About Us
Who we are
Project Shema is a training and support organization built by progressive Jewish leaders to help the Jewish community and allies address anti-Jewish ideas & nurture compassion for Jews. We work to deepen understanding & empathy for the Jewish people's history, trauma, and lived experiences. ​
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We are not an Israel advocacy organization. Rather, we work to deepen understanding and build compassion and nurture empathy for the history, trauma & lived experiences of the Jewish people.
Our story
Founded by Jewish leaders with deep ties in social justice movements, Project Shema brings a fresh and humanizing approach to these challenging issues.
Named after the Hebrew word Shema, which means “to hear”, “to listen”, or “understand,” Project Shema works to deepen understanding and build compassion and bridges across communities. We provide a truly unique, nuanced approach to antisemitism education for those working to ensure inclusive spaces for all Jews.
Our goals
At Project Shema, our work aims to nurture empathy for the lived experiences, identities, traumas, and concerns of the Jewish people. We want to create relationships grounded in trust and shared values that can slow down the spread of anti-Jewish ideas which demonize, dehumanize, and harm Jews.
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To do this, we speak and act from a place of solidarity. We never pit marginalized communities against each other. We recognize that we must always demonstrate empathy for all communities, including and especially Palestinians and Muslims.