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Dear John,
Amid this week of mourning for the six hostages, this was perhaps the most heart-wrenching day I’ve ever had in Israel. My soul suffered as I sat with hostage families and rescued hostages this evening in Tel Aviv, listening to their stories, each more harrowing than the next.
What a painful week it’s been. But I can tell you firsthand from the ground in Israel, the fortitude and resilience here is absolutely inspiring. As someone told me at Kibbutz Be’eri, the home of many who were murdered on 10/7, “there is no other way.”
Before you read this week’s Antisemitism Briefing, I want to make sure you saw this message of both agony and unity I wrote for the ADL community.
We are devasted by Hamas’ murder of six hostages who were kidnapped on 10/7 and send our deepest condolences to their families. This week, thousands of people will visit these families to offer comfort and support as they sit shiva. For millions around the world, Ori, Carmel, Hersh, Alex, Almog and Edan will live on forever in our hearts.
We will not rest until all the hostages in Gaza are released. #bringthemhome
| Sincerely, |
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| Jonathan Greenblatt |
| CEO and National Director |
| ADL |
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Campus Antisemitism Legal Protection Helpline Busy
This week, Hillel International, ADL, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP reported that the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) has received more than 650 requests for assistance from university students across the country who experienced antisemitic harassment, violence or discrimination in the first nine months of the program.
“As antisemitism on campus skyrockets, CALL is making a difference in the lives of Jewish students every day by providing outstanding legal support to fight harassment and bigotry,” said Jonathan Greenblatt. “CALL empowers students to take action and push back against those who perpetrate and enable hate on their campus.”
The CALL helpline remains ready to assist and support Jewish students who face antisemitic incidents on campus. Students, family members, faculty or staff members can go to the CALL website or text “CALLhelp” to 51555 to report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence that may necessitate legal action.
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Meta Decides Antisemitic Phrase is Not Hate Speech. We Disagree:
Yesterday, Meta’s company-funded oversight board ruled that the slogan “from the river to the sea” did not violate the company’s rules against hate speech, inciting violence or praising dangerous organizations. In a letter to Meta’s oversight board, ADL underscored its belief that the phrase is hate speech. “The rallying cry, which is enshrined in the charter of Hamas,
has long been used by anti-Israel voices, including supporters of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and the PFLP, which seek Israel’s destruction through violent means.” Read the whole letter and examples of the phrase in use on Meta platforms here.
Countering BDS Efforts on Campus: ADL affiliate JLens is rolling out a series of posts aimed to counter efforts to pressure universities to divest their endowments from companies conducting business in Israel. This week, we highlight the first two in that series.
Campus Divestment Campaigns: The Demands and the Consequences. Anti-Israel protests and encampments became regular fixtures on many college campuses over the last year. This wave of protests is the latest iteration of the wider Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign aimed at delegitimizing and pressuring Israel. Articulating a clear, convincing case against divestment is increasingly urgent, so JLens breaks out the key ways that you and other opponents of BDS on campus can do just that.
Read our case against divestment here.
The Economic Risks of Divestment from Israel for University Endowments. During the Spring 2024 semester, some universities agreed to formally consider protesters’ demands that their endowments divest from companies with business interests in Israel. It is the latest iteration of the years-long BDS campaign that seeks to isolate Israel economically. However, acquiescing to these demands carries significant economic risks that can easily have a deep negative impact on those endowments.
Read about the risks here.
WEBINAR: Tackling Online Hate & Harassment Through Shareholder Advocacy. In May, ADL and JLens joined a group of fellow investors in urging shareholders to vote in favor of a shareholder proposal on Meta’s ballot that called on the company to address critical issues of hate speech, antisemitism and cyberbullying to protect kids on its social media platforms. JLens will be hosting a webinar on Monday, September 9th from 1-1:45 pm EDT / 10-10:45 am PDT
with Daniel Kelley, Acting Head of the ADL Center for Technology and Society, to share insights into the proliferation of antisemitism and hate at social media and tech companies and discuss what shareholders are doing to tackle online hate and harassment. Register now for this eye-opening discussion.
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This year, ADL celebrates the 25th Anniversary of No Place for Hate, ADL’s student-led school climate improvement initiative. This innovative program has impacted millions of students and educators in thousands of schools around the country and helped both create more inclusive and welcoming learning environments and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.
Watch this educator describe how No Place for Hate helped her school navigate an antisemitic incident.
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Make your voice heard! Support American October 7th terror victims.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, with material support from Iran, Syria, and North Korea conducted the largest antisemitic attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
We urge you to reach out to your Member of Congress to ask that they cosponsor and support swift passage of the American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act. This bill will ensure the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund has the proper funding to make critical payments to victims and their families for the foreseeable future.
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