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Welcome to Advocacy Matters. We're here to keep you informed about the political issues that impact the ADL community and empower you to act against antisemitism and hate. (If you received this email from someone and want to subscribe, please sign up here.
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Antisemitism is rising at alarming rates across all communities, but we know that lasting change in fighting hate happens when we build coalitions that cross traditional boundaries. That's why we're excited to share news of a groundbreaking partnership
announced last month: ADL's historic alliance with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), the largest Latino Christian organization in the United States, representing over 42,000 churches.
This first-of-its-kind collaboration between ADL and a national Hispanic Christian body signals a powerful new chapter in interfaith solidarity.
Read on to learn more and take action yourself. | |
I'm Max Sevillia, SVP of National Affairs at ADL, and I'm sitting down today with Jackie Subar, our National Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Rev. Wendell Shelby-Wallace, our Associate Director of Community Partnerships. Jackie, why is this NHCLC partnership such a big deal? | |
 We are talking about 42,000 churches across the nation and Latin America committed to building what they call "a firewall" against antisemitism. Last year we recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents—the highest number since we started tracking in the 1970s.
Ten times what it was less than a decade ago. This partnership creates a united front at a moment when we desperately need it.
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Can I add to that? Because here is what I'm hearing from Hispanic Christian leaders: they're deeply troubled by attacks on their community and on the Jewish community. Many feel called to act but don't know how. This partnership provides the structure to turn that concern into action, such as in support of legislation. | |
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Jackie, how are these attacks connected?
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Look, antisemitic theories drove violence in Pittsburgh at Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 and at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019, when the gunman targeted the Hispanic community. Same hatred, different targets. So, on this issue at least, we stand united.
The fight against hate requires moral courage, not theological uniformity.
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That is exactly what Jonathan [Greenblatt, ADL CEO] spoke about at the NHCLC summit—b'tzelem Elohim, the idea that everyone is created in God's image. When he opened with that teaching from Genesis, you could see it resonate with NHCLC leaders. That's our shared foundation. | |
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So what does this partnership actually look like on the ground?
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We're launching a 12-month Antisemitism Awareness Curriculum for Latino Christian communities. Multilingual social media campaigns. Faith-based resources. Joint advocacy work. Imagine 42,000 congregations speaking with one voice to legislators about campus antisemitism.
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And here's what is exciting—the partnership is already producing results. Within days of the announcement, we hosted a hate crimes training with over 130 Mexican consular staff. Pastor Roberto Albino, Director of the Center for Public Policy within NHCLC, was a featured speaker. Pastors who participated now have concrete tools to protect their communities. | |
Exactly. So many Hispanic communities experience hate but don't know where to turn. When a trusted faith leader says, "Here's what to do," that changes everything.
For example, NHCLC shared the ADL announcement of the Mamdani Monitor in their newsletter. This unprompted support to ensure the safety of Jewish New Yorkers is the perfect example of how partners are amplifying our work and fighting antisemitism.
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Amazing. What about local action? What can everyday people do?
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This is my favorite part. At the announcement, Jonathan challenged both communities: Christian leaders, visit your Jewish neighbors. Introduce yourself to your local rabbi. Jewish communities, do the same with your Christian neighbors and local pastors. This work is about showing our congregations what it looks like when Christians and Jews stand shoulder to shoulder. | |
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Imagine Hispanic pastors standing up publicly against antisemitism. Jewish leaders showing up when a church is threatened. Communities modeling fellowship instead of division. Next, we are bringing this partnership to Kulanu congregations to build a bridge between synagogues and churches to fight antisemitism. |
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What do you think about success a year from now, what does that look like?
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Hispanic Christian leaders calling out antisemitism when they see it. This partnership becoming a permanent fixture of our anti-hate work. We are tracking how many churches complete training, how many faith leaders join advocacy campaigns.
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For me, it's when fighting antisemitism becomes part of the moral fabric of Hispanic Christian communities. Not an add-on—part of who they are. That’s the spirit and guiding principle of this heartfelt partnership. | |
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Final thoughts?
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We want hundreds of NHCLC members at Never is Now! We are preparing to host a big, big delegation of them as core to the largest summit of people to fight antisemitism.
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And honestly, when Christians and Jews stand together, we're modeling the kind of solidarity our democracy needs. Building bridges. | |
TAKE ACTION
The fight against antisemitism requires all of us. When we build bridges across communities—when we visit our neighbors, introduce ourselves, and stand shoulder to shoulder—we create an unshakeable foundation for justice and peace.
Urge Congress to pass the Pray Safe Act—bipartisan legislation that ensures synagogues, churches, and other houses of worship have access to security grants, training and resources to protect congregants from hate-motivated attacks. |
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