Insights

They have also matched their legacy gift with a current donation to ADL of identical value. Doing something in the moment and in the future was important to them. The dual gift symbolizes their present and future commitment to the preservation of the Jewish people.

“That is why contributing to the ADL now, in our lifetimes, and after we are gone is important — for us and the Jewish community.” — Judy Meyer

Judy remembers Shabbat morning services with her father when she was four. He would lean down and whisper the Hebrew prayer words so she could recite them. Marshall’s great-grandfather served as treasurer of his temple in Washington, D.C., and his father was a founder of another congregation in the area, Temple Sinai.

Judy had her Bat Mitzvah at 13, and Marshall was Bar Mitzvahed at 81. Continually involved in their Jewish communities, they currently belong to Beth David Synagogue in suburban Philadelphia, where Judy is a solicitor and on the executive committee. They helped build what is only the third synagogue in Idaho — dedicated last July — that is the new home of the Wood River Jewish Community of Sun Valley, where Marshall served as president.

Each grew up in a world that offered them rare opportunities. For Judy, it was the feminist revolution that made entrance to law school possible. However, she took to heart the tales of her great uncle who got a Ph.D. in chemistry but was refused an interview at DuPont because DuPont did not hire Jews. Marshall grew up in a world where there were Jewish quotas at the universities where he applied and where he later was a professor. Yet the couple remains keenly aware of the insidious dangers of stereotyping and discrimination and that it is Jews who are so often targeted. ADL may never stamp out irrational hatred of the Jewish people, but as we know from Rabbi Tarfon in the Pirkei Avot, “You are not required to finish your work, yet neither are you permitted to desist from it.”

The results were staggering. Among U.S. adults, 52% reported having been being harassed online at some point in their life. Additionally, one-third of adults and more than one-half of teens reported being harassed in the previous 12 months. The percentages of reported hate and harassment have spiked for those in marginalized groups including Jews, LGBTQ+ people and people of color.

Fanning the Flames of Hate

As to what might be driving these results: Hateful rhetoric from political leaders, celebrities and other public figures often spurs online hate, just as online hate can often spur offline harm.

Political mobilization around transgender rights, reproductive rights, voting rights and racial justice over the past year has contributed to toxicity and harassment in online spaces.

For years, social media platforms have been paying lip service to trust and safety, insisting their teams have things under control. But the lived experience of social media users is telling us a very different story — that harassment on social media is sustained and is getting worse. It is time for social media companies to truly protect users against hate, and for policymakers to require these companies to fully report on how they are actually enforcing their own rules.

What ADL Does to Fight Online Hate & Harassment

ADL works every day to break the cycle of online hate and harassment so digital spaces are safe and equitable for all people. Through initiatives like Backspace Hate, ADL advocates for stronger legislation, enhanced enforcement mechanisms and increased public awareness. ADL actively collaborates with legislators to update cyberharassment laws, and we provide resources to platforms and the public.

If you encounter hate online, we encourage you to report it to the platform. You can also take action by joining ADL’s petition to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to do more to support victims of online hate. Learn more on our website.

Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do to care for yourself and your family and the causes that are meaningful to you. And it doesn’t have to be complicated:

1.  Think about the loved ones and causes you’d like to support.

2.  Update your beneficiary designations on your financial accounts.

3.  Create a will that reflects your wishes and priorities.

4.  Feel the peace of mind that comes with knowing your loved ones and favorite causes will be supported.

There are a variety of ways to make a difference — one may be right for you. A gift through your will, life insurance policy, retirement or other financial account costs you nothing now but is a powerful statement of your values and the legacy you would like to be remembered for. You can change your mind at any time if your needs change, and we gratefully welcome these gifts in any amount.

If you wish to include a gift for ADL in your will or name ADL as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance or other financial account, the following language may be helpful:

“I give [written amount or percentage of estate or description of property] to the Anti-Defamation League Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation, having its principal offices at 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-3560, to be used for its general purposes. Tax ID number: 13-2887439″

To learn how you can ensure a better future for all with a legacy gift for ADL, request our free publications here.

Please share your wishes with us! We hope you will let us know if you have named ADL in your plans so we can thank you, confirm your intentions and welcome you to our Livingston Legacy Society.

Our team of gift planning experts would also be happy to discuss your options with you. Please contact them at 888-235-9710 or by email at plannedgiving@ADL.org.