Becoming An 'Upstander' In Port Washington

The entire Port Washington community is invited to attend a workshop that will provide insight into the increasing number of biased incidents that have occurred in the surrounding area.

If you are unsure of what to do when you hear a bigoted remark, or see someone threatened for their race or religion, this “Upstander Workshop” can help give you answers.

The Holocaust Center defines an “upstander” as a person who stands up for others, and does not allow bigotry, hatred or intolerance to happen without interjection.

This is the first major meeting of the newly formed community group called “Port Together,” which was launched in June 2016 by a small group of residents who wanted to do something about inequality in the community.

The workshop will be held on Monday, May 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, located at 1 Temple Drive in Port Washington. It will discuss issues that immigrants and refugees face on Long Island and how people can help, individually or within organizations.

This is one of many events that are looking to tackle biased incidents in Port Washington. On Saturday, the Dolphin Bookshop held a poetry and storytelling event to support local immigrants. On Sunday, a community forum discussed the rising of anti-Semitism on the North Shore of Long Island. The Town of North Hempstead has also held more than one discussion on the increasing number of hate crimes in the surrounding area at Town Hall meetings.

Related:

• Swastika Found on Bathroom Wall at Schreiber High School
  
• Port Washington Chabad Rabbi Responds To Politico Article
• Long Island Sees Increase In Anti-Semitic Incidents

“Port Together” wishes to recognize Port Washington as a diverse community, economically, ethnically, racially and religiously.

The workshop will feature two speakers from organizations that promote respect for all people:

• Tracy Garrison-Feinberg, director of the Claire Friedlander Education Institute at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Garrison-Feinberg will provide training on how to be an “Upstander” and take action against hate and racism.
• Laura Lemus, special projects coordinator of Long Island Wins, a nonprofit communications organization that focuses on promoting practical immigration solutions that work for everyone. Lemus will discuss what issues immigrants face on Long Island and what residents can do to show their support.

“Standing up for people who are vulnerable is a core message of the Torah,” Rabbi Michael Mishkin of Temple Beth Israel said. “We must be concerned about the welfare of all people in our community, especially with those who have little or no political power. As the Torah teaches us: ‘The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. . .' (Leviticus 19:34).”

For further information or questions, contact Allison White at (516) 944-7794 or alliwhite@gmail.com or Rabbi Mishkin at 516 767-1708 ext. 4 or rabbimishkin@tbiport.org.

Image via Allison White