ADL's Never Is Now Conference Reflection

Hi, my name is George Peker, and I recently attended the ADL's Never Is Now conference, where I heard from a wide range of voices on how to fight antisemitism. While some speakers advocated for more direct, public action, the majority focused on what was a surprising approach to me - Jewish joy. Their message was that the best way to combat antisemitism is to celebrate our culture and traditions and share them openly with those willing to listen.

When we celebrate Jewish joy, we show up for our community. We remind ourselves and others of the richness of who we are. So many of us carry quiet fears: of not being safe, of not fitting in, of losing our identity. But we don't have to carry those fears alone. It takes one person to speak up and a village of support to realize the power we hold together.

One of the most memorable moments of the conference was a panel of youth advocates — high school students from around the world — who introduced the acronym STAND as a framework for action:

S — Speak up

T — Teach others

A — Allocate time to learning

N — Nurture your community

D — Dedicate yourself

These five principles work together. When we celebrate Jewish joy, we're already dedicating ourselves and nurturing our community. When we speak up, directly or by supporting those who do, we strengthen each other. And when we invest time in learning, we give ourselves the confidence to teach others. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and that's especially true in the fight against antisemitism.

These are the messages I'm carrying with me from Never Is Now, and I hope they resonate with you, too.

-George Peker, CSUN 2028