From the Frontlines: What is BDS, and Why is it so Bad?

"From the Frontlines" is an ADL podcast which brings listeners to the frontline in the battle against antisemitism and hate. A major frontline in this battle is the effort to dismantle the Jewish state and end the right to Jewish national self-determination through boycotts, divestment campaigns and sanctions - better known as the BDS movement. Some defend it as simply a nonviolent form of protest. The questions we will discuss on today’s show is what this movement is, why is it so bad, and how we are combatting it. To help us answer these questions, two members of the staff of JLens joined the show. JLens offers a Jewish lens through which to invest, which includes encouraging companies to expand their economic ties to Israel. Nearly two years ago, ADL acquired JLens in order to place greater emphasis on fighting hate in the corporate boardroom. Dani Nurick, JLens Director of Advocacy, and Allison Marrill, JLens Director of Research were the guests on this podcast. To view ADL resources on the BDS Movement, including the toolkit mentioned on the podcast, visit: https://notoleranceforantisemitism.adl.org/resources and click on the "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions" tab. You can also go directly to the toolkit by visiting this site: https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/campus-divestment-campaigns-jlens-unpacks-demands-and-consequences To view the JLens report on the economic consequences of BDS by universities, visit this link: https://www.adl.org/resources/report/largest-100-university-endowments-could-lose-33-billion-over-10-years-if-divested For more information about JLens, visit their website: https://www.jlensnetwork.org/.