On September 30, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) hosted the “Antisemitism 101” workshop in the Dining Center as part of Haverford’s Meeting the Moment initiative announced earlier this year, which aims to engage the campus community in understanding diverse experiences through panels, workshops, and dialogue.
Attendance of this workshop was overwhelmingly faculty and staff with few students. Several senior staff members attended, including Dr. Nikki Young, Dean John McKnight, and President Wendy Raymond. Notably, at least four Campus Safety officers were present.
Outside the Dining Center, members of Bi-Co Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) declared that “the Anti-Defamation League is not a credible source on antisemitism and racism.” They stood by the door and held signs reading, “The ADL spied on MLK,” “The ADL supports police,” and other messages accusing the ADL of masquerading as a progressive institution. The protesters claimed that “The ADL is not an ally. We cannot lift up or help the ADL…The ADL converts [goodwill] into support for their repressive practices.” Protesters passed out flyers that outlined the ADL’s misinformation campaigns and the various mainstream news sources which deem the ADL as an unreliable source. Some members of Campus Safety observed the protest from a distance. Prior to the event, zip ties keeping the blinds open were removed from the windows. It is not known who placed the zip ties.
At 12:07 PM, the event began with Dr. Young outlining its purpose and introducing speakers Andrew Goretsky and Randi Boyette. Goretsky has been with the ADL since January 10, 2022, when the league named him the Regional Director for ADL Philadelphia. Speaking over the chants from protesters outside the room, he started his presentation by explaining how in a modern context of social media one either likes, dislikes, or does not engage at all, leaving no room for nuance. He then discussed a personal experience of antisemitism, in which a college friend questioned his relation to Judaism as Goretsky “did not have horns.” As the protest grew louder, Goretsky raised his voice in an attempt to continue the workshop. He noted that, prior to October 7th, 2023, he did not discuss Israel in his antisemitism presentation, but he now feels compelled as antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise. The presenter mentioned the shooting of Haverford student Kinnan Abdalhamid as an example of these hate crimes, a stance that even President Wendy Raymond was hesitant to voice. Goretsky framed the workshop as unbiased, asserting that being pro-Israel and being pro-Palestine are not inherently contradictory, a clear point of contention for the group of protesters outside the room.
Randi Boyette then introduced herself as the ADL Education Director of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. With a background in history and a masters degree in Holocaust and genocide studies, she has led the organization since 2003. Boyette discussed the ADL’s founding by a small group of Jewish men dedicated to fighting antisemitism, citing the organization’s investigation of January 6th insurrectionists as a current example of its efforts against hate. Goretsky then started the presentation, opening with the ADL’s mission to “secure justice and fair treatment for all.” He presented a slide depicting “the pyramid of hate,” which illustrates the progression leading to genocide: starting from hate and biased attitudes, moving through acts of bias, systematic discrimination, and bias-motivated violence, culminating in genocide. Goretsky emphasized that hate and bias must be confronted on an educational level, claiming hate speech is protected as free speech and therefore cannot be legislated—a point he reiterated several times throughout the presentation.
Boyette then explained the ADL’s definition of Jewish identity, stating that, like the ADL, most American Jews view it as not primarily religious. When she emphasized Israel’s significance to Jewish identity, a student stood up, declaring, “I’m gonna stop you right there.” Identifying themself as a Jewish student and member of JVP, they began reading from a paper, arguing that the ADL is a dangerous organization that continually defames Jewish students and organizers. Boyette’s request for silence was denied as the student insisted they were voicing their opinion as a Jewish student. Another student attendee told the JVP member to leave, turning to Campus Safety and frustratedly asking, “Please?” Dean McKnight approached the protester from behind, placing a hand on the student’s shoulder and asking them to leave. At this point, Peter LaRochelle, a senior seated in the front row, attempted to snatch the protester’s paper out of their hands, leading to a struggle between the two and prompting Dean McKnight to intervene and separate them.
Goretsky then spoke loudly into the microphone, remarking, “I can talk loud too.” After finishing their speech, the student allowed Dean McKnight and Campus Safety to escort them from the room.
