Kraft’s Foundation Releases Antisemitism Report

By any measure, the numbers are sobering.

Earlier this fall, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), the non-profit organization established by New England Patriots principal owner Robert Kraft dedicated to suppressing antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, revealed its inaugural research and data report. Grounded in studies of hundreds of millions of social media posts, websites, blogs, and forums, the organization’s inaugural published report, “Stand Up to Jewish Hate: The US Antisemitism Landscape Survey,” indicated that 21 percent of U.S. adults believed Jews are at least somewhat a threat to the unity of American society, up from 12 percent one year earlier; in addition, compared to the macro trend of 25 percent of all American adults being classified as Haters or Leaning Haters, 32 percent of those aged 18-32 years old are now classified in this category —  a notable 13-point increase from a year ago. All told, it seems abundantly clear that the trend of heightened antisemitism in America has accelerated over the past 12 months, particularly among those who identify as Millennials and Gen Zers.

“This inaugural FCAS report highlights the disturbing trends in attitudes about Jewish hate and all hate that we are seeing take place across our nation,” noted Kraft in an FCAS press release issued back in September. “Hate is out of control in our country, and I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime. Understanding what is driving this increase in Jewish hate and the decline we are seeing in allies who are willing to stand up against it, is critical to our ongoing mission to combat all hate.”

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Long before he assumed control of one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, Kraft, 83, grew up in a very religious Jewish household in Brookline, Mass. Since soaring to great heights in corporate America, Kraft has made dozens of trips to Israel where he has championed American football and in 2019 was awarded the Genesis Prize for his unflagging commitment to Jewish philanthropic causes.

During his subsequent acceptance speech in Jerusalem on June 20, 2019, Kraft announced the establishment of his foundation to combat antisemitism, one in which he helped kick-start with a $25 million donation. In the half-decade since its inception, as the need for countering antisemitism has only intensified, FCAS unveiled an omnichannel nationwide campaign, #StandUpToJewishHate, which aired a commercial during last year’s Super Bowl featuring MLK speechwriter Clarence Jones and branded the blue square as a global symbol of solidarity against antisemitism.

Even though millions of Americans may be consuming the message, the previously mentioned numbers make it clear that millions more need to be further enlightened.

“This new report provides a crucial snapshot of the growing challenge of antisemitism and hate in America,” acknowledged Tara Levine, who was hired as President of FCAS in summer 2023 after serving as President of Mayfield Advisory, in which she partnered with consumer packaging goods businesses to successfully navigate growth inflection points. “The trends are troubling, but they also serve as a powerful reminder of why we must intensify our efforts and reach those sitting on the sidelines to ensure they stand up against hate in every form.”

Because Kraft is such a towering figure in the NFL – the New England Patriots have already won six Super Bowls this century and are one of the most highly-valued franchises – sports are deeply ingrained in the fabric of FCAS. One of the core functions of FCAS is steering unengaged Americans (i.e. “those sitting on the sidelines”) toward active allyship and the foundation – in conjunction with all of the major sports league commissioners – has recently rolled out the ”Timeout Against Hate” campaign, headlined by celebrity athletes and coaches, to encourage people to take a stand. The campaign, which has been promoted across TV, social media, billboards, and podcasts, has already generated more than two billion impressions in its full-fledged effort to counter the evils inherent in many social media outlets.

“We’ve made history uniting major North American sports leagues in ways no other organization has before for this particular cause,” added Levine, when speaking to the AJT. “The role that social media is playing cannot be overstated and that is one of the reasons that we are increasing our work at FCAS focused on reaching unengaged Americans online – through messaging that creates empathy and understanding. Social media is a digital landscape younger generations have grown up with that others haven’t.

“Many other recent studies have shown that younger people are more conflict averse. They now turn to social media to process a lot of their own beliefs in what is felt as a private and safer place. If not used carefully, younger folks can get swept up in social media’s polarizing effects. It’s an ecosystem where people can easily find communities that share their same points of view and shut the dissenting opinions out through algorithms and curated feeds.”

While the frequently nationally televised “Timeout Against Hate” campaign is a cornerstone of FCAS, the foundation has initiated many programs whereby Americans can convene in person to foster empathy and address unconscious biases head-on, one of the most notable being the Unity Dinner series. In partnership with UNCF and Hillel, such dinners have galvanized Black and Jewish college students across the country as well as hundreds of guests, local leaders, and students from HBCUs (17 schools total) and predominantly white institutions. Some participating Atlanta schools include Agnes Scott College, Clark Atlanta University, Emory University, Georgia Tech Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, Oglethorpe University, and Spelman College.

All told, merely a half-decade in, FCAS has made great strides in harnessing the clout of major broadcast networks and the multifaceted world of social media to raise awareness of its signature mission.

“Robert Kraft founded FCAS in 2019 because he saw hate rising in America and, to him, it felt like Germany in the 1930s,” Levine shared. “As someone who has the unique ability to “see around corners,” he knew he needed to intervene to ensure that America didn’t become Germany in the 1940s. FCAS and fighting Jewish hate and all hate is Robert Kraft’s passion, and he is a part of everything we do at the organization and is an incredible champion for this work.”