This Week’s Topline

Demanding Action to Support Australian Jewry

Just days ago, our world was shattered again with the news of the tragic antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. People gathering to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah became the target of two brutally antisemitic terrorists where at least 15 innocent lives were lost.

As Daniel Aghion, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry emphasized on an ADL Fighting Hate from Home event this week, Australia has seen an alarming escalation since 10/7. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Australian Jewish community, and we call on the Australian Government to confront this hatred and protect the Jewish community.

In an exceptionally timely gathering, leaders of the world’s seven largest Jewish communities convened earlier this month in Australia as part of ADL’s J7 Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. Marina Rosenberg, ADL Senior Vice President, International Affairs and Susan Heller Pinto, ADL Vice President, International Policy were part of that J7 convening of groups representing the seven largest Jewish communities worldwide.

Our delegation stayed in Bondi Beach. We visited a synagogue in Melbourne, which had been firebombed a year ago, and went to a kosher restaurant that had been targeted in an arson attack. Both attacks were Iranian-led operations.

While in Sydney, ADL and our J7 allies met with Australian officials to deliver a clear message: “What begins with words, ends with violence.” Despite a comprehensive action plan developed six months ago by the government’s own Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, the Australian government has failed to adopt it. We joined our Australian colleagues in insisting they implement this plan immediately.

Now, after this outbreak of lethal violence on Australian soil, we call on Australia’s leaders to lead — to take concrete immediate action to keep Jewish communities safe and hold perpetrators accountable.

The memory of those murdered in Bondi Beach, and all victims of antisemitic terror, demands nothing less.

MAKING PROGRESS WITH ADL

Effective Advocacy Passes Laws: ADL Midwest played a central role in the passage of Illinois’s Civil Liability for Doxing Act (HB 2954), working with legislators and coalition members on the bill in response to rising incidents of doxing. ADL’s David Goldenberg testified in support of HB 2954 before both the House Judiciary-Civil Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

ADL volunteer Paul Arnold explains the effective push to support the bill.

We led a diverse coalition of organizations in support of the legislation, and our grassroots advocacy was instrumental in securing the bill’s unanimous passage through both chambers. ADL mobilized supporters to file over 400 witness slips in support of the legislation during hearings in both the House and Senate. The organization’s sustained engagement was rewarded when Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law in August 2023.

👉 HOW YOU CAN ADVOCATE AGAINST HATE: ADL volunteers meet with elected officials year-round to advocate for policies that protect our communities from hate and antisemitism. Sign up to join our next lobby day. Whether you’re new to advocacy or a seasoned volunteer, we’ll equip you with everything you need to make an impact.

What’s News

A Ringing Call to Fight Hate in Business: On the fourth night of Hanukkah, ADL and our affiliate JLens took center stage at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the bell in celebration of JLens’ Jewish advocacy ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund), the first Jewish investment fund to do so. The ETF aims to amplify the Jewish voice in the corporate arena through shareholder advocacy. JLens experts assess companies based on metrics addressing antisemitism, supporting Israel and aligning with Jewish communal priorities. “Ringing the bell is a testament to what happens when the Jewish community comes together to advocate for our values and ensure that concerns about antisemitism are taken seriously in the corporate boardroom, which has increasingly become a key arena for these issues,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

Heard on the Hill: ADL held its National Board Lobby Day, bringing together ADL professional leaders and board members to meet with key legislators from both parties. The meetings underscored ADL's commitment to combating rising antisemitism through policy advocacy and bipartisan engagement. We advanced three core legislative priorities:

1. Urging political leaders to confront antisemitism within their own parties clearly and consistently
2. Advocating for increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to protect at-risk institutions
3. Seeking co-sponsorship of the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act (PATA) to ensure greater transparency in tech companies' content moderation practices

Who we met with: Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), David McCormick (R-PA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK); Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA).

ADL Guide to Responding to Campus Incidents: This new resource lays out a simple, campus-wide model for how institutions can respond quickly and consistently when antisemitic incidents occur. It explains the essential steps schools should take to protect students and staff, communicate clearly, and meet legal and safety obligations. The blueprint reflects ADL’s experience working with more than 100 campuses nationwide and serves as an easy-to-use guide for any college looking to strengthen trust, accountability and a sense of safety across its community. Get the guide here.

ON-DEMAND VIDEO: Hidden Lives, Holocaust Stories: ADL’s Education team and our partners recently hosted a special online event: “Hidden Lives: Stories from Child Survivors of the Holocaust.” It is now available for on-demand viewing for educators and anyone interested in learning more about the experiences of hidden children during the Holocaust and the impact that had on their lives. This program featured powerful reflections from Holocaust survivors Rachelle Goldstein, Cordula Hahn and Dr. Robert Krell. The full recording of this event is free here; you do need to register to view it.

Social Spotlights

@ADL

As @JGreenblattADL told @CNN’s @DavidGoldmanCNN “If you ever wondered if there was a year to light the menorah, this is the year.” Hope, pride, strength and resilience matter in the face of antisemitism, this year more than ever. #TogetherWeLight News link.

@ADL

Here we go again. Downgrading swastikas and nooses to “potentially divisive” is unacceptable. These are unambiguous hate symbols used to terrorize, exclude, and incite violence. The Coast Guard should immediately fix this policy and make clear that hate has no place in our military. News link.

@ADL_NYNJ

We are horrified by this reported frightening assault targeting Orthodox Jews on a @MTA NYC subway. As the Jewish community worldwide — and @Chabad in particular — is reeling from the massacre in Bondi Beach, it's painful that violent antisemitism persists in our home in NYC. Jewish NYers must be able to safely ride the subways and walk the streets of NYC without being targets. We are in touch with @ShomrimCH and @NYPDNews to learn more.