Dear John,

Last night, the mood was electric at the Kennedy Center in Washington for the 30th Anniversary ADL In Concert Against Hate. Stars like Ben Stiller, Sia and Eden Golan entertained us and inspired us as we all work to fight antisemitism and hate the world over. Ben lightened up the mood with insight into his credits. “For 30 years I’ve been pretty discreet about my heritage disappearing into a diverse array of characters like: Chas Tenenbaum, Ted Stroehmann, Josh Kovaks, Josh Schrebnick, Matthew Meyerowitz, Roger Greenberg, Reuben Feffer, Gaylord Focker, and Rabbi Jacob Schram. Derek Zoolander apparently changed his name.” The jokes didn’t stop there, adding some humor to my introduction. “He has been named one of the “Top 50 Jews you don’t want to F— with.”

Ben Stiller and Jonathan Greenblatt

Hearing Eden Golan sing her Eurovision song, “October Rain,” with the National Symphony Orchestra was a powerful rebuke to all the antisemitism she faced at that contest in Europe earlier this year. Coming off an emergency trip I took to Amsterdam after the vicious attacks against Israeli soccer fans there, it reminded me how important it is for us to speak out, something I shared this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Sia

Eden Golan

That is something our honorees all have done.

Scooter Braun received the ADL Spotlight Award for bringing “The Nova Music Festival Exhibition: October 7th 06:29AM” to the U.S., where it has provided survivor testimonies and recreated the atmosphere of the harrowing Hamas attack. The powerful exhibit has been in NYC, LA and next Miami.

Scooter Braun (at center, in glasses) with survivors of the Nova Music Festival and guests.

Blair Underwood, Shiva Negar and Cynthia Mace joined us to honor our Kay Family Award recipients Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, Dr. Charles Chavis and Rosette Goldstein. We were honored to present the Levenson Family Defender of Democracy Award to Noa Fay, Luda Isakharov and Einav Tsach, students who both on campus and on Capitol Hill have put their college experience on the line in order to speak up for what’s right.

Kay Family Award recipients Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, Rosette Goldstein and Dr. Charles Chavis with Jonathan Greenblatt.

Levenson Family Defender of Democracy Award honorees Einav Tsach, Noa Fay and Luda Isakharov.

We need people like these honorees more than ever.

They set an example for us, they lead us and they remind us that all of us, in our own ways, need to rise to meet this moment.

I don’t want to miss the chance to invite the entire ADL community to another inspiring event. Never Is Now is coming to New York on March 3-4. So please join me there for the world’s largest summit on antisemitism and hate. If you click here and register now, you will get our Early Bird price for the summit.

I want to once again thank all of our Concert honorees, Zach Sage for helping us kick off the evening, our generous sponsors, and I thank you for all you do to Fight Hate for Good with ADL.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Greenblatt

CEO and National Director

ADL