News & Impact

A Q&A with Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet

Following October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents in K – 12 schools surged by 135%, creating unprecedented challenges for Jewish families. Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, LCSW, Education Specialist at the JFCS Holocaust Center, brings over 40 years of experience as a clinical social worker to help parents navigate these difficult conversations with their teens.

Q: What trends and concerns have you observed in your work with parents since  October 7, 2023?

A: Since October 7, parents have been reaching out to us as their teens face intensified antisemitism both in school and online. My workshop “Raising Jewish Teens with Confidence and Pride in an Age of Heightened Antisemitism” grew out of an urgent need to provide parents with guidance on how to support their teens through this particularly challenging period. Many Jewish teens feel suddenly “visible” and vulnerable in ways they weren’t before—so we at JFCS are responding by equipping parents with the skills and confidence to be trusted allies and advocates for their children.

Q: What specific tools will parents gain from attending the workshop?

A: The art of listening is central to what we’ll cover. How to listen carefully to the developmental needs of young people varies greatly depending on their age and school environment. We hear from so many parents that their child is reluctant to share what they have been experiencing at school and online. This workshop provides concrete strategies for opening communication around this sensitive subject in ways that respond to the needs of your child.

Q: Can you share an example of how parents can effectively advocate for their teens at school?

A: One recent success story began with a single parent who reached out to JFCS about antisemitism at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park. After listening to their concerns and those of other parents, the JFCS Holocaust Center began a seven-month relationship with the dedicated principal at Hillview to roll out a holistic approach to addressing antisemitism and hate through Holocaust education. This relationship culminated in a three-day initiative which included training every faculty member at Hillview using JFCS curriculum that teaches about art in the Holocaust and Jewish identity through the lens of social-emotional learning, in partnership with the Simon Wiesenthal Mobile Museum of Tolerance. This approach, which was recently featured in The Almanac, proved hugely successful and demonstrates the power of families, schools and communities working together to make meaningful systemic change.

Q: How do you help parents address teens who may be pulling away from their Jewish identity?

A: This is a profound worry for many parents right now. We discuss how to support young people to feel proud of their heritage in a world that feels uncertain. JFCS’ YouthFirst remains a leader in creating community events where teens can express pride, community, and joy in their identity. My workshop provides parents with strategies for equipping teens with the resilience to maintain family and community connections to support their Jewish identity even in difficult times.

Q: How does your expertise in bullying prevention apply to the digital challenges Jewish teens face today?

A: The question of preparing teens to handle hate online remains similar to that of the real world—how do you engage your kids and teach them to stand up with a sense of agency? Simply taking devices away doesn’t work. We need to educate young people about using technology safely and ethically. We also need to be mindful of how our own use of digital technology impacts our children and teens. This workshop will provide parents with strategies they can use in working with their school community to combat antisemitism and hate both on and offline.

Register for Gloria’s upcoming workshop “Raising Jewish Teens with Confidence and Pride in an Age of Heightened Antisemitism” on Thursday, April 17, 7:30-8:45pm online.

About the Presenter: Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, LCSW, is an Education Specialist at the JFCS Holocaust Center with over 40 years of experience as a clinical social worker. She co-authored “It Rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz’s Story of Hope,” a book on her father’s Holocaust experience that won the Kirkus Best Books and Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Gloria is passionate about educating youth on Holocaust history to combat social cruelty, hate, and antisemitism.