Meet Melanie, FOA’s dedicated volunteer coordinator since July 2024.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Melanie Chomik. I live in Tel Aviv but am originally from the north of Israel. I’ve been part of FOA for almost two years – one year as a volunteer and the rest working as the volunteer coordinator. I have a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science from Ben-Gurion University, and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.
What inspired you to volunteer with FOA? Had you encountered online antisemitism before you began volunteering?
During my last year of studies at Ben-Gurion, I did a seminar where I was required to choose an organization to intern for. FOA came up as one of the options. In my case, it was a natural choice, since I had been studying abroad a few months prior (during the war) and had seen how online antisemitism affects one’s life.
Can you tell us a bit about your role at FOA?
I manage the volunteer recruitment team, which is composed of volunteers. They reply to different requests from students from universities and schools that receive credit points, as well as from volunteers from Israel and abroad who are interested in volunteering with FOA. I also coordinate various educational projects.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with FOA?
I enjoy the deep sense of purpose and added value of the job. I also enjoy hearing from volunteers that they want to continue volunteering after they have completed their required hours.
Has anything you’ve learned about online antisemitism surprised you?
I was surprised by the amount of hate online and the different forms in which it is expressed. As Israelis, we are less exposed to this content online.
What are your hopes for the future in the fight against online antisemitism?
I hope that more social media companies step up in this fight, since they can prevent this content from appearing in the first place. Unfortunately, we cannot educate all of our haters.