Goretsky briefly addressed the disruption, stating, “it’s a tough time,” before resuming the presentation. He identified himself as an agnostic Jew, explaining that his main connection to Judaism is his believed birthright to Israel, citing family support: “My grandfather said I should support Israel because it’s the only place where Jews can be safe from persecution.” He then presented the ADL’s definitions of antisemitism, which were central to the protests outside. Goretsky explained that the ADL adheres to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, emphasizing that “IHRA does not silence criticism of Israel.” He discussed antisemitic conspiracy theories, including blood libel and Holocaust denial, as well as the contentious issue of delegitimization of Israel. At 12:30, the protest intensified, with noisemakers like cowbells disrupting the presentation. Goretsky addressed a common criticism of the ADL, noting that some anti-Israel rallies were included in their antisemitism audit due to “support of terrorism,” though he did not elaborate further. Of the 1,800 anti-Israel rallies investigated, the ADL determined that over 1,300 were antisemitic. He ended the slide by pointing out that antisemitic hate crimes surged after the October 7th attacks.
Suddenly, a student wearing a “Not in Our Name” shirt—a slogan commonly used by JVP members—stood up and argued that the ADL is a dangerous organization that continually silences dissenting Jewish voices. Goretsky attempted to talk over them, as Dean McKnight approached the student and asked them to leave. Eventually, Goretsky stopped talking as the protester alleged that the ADL attacks the very groups it claims to protect and that its portrayal of pro-Palestinian groups is inaccurate.
After the protester was removed, Goretsky expressed his frustration at the perceived lack of interest in dialogue. He explained that he wanted people to understand that the ADL is often misrepresented. Goretsky then began a vital point of his presentation where he discussed the overwhelmingly hateful and violent history of antisemitism, beginning with Constantine’s anti-Jewish laws in the 4th century CE. These laws expelled Jewish people from their European homelands and formed the basis of modern antisemitic ideas like blood libel, disease blame, and the belief that the Jewish people control the world and its economy. Goretsky cited the Jewish community’s response to the Dreyfus affair as the birth of modern day Zionism, before addressing the antisemitic hoax The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and the subsequent removal of rights, displacement, and the systematic murder of six million Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Shifting to a modern context, Goretsky shared he first learned about the ADL after the 2017 white nationalist Charlottesville rally publicized the great replacement theory. This theory alleges that Black and Brown populations—under Jewish direction—are rapidly growing in the U.S. and aim to overtake the White majority. At the Charlottesville riots, neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” Goretsky explained how this conspiracy theory was used as justification by both the Tree of Life synagogue shooter and the Buffalo supermarket shooter. Similar rhetoric was rampant at the January 6 insurrection, which the ADL investigated with federal authorities.
Since 2017, the ADL has tracked online white supremacist activity; in 2021, Pennsylvania had the highest rate of white supremacist propaganda in the U.S. Goretsky presented several images of this propaganda ranging from antisemitic theories of the origin of COVID-19 pandemic to claims of Jewish people orchestrating 9/11. These images depicted Jewish people using antisemitic tropes, such as horns and large noses. Referring to the ADL, Goretsky claimed that “People don’t like what we have to say because we do work to provide information with our data.” The presentation shifted to the topic of Zionism, which Goretsky defined as “the movement for self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland.”
Another Jewish student protester interrupted at this point. Dean McKnight approached the protester and asked them to leave. The student claimed that the ADL censors exposés revealing that American police receive training from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They concluded by stating that the ADL had allied with right-wing organizations before being removed from the event.
Dean McKnight then instructed any other students who planned to interrupt to speak. Another student criticized the ADL, arguing it “creates a dangerous place for Jewish students such as myself.” Dean McKnight interrupted, stating “this is not dialogue…if you’d actually like to be in dialogue, there will be a Q&A.” The protester responded “do your research” as they were removed by Dean McKnight and Campus Safety.
