Stop Pretending Antisemitism is Just a PR Problem

I've been in this industry longer than some of its self-proclaimed "thought leaders" have been alive.

And as a very visibly Orthodox Jew, let me tell you—it’s like showing up to a country club in a spacesuit. The stares, the awkward half-smiles, the “so… what exactly are you?” expressions. And then, of course, the comments. Oh, the comments.

Some are just garden-variety ignorance—“Wait, I heard Orthodox Jews don’t believe in Jesus?” (Mazel tov, you’ve cracked the code on the entire premise of Judaism.) Others are more insidious, delivered with that condescending “I’m just curious” tone that people use when they really mean, “I’m going to challenge your right to exist.” And my personal favorite: the unsolicited lectures from people who claim to have a Jewish great-great-grandparent and think that gives them the authority to explain my own faith to me.

Let’s not pretend this industry hasn’t had a long history of keeping Jews on the margins. Ad agencies had unwritten (and sometimes written) rules against hiring Jews, ensuring the executive suites stayed “clean.” The doors cracked open in the 1960s, but cracks don’t mean the foundation changed. The same biases, the same exclusion—just wrapped in more polite language.

And then there’s anti-Judaism, the cousin of antisemitism that too many people ignore. It’s not about hating Jews as people, it’s about dismissing Jewish beliefs with smug superiority. It’s the know-it-alls who barely know what a mezuzah is but feel entitled to tell me what I should believe. And somehow, it’s usually the same people who call themselves “culturally sensitive” because they eat bagels and once watched Fiddler on the Roof.

I’ve cut ties with PR firms that refused to acknowledge blatant antisemitism because, apparently, it’s fine to make sweeping generalizations about Jews as long as you couch it in “we’re just asking questions” nonsense.

And those questions?

Always the same: Why do Jews control X? Why do Jews believe Y? Why aren’t Jews speaking out about Z? Funny how no one ever asks these things about any other group. Just us.

Then there’s the industry's favorite game: pretending antisemitism doesn’t exist while loudly proclaiming their commitment to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—unless you’re Jewish, in which case, good luck). Brands will slap their logo on every social justice movement, but when Jewish employees flag antisemitism? Silence. Or worse, gaslighting: Are you sure it was antisemitic? Maybe you’re reading too much into it. Right, because history has shown that Jews are known for overreacting to this kind of thing.

And let’s talk about social media—the cesspool where antisemitism has become a viral marketing opportunity. Hate spreads faster than a meme, and advertising dollars are happily funding platforms that host full-blown Jew-hatred disguised as “free speech.” Major brands are still getting caught with their ads running alongside neo-Nazi content, and the response is always the same: Oh, we had no idea! Sure. Just like you had no idea that hiring exclusively from your country club resulted in zero diversity.

It’s not just the overt hate—it’s the quiet complicity. Agencies keep running campaigns with influencers who spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. Brands make splashy PR moves about fighting hate while quietly pulling back from supporting Jewish causes. Executives think including one token Jew in their DEI report means they’ve done the work.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t just some abstract moral issue. It’s a business one. The same industry that prides itself on understanding audiences is willfully ignoring one of the oldest, most persecuted, and most resilient communities. If you can’t grasp why that’s a problem, you’re in the wrong business.

So, I’m starting Advertising Against Antisemitism—not to expose or attack anyone, but to use my voice, to use the market, to raise awareness, educate, and change this industry.

This isn’t a hard choice. It’s the right one.

And I invite others to stand with me.

Ari Paparo, Allison Schiff, Shelly Rodgers, Jim Cooper, Will Lee—this is bigger than any industry squabbles. Let’s put aside any possible differences we have about adtech and move forward together.

Antisemitism isn’t some niche issue, and it’s not just about Kanye.

It’s happening in boardrooms, in hiring decisions, in media buys. It’s time to take a stand.

DEI Doesn’t Mean “Don’t Include Jews”

Let’s get one thing straight: If your diversity initiatives conveniently forget to mention antisemitism, you’re not actually fighting hate—you’re just curating your outrage for maximum applause.

The advertising industry loves to position itself as a beacon of inclusivity.

Panels! Summits! LinkedIn posts filled with all the right buzzwords!

But when it comes to confronting antisemitism, suddenly, everyone loses their voice. If there’s a PR-friendly movement to jump on, brands are all in.

But standing up for Jews? That’s when the excuses start rolling in. “It’s complicated.” “We don’t want to alienate anyone.” “We’re just asking questions.” Right.

