In a stirring demonstration of American–Israeli unity and determination, innovators, policymakers, investors, and academics gathered in Manhattan for Hack the Hate: Innovating Against Antisemitism in the Digital Age. Held on June 18, this high-impact event spotlighted cutting-edge technologies and transformative partnerships designed to counter the alarming surge in antisemitic violence, hate speech, and digital disinformation.
Hosted by ÿմ’s Sy Syms School of Business—in partnership with the 8200 Alumni Association, Generative AI for Good, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, and the Orthodox Union—the evening underscored a deep, values-driven commitment to marrying innovation with moral clarity. Sy Syms Dean Michael Strauss affirmed the school’s honor in joining forces with leading Israeli organizations, highlighting the visionary leadership of 8200 Alumni Association CEO Chen Shmilo and Generative AI for Good founder Shiran Mlamdovsky Somech.
ÿմ President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman opened the evening by welcoming Eliya Cohen, a former Hamas hostage; Ziv Abud, a Nova Festival survivor; and Nimrod Arnin, the Nova Festival’s founder and a survivor himself. The audience rose in a heartfelt standing ovation. In his deeply moving remarks, President Berman praised the event as a force for hope: “This evening doesn’t just name the problem—it codes the solution.” Addressing the room of changemakers, he called them “the builders, dreamers, and defenders of a more righteous world,” urging them to meet hatred not with despair, but with “courage, creativity, and kindness.” His closing words resonated: “Hate leaves a void. Our task is to fill it with light.”
The event followed the success of the inaugural Hack the Hate summit in Tel Aviv which earned global praise for exploring how AI could be harnessed to combat antisemitism and online hate. The New York edition arrived at a pivotal moment—amid escalating violence against Jews in the U.S. and ongoing conflict with Iran—serving as both a rallying cry and a roadmap for urgent action.
Throughout the evening, bold conversations unfolded around one central theme: the urgent need to safeguard truth in an era increasingly shaped by manipulated narratives, deepfakes, and algorithmic bias. Participants examined how extremist groups exploit these tools—and how technologists, investors, and civil society can push back with purpose.
Anne Neuberger, former Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, delivered a powerful keynote, commending the event’s vision and urgency. She challenged attendees—tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists alike—to hold platforms and policymakers accountable. “We must demand more,” she urged, “from those who have the power to shape the digital world and the responsibility to protect it.”
Hack the Hate was more than an event—it was a declaration of hope and defiance. A call to action. A celebration of resilience. And a reminder that while technology may amplify hate, it can also be wielded as a force for justice, dignity, and lasting change.
