Engage on Social Media​​​​​

Defending the Facts

We know that one of the most influential and trusted sources of information on Israel’s war with Gaza are people’s friends and families.

We’re not going to be able to use social media to change the world but we can use it to share messages and information so our colleagues, friends and family can understand the conflict and rising antisemitism from our perspective.

Guidelines for using social media to help others understand our experiences and perspectives.

Here are some guidelines to help you engage.

Stay safe, stay positive and don’t share the negative

• Try and be positive whenever possible.
• Follow community accounts and friends.
• Amplify (re post, share) others.

Do not share harmful or negative images and posts. Not only are you helping the people who created the messages, but you may be accidentally boosting their popularity while exposing your friends and family to hateful content.

We believe it is most reflective of the Jewish tradition and culture in our community to post and re-post inspiring and educational content. Of course, it’s entirely up to you, but in keeping with the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repair the world), making sure your online presence is positive is best for all of us. This includes ensuring that you are not being overly dramatic or over stating things in your post: a little bit of moderation goes a long way.

Remember that a lot of people use hyperbole, exaggeration, and half-truths as a communications tool to break through the barrage of information. Being inflammatory may work in the short-term, but it does so at a long-term cost: credibility.

Do not respond to hateful messages or attacks. Take a screenshot, block the individual, and report them to the social media platform.

If you are feeling threatened, contact the police and then report the incident to the ADL.

Never share personal contact information online.

Help Each Other Out, Not the Trolls

• Follow official community accounts and those of community leaders.
  • Commenting and sharing boosts our reach, so thank you for your help.
  • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
• Be thoughtful – try to engage in conversations where you may actually be able to influence someone’s perspective.
• Engage in online conversations with people about how their posts made you feel if you feel like you can handle it.
• Don’t be quick to call someone an antisemite: try and address the challenging content rather than make assumptions about the person posting it.
  • If a friend or family member is sharing something that is untrue or harmful, try reaching out via a direct message as a first step.
• Don’t feed the “trolls” who are online specifically to provoke a reaction from you. Don’t give them what they want – ignore them, block them, be the bigger person.
• Sarcasm isn’t an effective way to convince someone that you’re right.

The Truth is Our Friend

• There is a lot of false information circulating – make sure you verify things before you share them.
• Post infographics but be mindful of the sourcing and language used.
  • Use your resources and the opinions you have formed to decide if this is something you really want to share.
• There are some pretty common myths and stereotypes about our community, Israel and the conflict – get to know some of the more common ones.
  • Some great resources can be found here.

Be Kind to Yourself

• Look inward and decide how much mental power you are willing to contribute to the conversation before engaging.
• Make sure you know your boundaries, and step away from social media if you need to.
  • If you are someone you know is struggling since Hamas attacked Israel last October, or with the rising hatred facing the Jewish community, contact Access Jewish Cleveland. We are here to help.

Help us spread the word and show your support online #JewishCleveland