And I’m just rolling my eyes so hard they’re about to dislocate.

Step One: Stop Pretending Antisemitism Is an Afterthought

Newsflash: Jews don’t just sometimes experience hate. Antisemitism isn’t some rare, niche issue that pops up only when Kanye West has a meltdown. It’s an ancient, deeply embedded form of discrimination that persists, in new packaging, century after century. And yet, when companies roll out their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) reports, Jews are often left out—or worse, lumped into vague “white-adjacent” categories that erase our history, our struggles, and our very identity.

Let me be clear: If your company claims to be anti-hate but remains silent when antisemitism rears its ugly head, you are not inclusive. You are selective. And let’s not pretend we don’t see through it.

Step Two: Hold Platforms Accountable—Or Admit You’re Complicit

Big brands love to make a show of their values—until those values require actual accountability. Social media has become a megaphone for antisemitic conspiracy theories, yet ad dollars continue flowing into platforms that allow this garbage to thrive. Sure, some brands pause advertising when a scandal breaks, but the moment the headlines fade? Right back in the pool.

If you’re a CMO or media buyer still pouring money into platforms that profit off hate speech, let’s just say it plainly: You’re complicit. You know where your ads are running. You know what kind of content is being monetized. Stop playing dumb.

And don’t give me the “we don’t control where our ads go” excuse. You control exactly where your ads go when it comes to brand safety concerns for other groups. So why is it that antisemitism is always a blind spot?

Step Three: Hire Jewish Employees—And Actually Listen to Them

This one should be obvious, but somehow it’s not. Hiring Jewish employees doesn’t just mean sprinkling a few into junior roles and calling it a day. It means putting Jews in actual leadership positions—ones where they have the power to make decisions, shape policies, and call out antisemitic nonsense before it turns into a full-blown crisis.

And here’s a wild thought: Once you hire them, listen to them. If your Jewish employees say something is antisemitic, believe them the first time. Don’t gaslight them with, “Oh, are you sure? Maybe it wasn’t meant that way.” Jews don’t get the luxury of misunderstanding centuries of persecution.

And while we’re at it—stop treating us like a monolith. Judaism is a diverse, global community, not just a handful of media-friendly stereotypes. Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi, religious, secular—we’re not all the same, and pretending we are is just another way to erase us.

Step Four: Acknowledge Anti-Judaism as Its Own Issue

Antisemitism gets all the headlines, but anti-Judaism—the outright rejection and mockery of Jewish religious beliefs—is just as pervasive. This industry is full of executives who would never dare mock another religion but think it’s perfectly fine to dismiss Jewish observance as outdated or inconvenient.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been made to feel like an inconvenience in this industry just for existing as an observant Jew. Kosher dietary restrictions? “Ugh, why can’t you just eat vegetarian?” Needing to leave early for Shabbat? “Wow, must be nice to have a weekly holiday!” Right, because explaining to an entire room why I can’t check email on Saturday is definitely a luxury.

If your company is rolling out inclusive policies for religious minorities but still making observant Jews feel unwelcome, guess what? You’re part of the problem.

Step Five: Call Out Antisemitism—Not Just When It’s Easy

It’s easy to tweet about fighting antisemitism after a synagogue attack makes national news. It’s easy to throw in a generic “we stand against hate” statement when the backlash is big enough. You know what’s hard? Speaking up when there’s no PR pressure to do so. Calling it out when it’s happening in your own industry. Standing up for Jews even when it might not be the popular thing to do.

Because let’s be real—most people in this industry only call out antisemitism when there’s zero risk involved. They want to be seen as “good allies,” but only when it doesn’t require them to challenge actual power structures. If you’re only against hate when it’s convenient, you’re not against hate at all.

Final Thought: Either Mean It, Or Stop Pretending

Inclusion is either for everyone, or it’s for no one. You don’t get to pick and choose which types of hate are worth fighting based on how easy they are to market. If your company claims to be committed to diversity but treats antisemitism like an afterthought, your DEI statement is nothing more than corporate cosplay.

So here’s the challenge: Next time you hear an antisemitic remark, don’t brush it off. Next time your company releases a DEI initiative, ask why Jews aren’t mentioned. Next time an ad platform profits from antisemitic content, pull your money—not just for a week, but until they actually do something about it.

Because the advertising industry loves to talk about inclusion. It’s time to actually mean it.

Stay bold. Stay curious. And stop pretending Jews are invisible.