Tikkun Olam: Taking Action with the ADL to Improve the World
On what was likely the last balmy day in New York City before winter sets in, I joined colleagues Jessye Cotter, Danielle Brown-Clark and Danielle Notaro and Vilena Katanova Faynberg from Pfizer to attend the Anti-defamation League (ADL) Never is Now – The Summit on Antisemitism and Hate.
Walking into Javitz Convention Center we joined a large crowd energized by the opportunity to engage in candid discussions about anti-Semitism, the rise of hate and how the ADL is working for a just and inclusive society in which civil rights are protected.
The breakout sessions were inspiring. A favorite was on storytelling; Oren Jacobsen introduced his organization Shema (meaning to listen/understand in Hebrew) which helps American Jewish communities and allies navigate difficult conversations to help combat antisemitism and disrupt online hate. Sara Yakobi-Harris, documentary film maker and educator, spoke about the effects of remaining silent and how to recognize patterns of verbal harassment to create environments in which people can feel safe. Sara discussed her personal philosophy being rooted in pride as a Black Jewish woman. She encouraged knowing who we are and sharing our stories. Her work contributed to the Toronto public school system requiring that Holocaust curriculum be taught.
There was an impressive lineup of speakers, even a video cameo by President Biden with the simple message, “silence is complicity.” None of this is easy. Several speakers touched on the importance of not walking away from a just cause because someone in the group holds antisemitic or anti-Black racist opinions. They shared the impact of staying and speaking their truth one-to-one.
The highlight was seeing Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla who received the “Courage Against Hate” award. He mentioned tikkun olam (Hebrew for taking action intended to repair or improve the world) as his duty. Dr. Bourla’s parents were both Holocaust survivors, he reminded the audience that the Holocaust started with disinformation which led to hate and fear. He emphasized the contrast between disinformation vs. misinformation with the former being “false information knowingly and intentionally spread.”
We are in what he described as the “golden age of science for finding treatment and cures for disease” and sadly it is threatened by “dangerous rhetoric and spread of disinformation.”
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“We must rebuild trust in science, which is based on facts. On the truth. On what can be proven. Not on what we hope, think, presume or suspect.
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And we must work toward public discourse characterized by data-driven conversations and respectful debates – not personal attacks and the spreading of lies.”
Dr. Bourla spoke about being “outgunned by disinformation” during the pandemic and how we need to “flood the system with truth, having science, data-driven conversations as lives depend on it.” Proudly what we RealChems do every day!
Liz Cheney left us with the message, “toleration and acceptance of hate speech is one of most dangerous things” and “what is tolerated becomes the norm.”
Real Chemistry is a Shine A Light corporate partner and is committed to increasing awareness and taking action against antisemitism. To learn more about our partnership with the coalition, read the latest press release about how Shine A Light continues to stand up to antisemitism.
Thought leadership and resources to help challenge disinformation and combat hate:
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Confronting That They Hate Us: What Are We Going To Do About It? by Real Chemistry Founder and Chairman Jim Weiss
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ShineALighton.com, #ShineALight – A national initiative to raise awareness of modern-day antisemitism and encourage change
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It Could Happen Here, book by ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt
