For years, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law has been at the forefront of combating anti-Semitism in the United States. Our mission—protecting the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and advancing justice for all—has always required vigilance, expertise, and a deep understanding of how anti-Semitism manifests across society. The horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, and the unprecedented surge of anti-Semitism that followed, accelerated the need to combat anti-Semitism in ways that few organizations were prepared to meet. At the Brandeis Center, however, years spent building our expertise, infrastructure, and strategies allowed us to rise to meet this moment. Even before the attacks of October 7, the Brandeis Center saw an increased intake of cases and requests for assistance. Anti-Semitism was already intensifying on college campuses, in K-12 schools, and within professional environments, from teachers’ unions to workplaces. We recognized the growing demand and began strategizing our response in anticipation. This included investing in litigation, deepening our relationships with federal and state agencies, and developing new pipelines of thought leadership and legal expertise. Rapid Response: Post October 7 What changed after October 7 was not our mission, but the scope and scale of the work before us. In the days and weeks following 10/7, our intake of cases and concerns skyrocketed. Jewish students, parents, and faculty reported hostile and unsafe environments on college campuses. Parents of K-12 students saw an alarming spread of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda, often advanced by teachers’ unions. Beyond education, we heard from professionals in healthcare, the arts, and corporate workplaces who were suddenly facing open hostility. Anti-Semitism spread to every sector of American society. The Brandeis Center was uniquely positioned to respond. Unlike organizations that were scrambling to adjust to the new reality, we had long understood the pervasive nature of anti-Semitism. October 7 was not a surprise, but rather a tragic confirmation of what we had been warning for years—that anti-Semitism, if left unchecked, will metastasize across every arena of life. In response to this surge, the Brandeis Center expanded rapidly—launching new initiatives, growing staff, and opening new offices to meet the challenge: New Offices and Programs: We established new offices in New York and Los Angeles, supporting our headquarters in Washington, DC and creating a stronger national footprint. We launched the Center for Legal Innovation (CLI) to confront the novel legal challenges emerging in workplaces, healthcare, and public accommodations. From cases involving restaurants like the Jerusalem Coffee House to warning the U.S. film industry against anti-Semitic blacklists in Hollywood, as well as cases holding perpetrators and their funders responsible, our lawyers are pioneering new legal strategies to ensure Jews are protected. Litigation and Legal Response: We have assembled a litigation team larger than at any other point in our history. This allows us to pursue lawsuits, file administrative complaints, and engage in precedent-setting cases at a pace and scale that matches the scope of today’s crisis. Administrative Engagement: The last year has opened new opportunities to work with federal and state agencies beyond the Department of Education. We are engaging directly with the multiple agencies within the federal and state governments, strengthening connections with leaders on Capitol Hill, and establishing connections with other decision-makers who play a critical role in developing policy or enforcing protections against discrimination. Public Policy: With a new Chief Policy Officer, we are strengthening relationships with leaders on Capitol Hill and advancing our mission to combat discrimination and promote human rights through policy change. Law Student and Leadership Programming: Building the next generation of Jewish leaders and lawyers remains important to our work. We continue to expand our law student programming, offering training, mentorship, and opportunities for direct involvement in litigation and policy work. Looking Ahead We have seen firsthand how anti-Semitism adapts as it spreads— it shows up in schools, in workplaces, in healthcare, in unions, in Hollywood, and more. That’s why the Brandeis Center has adapted too. The Brandeis Center has met this moment with growth, creativity, and determination. We’re bigger than ever, with more lawyers, more offices, and more tools to fight back. We’re innovating, building new programs, and training the next generation of leaders. Most importantly, we remain true to our core mission: defending the civil rights of Jewish people and standing up against anti-Semitism wherever it appears. At the Brandeis Center, we were ready—and we remain ready—to defend the civil rights of Jews in every corner of society.