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Working at a Disadvantage: Challenges for Jewish Employees Since 10/7
Since the 10/7 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza, Jewish employees have faced increased challenges. While many workplaces have been supportive of Jewish employees, it is evident that in a society with increased antisemitism, the workplace is not immune. ADL affiliate JLens has released a new report on this problem. Here are several key findings:
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Discrimination in Hiring: A recent ADL report found that Jewish and Israeli-American job seekers face discrimination in the hiring process.
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Workplace Hostility and Antisemitism: Workplaces have become increasingly hostile for Jewish employees. This includes companies large and small, as well as the nonprofit sector and academia — where both Jewish students and faculty have experienced this.
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Lack of Workplace Support: Jewish employees have also faced uphill battles seeking support in workplaces, such as through the formation of Jewish Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). You can also join ADL’s National Jewish ERG Network;
it’s a good way to connect with Jewish peers across the country to support each other about workplace concerns.
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The Need for a More Inclusive Workplace: This era has exposed new vulnerabilities for Jewish employees, highlighting the need for stronger workplace protections and policies. In the new report, JLens provides several key actions employers can take in order to establish a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitic behavior.
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There are Companies Doing Things Right: The JLens report spotlights three companies that are exemplary in building a welcoming workplace for their Jewish employees: Citigroup, Marriott and Medtronic.
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Antisemitic Threats Surge on Telegram Amid Israel-Iran Escalation:
Antisemitic threats and violent rhetoric on the prominent messaging platform Telegram surged by 594% following the recent escalation between Israel and the Iranian regime and have remained elevated in the week since, according to new research
from the ADL Center on Extremism. Telegram was selected for this analysis due to its significant popularity among extremists. Overall, our findings suggest coordinated messaging campaigns deploying extreme anti-Israel and anti-Zionist rhetoric. The nature of the antisemitic threats extended far beyond typical online harassment and into graphic calls for genocide and mass violence against Israelis and Jews. Read ADL’s analysis to see alarming examples of these online threats.
Hate Group: 764: 764 is a decentralized global network of online communities that glorify violence and engage in criminal activities. According to a
new report from the ADL Center on Extremism, the network is known for targeting and exploiting vulnerable individuals online, particularly children. 764’s core beliefs are rooted in nihilism and misanthropy, although it also draws influence from extremist movements, most notably the Satanic neo-Nazi organization Order of Nine Angles. The report includes examples of antisemitic messages and targets.
Read the full ADL report on how 764 spreads hate.
PODCAST What Happened In Boulder: An Insider’s Insights:
ADL Mountain States Director Susan Rona is not just a Boulder resident; she is a community leader and knows many of the victims of the firebombing where fifteen people were injured by a perpetrator who allegedly spent a year planning to target peaceful Jewish community members showing solidarity with Israeli hostages. Susan joined ADL’s ‘From the Frontlines’ podcast to share an inside look at what happened that day and in the aftermath, including action that ADL has been taking in the wake of what the FBI is calling a targeted act of terrorism.
Listen to this important podcast.
Understanding Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism:
Read this newly updated ADL strategy guide for clear explanations of what antisemitism and anti-Zionism are (and what they are not) and how these forms of hate target Jews both individually and as a collective; given the hostility facing the Jewish community that has escalated in response to world events, this update is very timely. Read ADL’s guide to Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism.
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Celebrating Jewish Pride in Austin:
In the spring of 2024, as communities across the nation were reeling from vitriolic anti-Israel protests, Austin LGBTQ+ Jews were worried about being harassed at the usually inclusive and joyful Pride Parade. Armed with ADL’s resources on identifying antisemitic rhetoric, leaders from Austin’s progressive Jewish community scheduled a meeting with the Pride organizers to offer guidance on keeping the parade inclusive and safe for Jewish participants. The Pride team incorporated it into their training presentation for parade volunteers.
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| ADL at the 2023 Austin Pride Parade |
That presentation unleashed an immediate backlash on social media. Within hours, the Pride organization capitulated: They publicly retracted the guidance, pledged to support the BDS movement and pointedly added that they did not work with the ADL. After the debacle, repeated attempts to connect with Pride organizers were met with total silence. It was heartbreakingly clear there were no safe spaces for LGBTQ+ Jews to celebrate without being harassed by activists, and we made the decision to disassociate from Austin’s Pride Parade.
So this year, ADL joined with Shalom Austin and partners including Congregation Beth Israel, Beth Shalom, A Wider Bridge and Queers Against Antisemitism to offer our own Jewish Pride events, including a “Jewish queer joy and resilience” happy hour and two Pride Shabbat services. We look forward to a time when LGBTQ+ Jews will no longer be harassed and marginalized by members of their own community. Until then, ADL will continue to work with our Jewish partners to provide meaningful, hate-free opportunities to celebrate with them. And we couldn’t be prouder to do it. If
you are in the Austin area, find out more about these Jewish community Pride events here.
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