Dr. Lauren Shure and Dr. Stephen Sussman were honored to serve as Scholars-in-Residence at the 2024 ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute for Curriculum Development in Critical Contemporary Antisemitism Studies. This highly competitive program, held at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, from July 28th to August 9th, brought together scholars from 15 countries to explore contemporary antisemitism as an academic discipline. The Summer Institute, organized by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), is renowned for its focus on equipping academics with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop curricula that address the complexities of contemporary antisemitism.

Throughout the intensive two-week program, Dr. Shure and Dr. Sussman participated in a series of plenary sessions, workshops, and discussions led by some of the world’s foremost experts on antisemitism. The topics covered during the Institute were diverse and comprehensive, reflecting the multifaceted nature of contemporary antisemitism. Some of the topics addressed included the Connection Between Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism, The Delegitimization Campaign Against Israel, Antisemitism as a National Security Threat, The Rebirth of Antisemitism in the 21st Century, and Post-October 7th Antisemitism. The Institute was featured in an August 8, 2024 article in the Jerusalem Post, https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-813869

Dr. Shure and Dr. Sussman found their time at Oxford intellectually stimulating and personally enriching. The program not only deepened their understanding of contemporary antisemitism but also provided invaluable opportunities for networking and collaboration with fellow scholars dedicated to advancing this critical area of study. The insights gained and the relationships forged during the Summer Institute will undoubtedly inform their future teaching and research endeavors, particularly in the development of curricula that address and challenge antisemitism in all its forms. In fact, this knowledge will be used as Drs. Sussman and Shure help plan and deliver a half-day teach-in on antisemitism for the Barry University community in September through the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).