Coming of Age during the Resurgence of Hate

Exploring what it means to come of age in an era marked by increasing antisemitism, readers see through the eyes of Jewish Gen Zers how identities are shaped in response to and in defiance of antisemitism.

Using personal experiences, qualitative research, and the historic moment in which Generation Z is coming of age, Jewish educator Samantha A. Vinokor-Meinrath uses antisemitism from both the political left and the right to explore identity development among Jewish Gen Zers. With insights from educators, students, activists, and more, she holds a lens up to current antisemitism and its impact on the choices and opinions of the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Chapters cover Holocaust education for the final generation able to speak directly to Holocaust survivors and learn their stories firsthand; modern manifestations of antisemitism; and how the realities of 21st-century America have shaped the modern Jewish experience, ranging from the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh to how Gen Zers use social media and understand diversity. The core of this book is a collection of stories: of intersectional identity, of minority affiliations, and of overcoming adversity in order to flourish and thrive.