On Thursday, Feb. 6, a Jewish-led organization will invite experts to dispel myths about Israel as portrayed in the media.
You+2 is an effort started by co-founder Peri Kaplan to educate Jewish and non-Jewish friends about how the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack in Israel has affected communities around the world. Now holding its fifth event, You+2 co-founder Peri Kaplan estimates the programs have reached at least 1,000 people in metro Atlanta.
Kaplan, an Atlanta-based speech pathologist and mom of three kids, felt shock and horror in the days after Oct. 7. Kaplan grew up in an observant Jewish family, attended a Jewish sleepaway camp in North Carolina, and has visited Israel a handful of times. She also has family members who survived the Holocaust.
Kaplan said she was confronted with the harsh reality that history seems to echo itself instead of teaching a lesson. “The haunting refrain of ‘Never again’ took on a new urgency,” she said.
Enter Emily McIntyre, who is not Jewish. A friend of Kaplan’s through youth sports, McIntyre sent a text message saying that she was heartbroken. She wanted to support Kaplan and her family, but didn’t know how.
The interactions that followed — a phone call between the women, the retelling of Kaplan’s family history, and verbalizing her fears about antisemitism — is what sparked You+2, a series of discussions for non-Jewish allies on how to support Israel and the Jewish community.
“I looked to my non-Jewish friends, and the question emerged in my mind: Will you avert your gaze? Or will you stand with me,” Kaplan asked. “After my call with Emily, I felt empowered.”
Kaplan set to work. She asked a local organization, Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta, to help her plan the first event. She never expected to have more than one You+2 program, where Jewish women were encouraged to bring a one or two non-Jewish friends or neighbors to hear about the fallout of the terror attack in Israel.
About 275 women, 50 percent of whom were Jewish, attended the first event at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. You+2 has also been held at three area synagogues thanks to co-chair Julie Rau, who also serves as the White Rose Society executive director.
“It was such a success and we got so much positive feedback, that we planned an encore event in March 2024 with 250 people,” Kaplan said.
You+2 has covered topics including what happened on Oct. 7 and how it impacted Israel and American Jews, how non-Jewish allies can support Israel and the Jewish community, antisemitism and protests on college campuses, and the history of antisemitism.
Anonymous feedback from attendees is gathered at each event.
“The events of Oct. 7 should rock everyone to their core. I believe the continued education on what is occurring in Israel is vital in many ways. I have always believed in getting ahead of the information war, especially now more than ever. It was an excellent program,” one person wrote.
You+2 is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at AA Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW. Entitled “Israel and Antisemitism: Facts, Lies, and Myths in the Media,” the event is free but requires registration.
The guest speakers will be Anat Sultan-Dadon, consul general of Israel to the southeast, Dov Wilker, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, and Josh Levs, award-winning journalist, fact checker, and podcaster.
Kaplan has no end goal in mind.
“As long as there is a need, and as long as there are communities out there for us to host, we will keep doing it,” she said.