In rebuttal, Goretsky said, “Yes, do your research.” He expressed belief in free speech but noted that many well-intentioned individuals unwittingly spread disinformation. He insinuated that the anti-Zionist protesters were misinformed, remarking, “I hope that gets conveyed to everybody out there chanting at the moment.” Goretsky then discussed the ADL’s definition of anti-Zionism, which he explained as calling for the “destruction of the state of Israel,” which he claimed is Jewish people’s “only reliable means of refuge, rescue, and self-defense.” He concluded by emphasizing that criticism of Israel is acceptable if not done “in an antisemitic way.”
To illustrate anti-Zionism he showed a slide with two cartoons: one portrayed an antisemitic caricature of a Jewish man greedily ignoring a homeless man asking for money, while the other depicted a tank with a Israeli flag and a price tag of $500 million running over a man holding a $600 COVID relief check. Goretsky argued that these images insinuate that Jewish people control money. The slides also included modern-day propaganda relating to blood libel, displaying antisemitic depictions of Jewish individuals eating Palestinian babies. He ended the presentation by explaining how these messages impact the Jewish community, leading to self-exclusion, adverse health effects, and “self-censorship, particularly with respect to disclosing one’s Jewish identity or views on Israel and antisemitism.”
At the beginning of the Q&A portion, Goretsky addressed the frequent disruptions, declaring, “I consider people standing up in the middle of a session hate speech.” An attendee asked about effective discussion strategies, to which Goretsky claimed that 75% of the student protesters outside had fallen for disinformation manufactured and spread by the remaining 25% who “have bad intentions,” and “call anything I say Zionist propaganda,” hindering dialogue. LaRochelle expressed that being a Jewish student feels like being “trapped in a cage,” lamenting that “administration has shown time and time again that they aren’t willing to do anything to protect Jewish students.” In response, Goretsky defended Haverford, expressing gratitude that the event was not canceled. Amy Abolafia, Haverford’s Associate Director of Volunteer Management, asked the presenters’ thoughts on the anti-ADL flyers distributed by JVP, to which Goretsky responded that antisemitism is considered free speech, and reiterated the ADL’s “understanding that anti-Zionism is antisemitism.” Another staff member asked how the ADL views the protest outside; Goretsky responded that the ADL “would consider that to be something that is antisemitic.” Boyette added, “This is scary. If I was a Jewish kid walking past that, that would freak me out,” before expressing concern at the seeming lack of interest in dialogue. Abolafia claimed that some at Haverford are “taking the word Zionist and turning it into an antisemitic slur.” Clarifying he spoke for himself, Goretsky claimed that “Zionism as a term has been weaponized and used against Jewish people and non-Jewish people who support the state of Israel.” Dr. Young then concluded the event, thanking the presenters. Members of the ADL and event attendees were escorted out the back by Campus Safety as the protest continued. EB, a member of JVP, disputed the ADL’s definitions of anti-Zionism and antisemitism, claiming that their rhetoric is “dangerous” and “being used to justify genocide.” They acknowledged that “antisemitism absolutely exists in this world,” but claimed “saying that anti-Zionism is antisemitism [distracts] from actual acts of antisemitism.” As a Jewish individual, EB contested the ADL’s claims of fighting for Jewish safety, noting that they categorize Jewish groups as hate groups. Commenting on the ADL’s labeling of the protest as a failure of dialogue, EB argued that the ADL has been “consistently targeting students, promoting shutting down student chapters of groups…based on their actions over the last year, it’s clear that [dialogue] is not actually what they want.” EB also addressed the claims that Haverford makes Jewish students feel unsafe, arguing that by inviting the ADL, Haverford equates Judaism with Zionism, which trivializes the concerns of anti-Zionist Jewish students. They added that the ADL’s attempts to shut down JVP chapters endanger Jewish students and faculty. In response to Goretsky’s claim that 75% of the protesters were misinformed and 25% malicious, EB argued that the ADL is projecting its own unreliability, citing the recent decision of Wikipedia editors deeming the ADL an unreliable source on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Reporting by Arun Bhattacharjee, Cade Fanning, and Ben Fligelman
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