The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, in collaboration with OpenDor Media’s Unpacked for Educators initiative, recently brought Yirmiyahu Danzig, a social media activist and pro-Israel influencer also known as @that_semite, to Greater Philadelphia for a speaking tour throughout the region.
As a multilingual speaker with roots in Israel and the Caribbean, he uses English, Hebrew and Arabic to reach diverse audiences — both through OpenDor Media’s education programs and his social media platforms.
During his five day visit to Greater Philadelphia, he visited 12 different locations — from Jewish Day Schools to universities, synagogues and community centers. While his tour largely focused on the local Jewish community, Danzig engaged over 450 students, young adults and community members from different faiths and backgrounds.
“I want to see people really listening and trying to understand each other’s cultures,” said Danzig. “We need to educate people with an empathy-driven and nuanced approach to meet them where they are in order to have healthy conversations about our differences.”
Through workshops and seminars, he offered practical tools to talk about Jewish diversity and identity, have productive conversations around Israel, and learn how to combat antisemitism. He also modeled the importance of voices that humanize both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, encouraging understanding in the face of complexity.
“Yirmiyahu reminded us of the importance of continuing to tell the Jewish story—reaffirming that we are a nation with deep roots and enduring resilience,” said JCRC Assistant Director Meir Zimmerman. “He inspired a renewed sense of pride in being unapologetically Jewish, celebrating the joy, meaning and cultural richness of Jewish identity.”
Check out some photos from the community events below:
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
On March 17, Danzig met with students at the Shipley School and Kohelet Yeshiva High School, where he shared his thoughts on social media and Jewish identity.
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
In the evening of March 17, Danzig was joined by panelists Gulienne Rollins-Rishon, Rabbi Yosef Zarnighian and Jared Jackson at the Kaiserman JCC, as they explored the phrase: "What Does Jewish Look Like”?
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
On March 18, Danzig visited Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Lower Merion Area Hebrew High and Adath Israel, where he unpacked the rampant rise in antisemitism online.
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
Danzig also took a trip to Congregation Kesher Israel, a part of the Jewish Federation’s Chester County Kehillah, on March 19.
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
The Jewish Federation’s NextGen (young professionals group) hosted Danzig during their board meeting on March 19. During the event, he talked about the importance of interfaith work, what it means to be a Jew of Color and the impact of Oct. 7 on Israel.
Photo Credit: Jewish Community Relations Council
On March 20, Danzig spent the entire day at the University of Pennsylvania, where he joined Penn Hillel students for lunch and had the opportunity to table on campus, speaking with students across cultural and political spectrums.
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The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is composed of civic-minded individuals and local Jewish agencies involved in advocacy and public affairs, who engage in issues that are important to the Jewish community. To learn more about JCRC, click here.