Sophie Brüss studied romance languages and literature and specialized as a theater pedagogue. She has been actively combatting anti-Semitism professionally and artistically for more than 15 years. In 2017, she was entrusted with the establishment of SABRA, a service center for antidiscrimination work under the umbrella of the Jewish community of Düsseldorf, where she is currently employed as head of the educational department and senior consultant for anti-discrimination work.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening Jewish Perspectives, Combating Anti-Semitism

Sophie created a website of educational materials directed towards young Jews in North-Rhine-Westphalia to support and help them when they themselves or their peers have experienced anti-Semitism. Sophie consulted with both experts and also 40 young Jewish community members to ensure that the website contains not only accurate and complete definitions of antisemitism and antisemitic acts, but also the most up-to-date local resources for support and assistance on how to deal with anti-Semitic incidents and discrimination. The website (juedisch.info) was launched in January 2024 and features a section on how to respond to antisemitic incidents in the moment as well as after the fact. There is also a list of organizations that can provide additional support, and a newsletter feature that Sophie plans to send out to subscribers about three times a year to update them on any changes. Fifty community members were sent the website link directly, and it will be shared with universities and published in their newsletters as well. After looking at the website, a Jewish student wrote: “Very cool and so important! I thank you so much for this website. It is so important after all the problems we have in universities. Also, the design looks good on my smartphone."

Visit Sophie's website: Juedisch.info

"With my IVLP Impact Award Project, I want to support young Jews to defend themself in cases of anti-Semitic incidents and offenses." - Sophie Brüss

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Sophie was a participant in the IVLP Project Advancing Minority Rights, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning.

Sophie's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award project. "Through my IVLP experience, I learned how important community-based empowerment and support can be, not only to strengthen the identity but also to fight against discrimination and to fight for our rights as a minority."

US Communities Visited

San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Bozeman, MT; Helena, MT; Portland, OR

Country: Germany 

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