The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Professional Settings and How to Stop It with James Pasch of the ADL

Silence is part of the problem.When antisemitism shows up in the legal profession, it doesn’t just expose individual bias—it exposes institutional failure. And the uncomfortable truth? It’s not rare. It’s rising.Chere Estrin shares a personal experience that didn’t just shock her—it forced a reckoning. Not fear. Not embarrassment. Anger. The kind that pushes you to stop ignoring what’s happening around you and start asking harder questions about the systems you’re part of.Because this isn’t confined to social media or politics. It’s showing up in law firms, in emails, in everyday interactions—inside a profession built on ethics, fairness, and accountability.James Pasch of the ADL makes it clear: education alone isn’t enough. You can’t out-educate hate. And assuming institutions will “handle it” quietly? That’s exactly how it continues.A few hard truths that stand out:Every incident isn’t a statistic—it’s a person navigating their workplace differently because of itAntisemitism isn’t staying in one place—it’s moving from campuses to boardroomsSilence, delay, or “handling it internally” sends a message—and it’s the wrong oneLeadership doesn’t fail in big moments first—it fails in the small ones it ignoresAnd maybe the most important shift:This doesn’t change until people stop letting it slide.That means calling it out—even when it’s uncomfortable.That means documenting it—even when it feels small.That means taking action—even when there’s risk.Because “this too shall pass” isn’t a strategy. It’s avoidance.The legal profession has always positioned itself as a defender of rights. The real question is whether it’s willing to defend them internally with the same urgency.Watch the full episode → https://www.youtube.com/@estrinreport