Shark Tank Meets Antisemitism

Three innovative ideas on how to combat antisemitism from The ADIR Challenge Foundation.

Dear friends,

Last week’s post honored the victims of 10/7. This week, we honor their memories again, not by sharing on the tragic details of their deaths but by celebrating their legacies and focusing on building a brighter future. This week’s post talks about innovations to combat antisemitism (as a Jew, this is my idea of fun).

Earlier this week, I had the honor of attending a Shark Tank-like competition to showcase innovative ways to tackle the 200% increase in antisemitic attacks in the U.S. Hosted by a relatively new organization called The ADIR Challenge Foundation, the event gathered forward-thinking Jews of all ages to fill the pews of Central Synagogue and to vote for their favorite pitch of the final three ideas.

ADIR was named after the founder’s nephew who was killed on 10/7 while protecting his loved ones. Ever the problem solver, he once said to his aunt, “If you gave me a problem, I would figure out what to do.” This Drop is dedicated to him.

Source: theadirchallenge.com

The event marked the culmination of an entire year of sourcing and incubating ideas. Three finalists presented their projects, and one left with a cash prize to continue turning innovation into impact. Check out these inspiring ideas below and find out which idea won! And then vote for your favorite in the comments! Because hopelessness is NOT an action plan.

“If you gave me a problem, I would figure out what to do.” -Addir Mesika

1. Reportify: Using Gen-AI for College Campus Reporting

The first presenters introduced a streamlined platform designed to simplify the process of reporting antisemitic incidents on campus. Created by a recent UC Berkeley grad and a current senior at Stanford, the duo identified a systemic issue: most students fail to report incidents due to complicated systems, fear of retaliation, or a belief that nothing will change.

Get this: since 10/7, there have been 350 reported antisemitic incidents at UC Berkeley alone and not a single response from the university. The system is designed to fail: it apparently takes 45 minutes to file a report, and only 20% of reports go to the ADL.

Reportify uses gen-AI to make the reporting process more efficient and holds schools accountable for addressing the reports they receive. The platform not only collects reports but also ensures accurate submissions and tracks ticket responses in real-time with a centralized dashboard. By making reporting seamless and accessible, Reportify empowers students to hold institutions accountable and reclaim safety on their campuses.

Launched at 10 universities and counting, Reportify promises to stop antisemitism from becoming the norm by giving power back to students facing hatred.

2. Oct7: An OS for Community and Impact

Inspired by the urgency to act in the wake of 10/7, this online platform is a centralized hub for calls to action from community leaders, whether it’s managing social media campaigns, contacting lawmakers, and promoting protests—all within a single platform.

Remember the first few months of the war when you would get Whatsapp messages in all caps yelling at you to call your local congressman? Or you’d see a social media post calling for you to sign a petition? Created by Israeli tech entrepreneurs and ex-IDF elite units members, Oct7 harnesses community building and mobilizing all in one place to get shit done. The system is like all of those messages combined into one place, but with progress tracking and organization (and hopefully no messages in all caps).

With over 30,000 members across 70 countries already involved, the OS inspires real action, not just online but in life, ensuring that voices speaking out against hate are amplified in a unified and effective way.

3. SOTS: Support on the Spot

Worried the event you’re attending is going to have a large, antisemitic protest outside of it? Nervous about lack of security outside a synagogue? SOTS offers real-time mental health support to anxious Jews (so, like, all of us).

How it works: Either attached to your wrist or synched up to your phone, the device uses AI to measure stress indicators like blood pressure and provides immediate support through a button-activated system that connects users with trained volunteers. While you’re waiting to be connected, it sends you auto-generated messages of support. SOTS blends psychological insights with advanced technological solutions.

Its pilot program in Jewish communities demonstrates the device’s potential to bring comfort and strength to those who need it most. And the best part? With help just a push of a button away, you can attend a Jewish comedy show without feeling anxious that someone is going to call you a murderer to your face. Not that that’s happened to me or anything… 👀

And the winner is… 🥁🥁🥁

Reportify! Mazel tov to the two bright young women who are making a difference on college campuses facing antisemitism across the country (so, like, all of them). Even my alma mater isn’t immune after two leaders of GMU’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine were recently found owning weapons, Hamas and Hezbollah flags, and a sign that said “death to Jews.”

Side note: While searching for that article, I came across a report from just an hour earlier about another star student at GMU who was caught plotting a mass-casualty attack at the Israeli consulate in NYC. Gee, I was really hoping that move would free Palestine…

Sorry, sorry, I promised you a newsletter of Jewish joy. Anywho!

Here’s where I get all positive and cheesy

I think all three of these ideas are worth exploring, especially Oct7 OS because it’s a platform that meets everyone’s needs and one that I would use. However, if had hundreds of thousands of shekels lying around to pour into fighting hate, I’d put it into education.

That could look like anything: an AI tool that crawls the web and responds to misinformation with facts and educational resources. A VR experience simulating the lives of individuals facing antisemitism throughout history, which would be mandatory in every classroom. A role-playing game where you fight antisemitism throughout history, or fun games that teach students cool facts about Jews, not just the sad stuff.

Sitting in the audience during the competition, I got chills as I realized that bringing these ideas to life represents the future of activism—where innovation replaces the picket line, and technology becomes the new megaphone for change.

These projects are more than just solutions—they’re lifelines, ensuring that our communities can confront antisemitism with courage, strength, and innovation. Events like this remind me that even when we’re outnumbered, we’re not outmatched. Together, we have the power to innovate, organize, and fight back.

Learn more about all three presentations here.

Which idea for combatting antisemitism is your favorite? Vote below in the comments!

And most of all, have a peaceful and warm Shabbat, wherever you are.

P.S. It’s that time of year when my domain gets renewed. Any contribution would be much appreciated to cover the cost of running this blog! Here’s my Venmo or consider donating below. Thank you!