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Reed Smith supports Anti-Defamation League’s Shine A Light campaign to raise awareness, combat antisemitism

Home News Reed Smith supports Anti-Defamation League’s Shine A Light campaign to raise awareness, combat antisemitism
Reed Smith announced today that it is supporting the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Shine A Light campaign, an initiative to raise awareness about modern antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement and advocacy. Reed Smith is the only law firm to participate in this year’s campaign.

Related Professionals: Carolyn H. Rosenberg Jason W. Gordon

Commencing during Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, Shine A Light is an award-winning, purpose-driven convening platform for organizations, companies, communities, elected officials and individuals to unite in shining a light on antisemitism in all its modern forms. Now in its second year, Shine A Light is a trusted resource across industries, faiths and geographies to empower and equip people from all backgrounds with the tools to identify and speak out about antisemitism, with the goal of uniting, educating and effectuating societal change through a shared sense of communal allyship.

Reed Smith joins more than 100 North American Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and corporations that have committed to joining the Shine A Light conversation as part of their ongoing, year-round efforts. Reed Smith has enacted several of the actions recommended by the campaign to establish a more inclusive workplace for all, including ongoing in-person and virtual staff training seminars, establishing a Jewish Inclusion Committee (JIC), and reviewing policies on religious accommodations to ensure they are inclusive.

In 2021, the firm launched its JIC as part of its industry-leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program. As one of the first law firms to publicly condemn antisemitism after the recent uptick in anti-Jewish hatred around the globe, Reed Smith created the JIC as a natural and important outgrowth of that commitment. All colleagues, Jews and allies, are welcome to join the committee as it is envisioned as an organic and supportive home for firm lawyers and staff in every office and at every level.

“In all too many cases, antisemitic behavior, if unchecked, becomes normalized. We cannot allow that to happen,” said Carolyn Rosenberg, partner co-chair of Reed Smith’s Jewish Inclusion Committee.

“We all have a responsibility to speak out when and where antisemitic acts take place, unequivocally and unflinchingly, and to empower our families, friends, colleagues and social networks to do the same,” added Jason Gordon, JIC partner co-chair.

Additional details pertaining to Shine A Light can be found on the ADL website.