‘Glad you asked’: ten new online cartoons explain Judaism to young Europeans
Series of 90-second videos will discuss Shabbat, antisemitism, the Holocaust and Jewish festivals
The first in a series of ten online educational videos to educate young people about Jewish life and culture has been launched by the European Jewish Congress.
Part of a EU-funded project called “Glad You Asked”, the short cartoons target young people across social media platforms to raise awareness of the dangers of antisemitism, key points of Jewish identity such as Shabbat and Jewish festivals as well as the Holocaust and Jewish history.
Featuring characters Emma, Alex, and Nathan asking and answering questions, the cartoons are set in European cities, Jewish homes, and synagogues.
Raya Kalenova, EJC executive vice president, said: “If we want to educate people about Jews and to reduce ignorance and stereotypes which so often lie at the root of antisemitism, we need to start now in reaching out to young people in forms that are relevant to their daily lives.”
She added: “It’s a lot to pack into 90 seconds but that is what most messaging today requires. It’s also part of a 2,000-year-old Jewish tradition that began when Hillel was challenged to explain Judaism to an interlocutor standing on one leg.”
The first cartoon focuses on the diversity of the Jewish people, highlighting the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and backgrounds that make up the Jewish community in Europe and across the world.
It will be followed by another nine episodes, all featured in short 90-second videos.
Kalenova said: “These videos challenge young people about their conceptions about Jews and Judaism in their own language but they also challenge us as Jewish organisations. We too need to adapt and innovate our own messaging to meet an audience which is not where we would necessarily expect it to be.”
She adds that “it’s not one-way traffic” and that they want to encourage people to interact with the cartoons. “We all seek answers and we believe this is an ideal way to get over these important messages to a new generation of European citizens.”
This campaign is part of the “BADRI – Bringing Awareness, Dialogue, and Resilience Improvement” project, funded by the European Union.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
