Anti-Defamation League Shares with Students

Anti-Defamation League Midwest Regional Director David Goldenberg met with Upper School students and faculty to share more about his organization and the current state of antisemitism.

Upper School student leaders of the Jewish Student Connection invited Goldenberg to provide information and context to Parker community members interested in learning more about how the current situation in the Middle East affects us all.

Goldenberg introduced the ADL as the leading anti-hate organization in the world; its roots go back to 1913 when it was founded to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment for all. He explained that you can't fight one form of hate without fighting them all, and the ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, the ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society. Goldenberg shared that last year alone, his organization was credited with stopping more than 20 individuals who intended to cause harm to Jewish, Black and Muslim communities, among others.

Moving to the topic of antisemitism, Goldenberg asked for a show of hands of those who suspect they have been a victim of antisemitism at some point in time. He pointed out that one didn’t need to be Jewish to experience antisemitic hate, and antisemitic acts can be verbal or non-verbal and directed at institutions and property as well as people.

Goldenberg shared that just as incidences of Muslim hate increased following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, incidences of antisemitic hate have increased exponentially around the globe in the weeks following the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7. He also offered that inaccurate or misleading information adults and teenagers are freely sharing on social media is perceived as threatening by some, and not everyone feels comfortable or equipped with good, factual information.

Senior Benjamin Kagan, one of the student leaders of JSC said, “Hearing from Mr. Goldenberg was incredibly informative and helped me to better understand the conflict. His talk was inspiring, and I am now even more motivated to keep fighting hate of all varieties.”

When a student asked how a community of disparate people can come together and support each other on an issue like the one that currently presents itself in the Middle East, Goldenberg emphasized that, while we can’t control what is happening overseas, we can control what takes place in our schools and local communities. He suggested that all points of view on this issue need to acknowledge that the other is hurting and also being targeted.

Parker thanks the student leaders of the Upper School Jewish Student Connection for making this learning experience available and to David Goldenberg for sharing his expertise.

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