October marked two years since Hamas’ October 7 massacre and the ensuing eruption of anti-Semitism; the Brandeis Center continues to meet the moment — defending civil rights, confronting discrimination, and strengthening the legal and moral foundations that protect Jewish life in America. This month’s Brandeis Brief highlights our newly filed amicus brief in the Title VI case against University of Pennsylvania, and our efforts to challenge anti-Israel bias in Hollywood and safeguard academic freedom on campus. We also reflect on the enduring lessons of the Leo Frank case. Finally, we share an opportunity to join our growing team. In this Issue: Brandeis Center’s Warning to the “Hollywood Blacklist” Brandeis Center Files Amicus Brief in UPenn Title VI Case Combatting Anti-Israel Discrimination in Academia Meeting the Moment Post 10/7 Mob vs. Justice: Lessons from Leo Frank 2025 Student Conference Recap Hiring Spotlight: Donor Relations Manager Brandeis Center’s Warning to the “Hollywood Blacklist” In early October, the Brandeis Center distributed a letter to major U.S. film industry leaders cautioning that applying the recent “Film Workers Pledge to End Complicity” – a pledge to boycott the Israeli Film industry – (aka “The Hollywood Blacklist”) would violate federal and state civil rights laws and marginalize Jewish and Israeli voices in entertainment. In a clear display of illegal anti-Semitic discrimination, the pledge, circulated by Film Workers for Palestine, commits signatories not to screen, appear at, or work with Israeli film institutions. In a statement, Brandeis Center Director of Corporate Initiatives and Senior Counsel Rory Lancman said, “[w]e caution Hollywood decision makers against submitting to pressure to effectuate this blatantly illegal blacklist of Jewish Israeli artists and institutions.” Within weeks, the Warner Bros. Discovery network adopted our analysis, rejected participation in the Blacklist, and announced that, “While we respect the rights of individuals and groups to express their views and advocate for causes, we will continue to align our business practices with the requirements of our policies and the law.” As Variety noted in reporting on Warner Bros.’ decision, “The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights under Law of Washington D.C. has also cautioned that in the States ‘numerous federal and state civil rights laws plainly prohibit’ the boycott.” Brandeis Center Files Amicus Brief in UPenn Title VI Case This week, the Brandeis Center filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Yakoby et al. v. University of Pennsylvania, urging the Court to reverse the dismissal of Jewish students’ Title VI claims. The Brandeis Center argues that the district court’s ruling that The University of Pennsylvania’s response to anti-Semitism on its campus was adequate failed to properly consider both the numerous egregious acts that created a hostile environment for Jewish students at Penn and how the broader context of rising anti-Semitism across the nation and globe exacerbated their impact on students and necessitated a more serious response by the University. “Inaction from universities and other entities in addressing anti-Semitism is normalized when courts overlook the broader context of surging anti-Semitism nationwide. This undoubtedly leads to the proliferation of similar incidents in the future,” said Kenneth L. Marcus, Chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center. “Many victims of anti-Semitism are deterred from pursuing legal action if they are not given the opportunity to present evidence and relevant context is ignored, meaning these kinds of evil acts will continue with little accountability. Combatting Anti-Israel Discrimination in Academia Following a legal warning letter from the Brandeis Center, the University of Massachusetts struck an important blow against discrimination and anti-Semitism, as well as academic freedom, by prohibiting an anti-Israel BDS policy to be in place for an upcoming conference on its campus. UMass reinforced an important principle: College policies—and federal and state laws prohibiting national origin discrimination—apply to Israelis, too. And any organization that wants the benefits of engaging and partnering with a university has the responsibility of doing so on terms that allow Israelis equal opportunities for participation.In an opinion piece for JNS, Director of Corporate Initiatives and Senior Counsel Rory Lancman explains why conferences must not be permitted to discriminate against Israeli scholars. Meeting the Moment Post 10/7This month marked two years since Hamas’ horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, and the unprecedented surge of anti-Semitism that followed. Even before the attacks of October 7, the Brandeis Center saw an increased influx 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. 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. Anti-Semitism spread to every sector of American society. The Brandeis Center was uniquely positioned and ready to react — two years later, we took a moment to reflect on how we rapidly responded in the aftermath of 10/7. Read more on our blog. Mob vs. Justice: Lessons from Leo Frank In an opinion piece for JNS, Karen Paikin Barall, Chief Policy Officer at the Brandeis Center, draws a parallel between a nearly century-old miscarriage of justice and the challenges facing Jewish communities today. In “Mob vs. Justice: Lessons from Leo Frank,” she revisits the infamous case of Leo Frank and warns that the same patterns of scapegoating, silence from institutional leaders, and mob pressure continue to threaten Jewish life in modern America: “Antisemitism is seeping into nearly every part of American life—the schools, health-care system, unions, public spaces. It can be heard in chants on college campuses, seen in synagogues defaced with hate and spread through conspiracy theories online. The patterns are the same as in Frank’s day: Jews scapegoated, leaders staying silent and crowds too willing to follow the mob.” 2025 Student Conference Recap Before the school year began, the Brandeis Center hosted its annual Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., bringing together law students from across the country. By the close of the conference, students left with a deeper understanding of the Brandeis Center’s mission, the legal tools available to protect Jewish students, and the different career paths they can pursue to make a difference. The Student Leadership Conference not only equipped participants with knowledge but also strengthened their sense of purpose in joining the growing network of future lawyers dedicated to advancing justice and fighting anti-Semitism. Read more about the students’ experiences and watch a recap video of the conference here. Hiring Spotlight: Donor Relations Manager Are you a passionate, talented development professional looking to support the Brandeis Center’s mission advancing the civil and human rights of the Jewish people? If this sounds like you or someone you know, we want to hear from you! The Brandeis Center is always looking for talented legal and non-legal professionals. Visit the full job posting for more details on this role and to view other opportunities for full-time openings, fellowships, and clerkships with the Brandeis Center.