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A recently launched French-language YouTube channel aims to combat misinformation about Jewish and Israel-related topics, and help stop the spread of antisemitism, by providing young French speakers with educational videos based on facts and the truth.
The YouTube channel “On déballe!”,” which translates to “We unpack”, features videos on Judaism, the Jewish people and Israel that were originally shared on the “Unpacked” English-language channel, including one on “The History of Ethiopian Jews” and another that discusses how a boycott of Israel harms Palestinians instead of aiding them. Some other videos debunk antisemitic conspiracy theories and stereotypes, like myths about a “Jewish-looking” nose and lies about Jews running the slave trade in America. The videos are translated into French, which is the fifth most spoken language worldwide, and hosted by native French speakers.
“Unpacked” is a division of OpenDor Media, a non-profit media organization that produces and distributes short-form educational videos as well as full-length documentary films about Jewish- and Israel-related topics for a young audience. The company says it hopes to impact as many people as possible with its content and make Jewish education, values and stories accessible to all. Its name is inspired by the Hebrew word Dor, which means “generation.”
In 2022, the organization had 9 million YouTube video views and 1,811 institutions used their education materials, according to its website.
“We believe that misinformation can lead to ignorance and hate, and by providing accurate, nuanced, and thoughtful content, we can inform audiences with credible information on Israel and the Jewish people and do our part to combat antisemitism,” OpenDor Media’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Savage told The Algemeiner. “Unfortunately, antisemitism is increasing rapidly in France, and around the world, and our hope is that by shedding light on the truth, we can help turn this troubling trend around.”
The YouTube videos on “On déballe!” discuss topics that would cater best to a French audience — like the Dreyfus Affair and whether or not Napoleon Bonaparte invented Judaism — as well as what was successful and popular among audiences on the “Unpacked” English channel, Savage explained.
OpenDor Media started talking about creating a French-language YouTube channel aimed at counteracting false narratives about Jews and Israel more than a year ago, when antisemitism was on the rise in France. However, following the “alarming” global rise in antisemitism following the deadly Hamas massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, “we began producing the content with more urgency,” Savage said.
He added that since Oct. 7, “Unpacked” has experienced on its English channel an increased interest in content about the Jewish people and Israel.
“The kind of ignorance and misinformation that leads to some of what we’ve seen on college campuses and elsewhere over these last few months existed before October 7. The antidote to that is education,” he added. “And so, even pre-October 7, we had been seriously considering how we could expand to reach new audiences in other languages. October 7 certainly added a degree of urgency to those plans. It also meant that many more people began reaching out to us from other countries asking if we would consider creating content in French, Spanish, German, Portuguese and other languages. Having tested the model in French, we would love to be able to do the same in these and other languages.”
Source of original article: Culture – Algemeiner.com (www.algemeiner.com).
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