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Source: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/cunningham-that-doesnt-sound-very-jewish/
Why I Stand with the Jewish People even though I Am Not Jewish
(Times of Israel) Katie Cunningham - People instantly assume that someone working in Holocaust education, Jewish advocacy, or antisemitism research is Jewish. The surprise on their faces when they realize I am not Jewish is unmistakable. From both Jews and non-Jews, I get the same stare of disbelief, with the same question behind their eyes: Why would someone non-Jewish do this work? The truth is that many people who work in this space are not Jewish. In my own experience, more than 95% of the Holocaust educators I work with, teach, and mentor are not Jewish. Nevertheless, we have chosen to step into a space where we will sometimes be challenged, questioned, misunderstood, or even hated. We do this work because we are called to it and believe it is ours to do. Because Jewish people should not have to carry the responsibility of educating the world about antisemitism and Jewish history alone. Because we can't not do this work. During presentations, I also identify myself directly as an ally of the Jewish people. Students need to hear a non-Jewish person say, very clearly: I stand with the Jewish people. Meaningful allyship is being the person who raises the concern so your Jewish colleague doesn't always have to. It means challenging disinformation and Jew-hatred when you hear it, even when no Jewish person is in the room. Being a Jewish ally feels like knowing you're on the right side of history. It means using your position as a non-Jew to enter into spaces where a Jewish person may not be able to go - because you may be perceived as less biased. It also means having a thick skin and being prepared to receive ignorance and flat-out hate. I can speak as a non-Jewish person who has decided that Jewish history is human history, that antisemitism is everyone's problem, and that Jewish people should not have to stand alone against it. The writer is Director of Education at the Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center at Gratz College.