Will Kamala Harris’ interfaith marriage make it more likely her administration will provide a meaningful response to antisemitism if she becomes president? Other interfaith families across the country are hoping that the answer is yes.
The possibility of a President Harris represents the idea of many firsts in our country: the first woman president, the first Asian American president, the first Black woman president and also the first president in a Jewish interfaith relationship.
At 18Doors — a nonprofit that supports Jewish interfaith couples and families, and their inclusion in Jewish communities — we know that an interfaith couple in the White House will have a different experience grappling with the dramatic surge in antisemitism following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, as they have navigated religious tolerance and understanding in their own relationship.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has already made combating antisemitism a key focus, resulting in the first U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.
As the only national organization focused on the inclusion of interfaith families in Jewish life, 18Doors has witnessed how the increase in antisemitism has affected interfaith families in different ways than their Jewish-Jewish counterparts.
We have run antisemitism programs for interfaith couples before and since Oct. 7, 2023, and we’ve noticed a surge of interest in this programming as antisemitism rose across the United States and around the world.
In early 2024, we announced a partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, the world’s leading anti-hate organization.
Together, we released several guides on antisemitism for interfaith families, including this one on how to address antisemitism and be an ally as a partner who is not Jewish, this one on how to identify antisemitism, and this one on how interfaith families can talk about anti-semitism.
18Doors has been listening to the concerns of interfaith families and has been at the forefront of developing tailor-made resources and strategies to help them meet this difficult moment.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism calls for “a whole-of-society effort” that “must be grounded in bringing together Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs to spark allyship, unity and collective action.”
Interfaith couples are integral to achieving that vision, but we need to address the unique challenges they face.
The strategy’s outline to combat antisemitism includes unprecedented, coordinated and bold actions that will be implemented across government agencies, as well as calls to action for public officials, private sector leaders and Americans from every sector, industry and walk of life.
According to the document, the strategy reflects input from over 1,000 Jewish community stakeholders, faith and civil rights leaders, state and local officials, and others.
First, partners from another background are eager to learn about antisemitism — what it is, how to combat it and how to support their Jewish partner, children and extended family. They often lack that foundational knowledge.
We also observe unique communication challenges. Social media algorithms can make it challenging for partners from different backgrounds to learn about acts of antisemitism, leading to feelings of isolation.
Jewish partners may feel unsupported, while their partners may be unaware that an antisemitic incident even occurred. By learning about this phenomenon, couples learn to communicate about these events explicitly, fostering understanding and support.
Additionally, partners from another background often do not carry the intergenerational trauma developed in response to millennia of antisemitism.
This can lead to confusion about why their Jewish partner is so upset and alarmed by antisemitic acts that are far away, including the terrorist attack of Oct. 7. 18Doors teaches couples how to discuss their own histories with antisemitism, how they react and what support they need from one another.
Finally, interfaith couples seek support in discussing antisemitic remarks made by extended family members. 18Doors, in collaboration with the ADL, provides interfaith couples with space to discuss their experiences and gain the tools necessary for these conversations.
Despite the challenges unique to interfaith couples regarding antisemitism, there are also immense opportunities. Having family from different backgrounds allows for increased awareness, influence on opinions and the formation of a coalition of allies, ultimately leading to greater advocacy and safety for Jews and their loved ones.
At 18Doors, we believe combating antisemitism is of paramount importance and we hope that whoever is in the White House next year recognizes this and addresses it. Either way, we hope to get Kamala Harris’ brisket recipe!