In the 33 chapters of these 2 books, an international cadre of contributing authors converge with remarkable consonance, voicing a call to action through the arts to stand up against hatred, bullying, bigotry and antisemitism. In the preface to Volume 1 titled Art as an Imperative for Healing: Stand up Against Hatred, we discuss our personal context and conviction, addressing the need for re-representing and witnessing, challenging readers to consider their personal mechanisms for upstanding against violence, hatred and antisemitism.” We emphasize that the time is now to become upstanders.

​

We believe that the arts are formidable catalysts for witnessing the unbearable. The impact of experiencing the interaction between the creativity of artists telling significant stories resonates deeply within observers challenging each of us with formidable experiences. We are grateful to our contributing authors for their courage, tenacity, artistry and willingness to explain and analyze their work in our books. Whether on stage, in concert, on the screen or in the gallery, these artists, teachers and scholars insightfully explain their journeys and outcomes. We are honored to have collected and edited their stories in our own nearly 4-year journey in creating these two volumes. We hope that you will read the books carefully and hearken to the inherent calling and approach to our current crises of social injustice with empathy, understanding and deep engagement, as have our authors.

​

~ Drs. Karen Berman and Gail Humphries