ADL Philadelphia Regional Board Member Jason Levine was awarded the 2019 Daniel R. Ginsburg Leadership Award at ADL’s National Leadership Summit on June 2. The prestigious award recognizes outstanding young professionals from across the country for their leadership in the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry and prejudice.
“Since its inception, the Ginsburg Award as been presented to some of ADL’s best and brightest young leaders, and Jason Levine certainly fits that description” said Nancy Baron-Baer, ADL Regional Director. “It is with great pride that we acknowledge Jason’s efforts and thank him for contributing to ADL’s vision and work in the region.”
As the Chair of ADL’s South Jersey Advancement Team, Levine has helped strength ADL’s programs and partnerships in Southern New Jersey. He is a member of ADL’s Regional Executive Committee and a graduate of ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute and Associate Board. Levine is a shareholder at the law firm Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller.
“As a parent of two young children, it is the local fight that has resonated most with me and has motivated me to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” said Levine while accepting his award. “Things like proactive educational programming in schools and synagogues to teach children and educators on bias, bullying and hate; or responding to hate incidents in our neighborhoods; or raising awareness among local officials and community leaders about ADL’s ability to train law enforcement or provide information about extremists. That is what I am doing in my community of Southern New Jersey; that is what so many of you are doing in your respective communities around the country; and it is what we must continue to do, because there has never been more of a need for the ADL at a local level than right now. “
Since 1995, ADL has conferred the Daniel Ginsburg Leadership Award to outstanding candidates from around the country who demonstrate commitment and contribute to the mission of AD, regionally and nationally. The award named in honor of the late Daniel R. Ginsburg, a former New York Regional Board Chairman and ADL National Commissioner, is generously endowed by his family and friends.
Levine’s full remarks can be found below:
“Thank you. It is an incredible honor to accept this award in front of all of you. Growing up, I always understood ADL to be the preeminent organization in the country to fight anti-Semitism at a national level. And it certainly is that, but it’s so much more. ADL is on the ground in our communities, fighting hate one incident at a time. As a parent of two young children, it is the local fight that has resonated most with me and has motivated me to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Things like proactive educational programming in schools and synagogues to teach children and educators on bias, bullying and hate; or responding to hate incidents in our neighborhoods; or raising awareness among local officials and community leaders about ADL’s ability to train law enforcement or provide information about extremists. That is what I am doing in my community of Southern New Jersey; that is what so many of you are doing in your respective communities around the country; and it is what we must continue to do, because there has never been more of a need for the ADL at a local level than right now.
What makes the ADL so special and unique is that it provides opportunities for young people like me to be on the front line of that fight. It’s motivating and exciting, and I could not be more grateful lead the charge in my community.
This award also goes to the entire ADL staff in Philadelphia, especially Nancy Baron-Baer and Lisa Welsch, who have been incredibly supportive of our efforts to expand ADL’s critical programming in Southern New Jersey. I also want to thank our region’s outgoing Board Chair, Alan Gubernick, who has been such an effective and inspiring leader. Thank you to my law partner and past regional ADL Board Chair David Pudlin, who introduced me to ADL and has been a mentor and confidante for me for several years. And finally, thank you to my family – my parents, who are here today, and who instilled in me the values of hard work, service and loyalty; my wife, who has patiently supported my time-consuming ADL work; and my two children, who are my primary reason for fighting this good fight. Thank you again.”