From the Frontlines - Meet Ora, ADL's AI Assistant for Educators

"From the Frontlines" is an ADL podcast which brings listeners to the frontline in the battle against antisemitism, hate and extremism through conversations with ADL staff who are living that battle every day. Picture this: a middle school teacher in middle America - say suburban Ohio. It's Sunday night. She's prepping tomorrow's lesson on the Holocaust. And she knows the questions are coming.
 Why does antisemitism persist? How do I talk about Jewish identity? How do I teach one of the darkest chapters in human history in a way that is accurate, age-appropriate and meaningful?
 She needs answers. She needs resources. And she needs them now. Or picture a high school history teacher in Texas. He has just learned that a swastika was drawn in the boys' bathroom. He wants to address it with his class the very next morning. But where does he begin? What lesson should he use? What conversation strategies actually work? How do you address hate without making a bad moment worse? These are the moments when educators need support most.
 And now, they have a new kind of support. A trusted, AI-powered source at their fingertips, one they can tailor to their own classroom needs. It's called Ora, and ADL launched it just a few weeks ago.
 Ora is an AI-powered assistant designed specifically to help K-12 educators teach about antisemitism, the Holocaust and Jewish identity using expert-vetted resources from ADL. Named for the Hebrew word "Ohr," meaning light, Ora is designed to light the way for teachers who are on the front lines of what may be our most powerful tool in fighting hate - education.
 To describe Ora, Deborah Chad joined this podcast. She is the Director of Digital Design and Strategy in ADL's Education Department. Deborah played a key role in bringing Ora to life and helping make sure this new tool gives educators the trusted resources they urgently need. To access Ora, just click on this link and go "Chat Now": https://www.adl.org/adlai-k-12-education-assistant. This conversation was recorded in April 2026.