May 30, 2024 — Los Angeles
Entertainment leaders gathered for the first-ever “Countering Antisemitism: An Entertainment Industry Summit”. Launched by Jewish advocacy and entertainment experts, the Summit was jointly held by American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, (Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), an entertainment-industry nonprofit, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a leading entertainment and sports agency. Hundreds of entertainment professionals joined for the full day of programming. The Summit featured Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, with Van Jones, Political Analyst, Eli Roth, Actor/Director, Scott Budnick, Producer, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Actress.
The Summit comes at a particularly raw moment. Just seven months removed from the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, antisemitism around the globe is surging. The Summit’s launch and the number of attendees represent the entertainment industry’s growing consensus for increased awareness, education, and action on antisemitism. Throughout the event, executives, agents, producers, talent, and other entertainment professionals took part in roundtable discussions and strategy sessions on the state of antisemitism, allyship, and ways the entertainment industry can effect positive change.
Opening remarks from AJC CEO Ted Deutch, Deborah Marcus, CAA Foundation Executive, and David Renzer, CCFP Chairman and Co-Founder, and kicked off the event.
Ted Deutch said: “History has shown that when antisemitism flourishes, it is never just the Jewish community that is at risk. It is a sign that there is something wrong in society that our society and ultimately democracy is at risk. That's why we do this work.”
Deborah Marcus said, “We need more than ever to take care of each other, to work together, to provide comfort and community, to celebrate and to mourn and to inspire a different narrative to counter antisemitism.”
David Renzer said: “Creative Community for Peace is proud to convene the leaders of the Entertainment Industry with our partners at CAA and AJC in this crucial time –uniting our industry to combat hate, build allyship, support Israel and collaborate to effect positive change.”
Programming consistently highlighted the connection between the October 7 terror attack in Israel and the rising antisemitism around the globe. John Ondrasik (“Five for Fighting”), an ally of the Jewish community, performed his song “OK.” Aligning with the Summit’s goal to spur action, Ondrasik has referred to his song as a moral statement, and “a call to action.”
Concluding the event was the screening of “Supernova,” a documentary Co-Directed by Duki Dror and Yossi Bloch about the Nova Music Festival where 364 civilians were murdered in southern Israel. Prior to the screening, a survivor of the Nova attack spoke to attendees. In closing, CCFP Executive Director Ari Ingel said, “Today’s summit marks a pivotal step in our collective effort to combat antisemitism. Together, as entertainment industry leaders, we can ensure that our storytelling and public platforms serve the cause of peace and understanding, rather than vitriol and hate.”
CCFP, CAA, and AJC emphasized their commitment to continuing dialogue to ensure the entertainment industry takes actionable steps to combat antisemitism in all its forms. The partnering organizations hope that the Summit will serve as catalyst for the industry to launch additional initiatives and collective action to advocate for the Jewish people.
