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Dear Friends,


As we begin to wrap up February, we're reminded of the power of collective action, compassion, and the deep sense of community that makes our work at ADL so impactful. This month, the regional office is proud to celebrate not only the progress we've made in the beginning of 2025, but the strength that comes from standing together in solidarity against antisemitism, bias and hate. We have dealt with unimaginable heartache and distress as the world has held its breath for over a year, and now we know: Ariel and Kfir Bibas z”l were murdered in Hamas captivity. But the female body given to Israel was not the babies’ mother. Yarden Bibas survived nearly 500 days of torture and
unimaginable suffering, only to return to a shattered world where his family was gone. And now, upon confirmation that his baby boys are dead, he is left wondering: where is his wife, the mother of his children? Where is Shiri? May Ariel and Kfir’s memory forever be a blessing.


These moments of despair have brought painful gatherings of collective mourning and loss as we hope to see a day where every hostage is brought home safely. It is crucial that we see the importance of celebrating our positive steps forward—the resilience within our community, the support from allies, and the efforts to raise awareness. By sharing both the struggles and the triumphs, we can continue to inspire change and build a brighter, more understanding future for all.


I would like to begin by announcing a staffing update - I will be moving into a new role here at ADL. I will be stepping into the new Vice President, State and Local Advocacy position where I will become a part of the National Affairs team overseeing the development and execution of state and local policy campaigns that further ADL’s policy objectives. My focus will be on state and municipal legislative, executive and administrative campaigns and work across the entire organization to leverage our regional staff and volunteer leaders like yourselves to advocate for ADL’s mission in our state and local communities. I am incredibly excited about this new opportunity, and it is
bittersweet as I move on from my 5+ years in the region and serving as your Regional Director the past 3 years. Rest assured that I will still be around here in the D.C. area, and this will be a transition over the next few months. My sincere thanks to all of you for your incredible leadership and guidance and I look forward to working with all of you in the new role.


I am also incredibly excited to welcome Josh Stevens to the team. Josh is our new Deputy Regional Director and has hit the ground running. Josh is a seasoned nonprofit leader with nearly 20 years of experience in both professional and lay leadership roles. His career has spanned education, youth development, and philanthropy, including impactful tenures at BBYO and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), where he led operations, created sustainable processes, and developed innovative programs. Additionally, during his time at both of these organizations, he held roles that specifically served the DMV/Mid-Atlantic regions. Welcome, Josh!

Let's recap this past month.

During what was supposed to be American football’s biggest night, the Jewish community was once again targeted by
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Kanye West’s advertisement , which led to his website with a single item – a shirt with a swastika. This was followed by a slew of egregious tweets filled with antisemitism, racism and misogyny.
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ADL responded quickly , and we have even set up a way for you, our readers, to take action.
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Click here to tell Fox Sports to condemn this ad and to never platform hate again. We are as committed as we have ever been to fight hate for good. The hate may try to deter us, but it only fuels our determination to rise higher.


In our regional efforts, ADL D.C., American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) partnered to host a
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parent summit , which aimed to teach advocacy skills and strategies to navigate and combat antisemitism in kindergarten through 12 grade schools. In the higher education space,
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ADL D.C. and the Jewish Graduate Organization issued a statement echoing our concerns for an upcoming event at Georgetown Law’s SJP chapter, which features Ribhi Karajah, who has been identified as a member of the
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U.S.-designated terrorist organization PFLP , including multiple sources confirming his ties to a terror attack that killed an Israeli teenager. We will continue to monitor when institutions of learning host speakers who promote ideals that oppose our shared community values against hate, bias, and extremism.

To celebrate some exciting news, I am thrilled to remind you that
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ADL’s largest conference, Never is Now , is fast approaching on March 3-4, 2025. Never is Now is the world’s largest summit on antisemitism and hate, taking place at the Javits Centers in New York City. ADL is honored to be giving the
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2025 Changemaker Award to the sports icon and champion of equality, Billie Jean King! Tickets are available by
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clicking here.


