Words matter. And this week, our community showed up to learn how to use them wisely.

On Thursday, February 5, the Chicago Jewish Alliance, in partnership with the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, hosted a powerful TurnSpeak webinar, Navigating Conversations About Israel, bringing together community members from across the country for an urgent and timely conversation.

Led by Dr. Charles Jacobs—a Harvard graduate and co-founder of CAMERA and The David Project—the session tackled one of the biggest challenges facing Jewish communities and allies today: how language is weaponized to distort facts, reshape narratives, and assign false moral blame when discussing Israel.

Participants gained a deeper understanding of how misinformation spreads, how emotionally charged framing can shift public perception, and, most importantly, how to respond with clarity, confidence, and truth. Dr. Jacobs offered practical tools and real-world examples to help attendees stay grounded in facts while navigating difficult conversations in workplaces, schools, online spaces, and beyond.

This webinar wasn’t just about theory—it was about empowerment. Attendees walked away better equipped to push back against antisemitism, challenge misleading narratives, and speak up with conviction in a climate where silence often feels easier, but truth is more necessary than ever.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make this training such a meaningful and impactful experience. More opportunities like this are coming soon—because now more than ever, how we speak matters.