Lifting the Curtain on Antisemitism—Episode 1: What is Antisemitism and its Weaponization? A Conversation for Movement Organizers with Shoshana Brown and Ben Lorber

In this first episode of Lifting the Curtain on Antisemitism, co-hosts Shoshana Brown and Ben Lorber share how they came to be working on the issues of antisemitism and its weaponization. They dive into discussing antisemitism itself—its history, how it looks today, how to understand it, and why the fight over defining it has become a primary means of targeting Palestinians and their allies while driving authoritarian policies and culture wars.

Kohenet Shoshana A Brown, LMSW (they/she) is a healer, educator, and organizer. They are the Director of Pedagogy and Training for Diaspora Alliance. As an abolition organizer they are a cofounder of the Black Jewish Liberation Collective and a member of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice where they host Beyond The Pale, a radio show on WBAI 99.5FM. Shoshana has expertise in education, somatic healing, union organizing, and Restorative Justice Practices. They are a Black-mixed race Jewish femme who generates liberation and full selfhood in the essence of love. 

Ben Lorber works as a Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates, focusing on White Christian nationalism, antisemitism and Christian Zionism. Lorber has worked as a journalist, organizer and movement-builder for over a decade. He has published on right-wing social movements, Israel/Palestine, Jewish culture and other topics at a variety of outlets, and is the co-author of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism.

Resources

• Diaspora Alliance. 2024. “Antisemitism Explained.”
• Diaspora Alliance. 2023. “The Global Far Right and Israel.”
• Lorber, Ben. 2024. “The New Antisemitism and Neo-McCarthyism” Political Research Associates. 
• Lorber, Ben. 2023. “Conspiracy at the Core: Five Years After Tree of Life, Antisemitism Continues to Animate the MAGA Movement” Political Research Associates.
• Burley, Shane and Ben Lorber. 2024. Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. Melville House.

Lifting the Curtain on Antisemitism is a collaboration between Political Research Associates and Diaspora Alliance. The show is produced by Olivia Lawrence-Weilmann. Our hosts are Ben Lorber and Shoshana Brown. Original score by Aakash Desai. Artwork by Zoe Newton. Our fact checker is Natasha Roth-Rowland. Sound design and mixing by Thick Skin Media. Also thank you to Natasha Roth-Rowland, Simone Zimmerman, Em Hilton, and Koki Mendis for your insights and thought partnership.