February can serve as a time for reflection, renewal, and reigniting our commitment to our communities. It’s an opportunity to connect with one another, share stories of success, and continue pushing forward with renewed purpose. Together, we are shaping a future that reflects our shared values and aspirations. I look forward to all the success that comes our way, with thanks to each and every one of you!


Sincerely,

Meredith R. Weisel

ADL VP of State and Local Advocacy

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incident spotlight


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AJC, JCRC, and ADL D.C. partner to host a parent summit aimed to teach advocacy skills and strategies to navigate and combat antisemitism in kindergarten through 12th grade schools
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ADL D.C. and the Jewish Graduate Organization issue a statement echoing our concerns for an upcoming event at Georgetown Law’s SJP chapter, which features a speaker with ties to a terrorist organization

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impact in the community

ADL D.C. continuously does work on the ground to serve our communities. Through robust educational programs, speaking engagements, and advocacy, we empower the region to challenge hate, bias, bigotry, and extremism.
- ADL D.C. staff traveled to Richmond for Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day, speaking to lawmakers and staff about potential legislation and funding to combat antisemitism and protect the Jewish community
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ADL D.C. staff, alongside 3 brave UMD students, travelled to Annapolis, Maryland to testify in front of the General Assembly in support of
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HB0086 which would require Maryland schools to designate Title VI coordinators
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ADL D.C. and the Jewish Graduate Organization (JGO) issued a statement concerning Ribhi Karajah, a member of the U.S. designated terrorist organization PFLP speaking at Georgetown law
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Urge Maryland state legislators to support the Unmask Hate Act and take a stand against masked intimidation

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resources


- Southern Division Webinar (February 25 at 7 PM) Parent Webinar ADL's Southern Division invites you to participate in a session focused on Jewish student safety and inclusion in the K-12 setting. Parents and caregivers will be provided guidance on how to advocate for supportive education environments for their children and appropriate school response to incidents of antisemitism.
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Register here.
- ADL Webinar Series UNFILTERED (March 10 at 8 PM) Session 1: What Does Jewish Life Look Like on Campus? For students & parents/caregivers Hillel and Chabad directors from around the country will share insights about the “oys” and “joys” of Jewish life on campus. Learn how ADL supports students in these environments. The session will conclude with an open Q&A for both students and their parents/caregivers.
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Register here.
- Virtual Words to Action for Jewish High School Students (April 3 at 6:30 PM) ADL's Southern Division invites students in grades 9-12 to participate in Words to Action, with parental permission, a program to provide you with the knowledge and skills to constructively and effectively respond to antisemitism on the classroom and online. Please take a few moments to answer the following questions as completely as possible.
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Register here.

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national reports


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Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Sparks Fresh Wave of Antisemitism, Support for Terror from U.S. Anti-Zionist Activists
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Mis- and Disinformation Trends and Tactics to Watch in 2025
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The Houthis: A Long Tradition of Antisemitism and Anti-Israel Hate

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Podcast wrap-up

extremely Podcast January 2025: "Create Just Worlds: Can We Break Extremism’s Hold on Gaming?"
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Listen to the podcast here.
- Senior Vice President of Counter-Extremism & Intelligence, Oren Segal and Director of Content and Editorial Strategy, Jessica Reaves, spoke with Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat, a Policy Advisor on technology and law at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, about the dangers of unmoderated online gaming spaces. Without proper oversight, these platforms enable harmful behaviors, including hate speech and exploitation. Platforms like Steam have been found to host concerning content that directly contribute to extremism in our communities. They discuss how online hate has real-world consequences, as ADL surveys show that many players experience negative impacts beyond the gaming
atmosphere. This proves the urgent need for stronger protections against violence and discrimination in digital spaces.
- Want to learn more about extremism in gaming? Read COE’s report, “
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Steam-Powered Hate: Top Gaming Site Rife with Extremism & Antisemitism ”

