Adam Katz, the new president of Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, told 7 News Boston that he “realizes his job is timely.”
Katz, who was named to the leadership role within the organization in May, noted recent violent antisemitic incidents in the United States—the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s state mansion in Harrisburg during Passover, the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., in May and the June 1 firebomb attack on pro-Israel protesters in Boulder, Colo.
“Roughly half of the American population basically doesn’t consider Jewish hate to be a significant or relevant topic to them,” said Katz.
According to 7 News Boston, Katz hopes to use his business background to help the foundation’s plan to analyze one billion social media posts in real time to engage individuals who do not acknowledge antisemitism.
“These are people who would stand up and be active allies in black racism, they would be active allies in bigotry against gays and lesbians and other persecuted groups, but they don’t feel the same way about Jewish hate,” he continued.
Before joining FCAS, Katz served as Wayfair’s Global Head of Physical Stores, worked with the Innocence Project in Philadelphia, and served as an investor and limited partner at a capital fund that invested in women and minority founders.