Dear ADL: there’s no place for “No Place For Hate” in our schools

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) claims to both fight for justice and stand up for the State of Israel. Are these goals mutually exclusive?

by Kathryn Shihadah

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is a self-proclaimed “worldwide leader in anti-bias education” and “a relentless advocate for vulnerable communities of all kinds.” The organization claims that it is “viewed as having unquestioned credibility.” 

As a self-identified watchdog for the world, this private institution has worked its way into schools, communities, and various levels of government. Through its training programs (some offered for free), it has influenced over one million children and adults. 

The ADL (in partnership with Everfi –  “empowering organizations everywhere to instill knowledge around critical topics in the classroom, in the office and in the community”) released its newest school program this month: BINAH (Building Insights to Navigate Antisemitism and Hate). Its goal is to train students to “identify as global citizens with respect for all people.”

But before entrusting the hearts and minds of our children to more of the ADL’s agenda, it is worth investigating the organization that otherwise is accountable to no one.

That is, does the Anti-Defamation League practice what it preaches?

ADL’s other agenda

The ADL cites as its guiding principle what it calls the “Jewish values” of respect, collaboration, inclusion, integrity, credibility, accountability (values not at all exclusive to Jewish individuals, but espoused by most religious and non-religious groups).

Notably, many Jews (as well as non-Jews) regard these values to be incompatible with the ADL’s less heralded ambition: supporting and defending the state of Israel at any cost… [read full article here]