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UPCOMING EVENTS


- Monday, February 24 from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM -
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Washington Hebrew Congregation is excited to present a special screening of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (2021). Directed by Abigail Graham, and performed by Shakespeare’s Globe, this is an incredible opportunity to see this timeless story in a unique setting. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion on the representation of antisemitism in the play. Panelists include:
- Pamela Nadell: Nadell holds the Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women’s and Gender History at American University. Her book, "America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today" won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award’s "Jewish Book of the Year." W.W. Norton will publish her new book Antisemitism, an American Tradition in October 2025. Past president of the Association for Jewish Studies, she consults to the museum planned for the rebuild of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life. She was the fourth witness in the Congressional hearing with the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania
- Meredith R. Weisel: Weisel serves as Vice President of State and Local Advocacy at the ADL and was the former Regional Director for the Washington, D.C. Regional Office. As part of the National Affairs team, Weisel oversees the development and execution of state and local policy campaigns that further ADL’s policy objectives. She focuses on state and municipal legislative, executive and administrative campaigns and works to leverage the regional staff and volunteer leaders to advocate for ADL’s mission in our state and local communities. She is an experienced attorney and government relations professional who has spent decades engaged in public policy and community issues.
- Meredith Jacobs: Jacobs is CEO of Jewish Women International (JWI), a 125-year-old nonprofit dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. Since assuming the role of CEO in 2020, Jacobs has shepherded the development of numerous JWI initiatives, including the National Center on Domestic & Sexual Violence in the Jewish Community. Under her leadership, JWI is spearheading state-wide advocacy efforts to achieve justice lending practices that would give survivors of financial abuse access to bank loans that would set them on the path to long-term economic security.

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Tickets are $20 for WHC Members, $25 for Non-members, and $10 for Students. Buy your tickets now!

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- March 19 from 8 PM - 9:30 PM -
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Join us at Congregation Har Shalom for the second session of the Combating Antisemitism series . This event is FREE, but registration is required.
- Confronting Antisemitism in the Workplace: Hear from experts, engage in real discussions, and gain practical tools to address antisemitism in professional settings.
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Sign up for the third and final event as well on April 3 from 8 - 9:30 PM, on addressing antisemitism on social media.

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get involved


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The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is in jeopardy.Funding to thousands of places of worship, community centers, and religious schools rely on this life-saving program. President Trump's potential cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will impact NSGP's ability to protect Jewish and faith-based institutions from extremist violence. We cannot sit idly by. NSGP offers resources to help religious institutions protect themselves against growing extremist threats such as bomb scares, harassment, cyber-attacks, and vandalism. This support includes funding for security cameras, guards, and emergency preparedness training, and it allows nonprofits to spend their
limited funds on community programs rather than security measures. Synagogues, mosques, and churches across the country are experiencing more threats of violence. Join ADL in urging the White House to keep the Nonprofit Security Grant Program off the chopping block.
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Click the button below to take action.

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TAKE ACTION

Combating Antisemitism
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Urge the Incoming Trump Administration to Prioritize Fighting Antisemitism
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Urge New Congress to Protect Houses of Worship
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Tell Congress to Support Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism
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Call On International Sports Federations to Stand Against Hate
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Demand an Accurate Entry on Zionism from Wikipedia
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Tell Amazon to Stop Profiting off Antisemitism Protecting Students
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Urge Your School District to Fight Antisemitism
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Tell Your State’s Department of Education to Combat Antisemitism in Schools
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National Independent Schools Must Eradicate Antisemitism Stopping Hate and Extremism
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Expose and End Masked Hate
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Whole-of-Internet Approach to Fighting Hate and Extremism
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Urge Social Media Platforms to Improve Content Moderation
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Keep Hate Off Facebook and Instagram
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​​​​​​​Make Online Gaming Safe Addressing October 7th
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Demand the UN and ICRC Work to Release the Hostages
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Call for Responsible Journalism Around the Crisis in Israel
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​​​​​​​Tell Associated Press to Label Hamas as a Terrorist Group





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