ward Museum. His work has appeared in outlets like the Globe & Mail, The Walrus, TVO, and the Literary Review of Canada, and he has consulted on a range of non-profit and for-profit cultural endeavors by small and large organizations. In 2019 he received the Ontario Historical Association's Russel K. Cooper Award for Excellence in Public Programming.
Emily Thompson is the Associate Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Research Department. Her research focuses on the Digital Terrorism and Hate project, exploring how extremists utilize the internet and social media to spread hateful and harmful content and ideologies. She is the program director for Combat Hate, an interactive student workshop designed to introduce media literacy skills and provide tools for young people to deal with hate online.
Noah is the Vice President for the GTA at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). He is a graduate of the University of King’s College and the London School of Economics and Political Science, with more than a decade of experience working in government relations, political research, and communications. Noah has testified as an expert witness at all levels of government and represented CIJA as a spokesperson on local and national media.
Prior to joining CIJA, Noah worked at the Canada-Israel Committee and the Washington-based Middle East Institute. He also previously served as Director of Canadian Academics for Peace in the Middle East, an organization governed by academics and dedicated to promoting nuanced, rigorous debate surrounding Middle East issues. Noah currently serves on the Board of JVS Toronto and is Chair of the organization’s advocacy committee.