Editor’s note: Due to the Jewish High Holidays, next week’s edition will come on Friday. For those who observe, we wish you an easy fast and a positive start to the new year.

This Week’s Topline

Heartbreaking and Inspiring Moments...

Since the horrific attacks of October 7, ADL has been fully engaged in supporting Israel and standing with Jewish communities worldwide as they face an unprecedented surge of antisemitism. Last week, an ADL delegation visited Israel on a journey that was both heartbreaking and inspiring; we want to share their insights with you.

ADL leaders on either side of Itzik Horn, in support of the hostages. #BringThemBackHome

At Kibbutz Nir Oz, where one in four residents was either murdered or kidnapped on 10/7, the delegation walked through the devastation and heard testimonies of unimaginable brutality. The group planted an olive tree in the ADL community’s name — a living symbol of peace, resilience and renewal. The delegation held intimate meetings with families of the hostages, listening to their painful stories and sharing in their unwavering hope for the safe return of their loved ones. These conversations reinforced our determination to keep their plight at the forefront of global attention.

We met with top leaders: President Isaac Herzog, Supreme Court President Justice Yitzhak Amit, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee gave invaluable insights into the nation’s challenges.

Equally powerful were meetings with leaders of Israel’s Bedouin, Bahá’í, Ahmadi and Druze communities. For ADL, strengthening relationships with non-Jewish communities and forging partnerships to combat hate and advance social cohesion reflects the very heart of Israel’s diverse society.

This visit was a vivid reminder that even in the darkest times, the bonds of solidarity and the commitment to shared living can light the way forward.

More from Israel: Watch a clip from Jonathan Greenblatt’s interview on an Israeli radio station about antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the U.S.

What’s News

Goals @ UN: This week is UN High Level Week, where world leaders have gathered to address the UN General Assembly. On the sidelines, ADL and our Jewish communal partners are meeting with dozens of heads of state and government, foreign ministers and other dignitaries to raise major issues of concern to the Jewish community, including: the unprecedented global spike in antisemitism; the hostages and ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza; the Islamic Republic of Iran’s malign influence and terror sponsorship; the need for reform within the UN, including how the body addresses internal antisemitism; and concerns about unilateral declarations that prematurely recognize a Palestinian state, ignore Israel’s security needs and reward terrorism. Learn more about ADL’s positions on these pressing issues.

VIDEO: Confronting Youth Radicalization: ADL recently held a briefing on Pathways to Youth Violence: Understanding the Threat Landscape. This was a special event for ADL’s Frontline donor recognition society, and now we want to share the recording with our entire ADL community. It featured ADL experts who revealed our latest findings on how extremist online spaces are radicalizing youth and fueling real-world violence. We encourage you to share this timely briefing with others. Watch it now. You can also read more in an ADL report on common elements in recent cases of youth violence.

Countering Anti-Israel Investor Reports: ADL-affiliate JLens has released a new investor whitepaper on how a pair of new United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) pieces may mislead investors while advancing an anti-Israel agenda. The JLens paper explains how, while the UNHCR documents are deeply flawed and ideologically driven, they have the potential to give the mistaken impression that the UN institutionally supports these campaigns, potentially fueling real-world discrimination and antisemitic actions. Read the JLens whitepaper.

Backgrounder: Aryan Freedom Network: The ADL Center on Extremism has just updated our report on the Aryan Freedom Network (AFN), which started as an online white supremacist networking site but has evolved into a membership organization that as of September 2025, claims to have chapters in 41 states. Among the activity this year: In April, four members of AFN marched down the streets of Marion, Iowa, carrying an AFN flag and a placard reading, “Scrutiny is not antisemitic. Diversity destroys social cohesion. America is a vassal state of Israel.” Read more about this antisemitic extremist group.

MAKING PROGRESS WITH ADL

Mobilizing the Law to Combat Antisemitism: Antisemitism and the Law, a groundbreaking new casebook, fills a long-overlooked gap in legal education at a time when studying and understanding the nearly 3,000-year trajectory of antisemitism in the legal arena has never been more vital. As Professor Robert Katz observes in the introduction to his casebook, “The law has the power both to oppress and to liberate.” ADL was proud to provide major support for this casebook, and we encourage its use in law schools and other educational institutions nationwide. Read more about this compelling and important new volume.

Social Spotlights

@ADL

ADL is deeply concerned by the decision of a number of countries to prematurely recognize a Palestinian state outside the framework of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. This decision fails to require the release of the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas as preconditions — effectively rewarding Hamas’ terrorism and those who seek to undermine Israel’s security. ADL has long supported a mutually negotiated two-state solution. However, this process requires direct negotiations, not unilateral declarations, as this only emboldens extremists and creates even more obstacles to future peace. Beyond these immediate concerns, we know that one-sided rhetoric related to Israel and the conflict can create an atmosphere which adversely impacts the security and well-being of global Jewish communities.

@JGreenblattADL

My grandfather escaped Nazi Germany. It’s especially heartbreaking to see, in 2025, a German store with a sign in its window: “Jews are banned from here.” The hate and discrimination are vile and direct, and there needs to be consequences. News link.

@ADL

We’re proud to launch our new Joint Threat Intelligence Partnership with CSI-NY, the first national intelligence network focused specifically on protecting Jewish communities. Read more in @eJPhil.

@ADL’s Incident Tracker

The @ADL_tracker feed of news and developments in antisemitism activities.

Man accused of antisemitic harassment at Temple Moses in Miami Beach. News Link.

— September 25, 2025 Read the full post

Anti-LGBTQ, antisemitic graffiti painted outside of Long Beach Pride headquarters. News link.

— September 22, 2025 Read the full post

Fire at Chabad of Charlotte County FL under criminal investigation. News link.

— September 22, 2025 Read the full post

See more from ADL’s Incident Tracker.