November 13, 2026 — Palm Beach
This column appeared in the Palm Beach Post.
The hotly contested midterm elections highlighted how, when Americans are divided by politics, religion, and identity, we risk losing something essential: the willingness to stand alongside people whose backgrounds and beliefs differ from our own.
Disagreement is inevitable. Division and hostility need not be.
That conviction brought nearly 450 leaders from across the U.S. to Denver last month for Together at the Crossroads: A Congress for Allyship & Unity, convened by the David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism. Remarkably, 70% of participants came from outside the Jewish community, united by a desire to better understand antisemitism and become part of the solution.
I was privileged to lead a diverse coalition of Palm Beach County leaders at the gathering. The question now is not what we discussed in Denver, but what we will do at home.
Antisemitism has reached alarming levels nationwide, but it is not solely a Jewish concern. History teaches us that hatred directed at one community rarely remains confined there. When conspiracy theories, intolerance, and demonization take hold, they undermine the democratic values and institutions that protect us all.
That is why allyship is not simply an expression of solidarity. It recognizes that our freedom, security, and shared values are interconnected. It does not require unanimity. We can disagree passionately while remaining united in defense of pluralism and freedom.
Palm Beach County is not new to building meaningful cross-cultural partnerships. Last month, for example, AJC Palm Beach joined the Palm Beach Hispanic Bar Association, Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative, and Hispanic Heritage Chamber of Commerce for a conversation with U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman about truth, democracy, and standing together against antisemitism and hate.
The county also launched its inaugural United Against Hate Week in October, bringing together law enforcement and community organizations for education and training under the auspices of the State Attorney's Hate Crimes Task Force. It was another demonstration of what can be accomplished when diverse institutions and communities unite against hatred.
Such relationships are vital, but goodwill alone is insufficient.
One clear takeaway from Denver was that social media is a critical front line in the fight against antisemitism. Misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly across these platforms. We must understand how false narratives gain traction and how digital systems amplify them.
Toward that end, our cohort discussed establishing a task force that would bring together Palm Beach County educators, journalists, technology professionals, and civic leaders. Its goal would be to help county residents, especially students and their parents, recognize manipulation, evaluate online claims, and respond to hatred without amplifying it.
The task force’s work would be informed by AJC's Combating Antisemitism Playbook, which provides a comprehensive framework for how technology companies can better recognize and respond to antisemitism while making it easier for users to understand and report antisemitic content.
Our cohort returned home, recognizing that protecting one community's security and freedom bolsters the democratic foundations upon which we all depend.
The strength of our communities should be measured not by how firmly we stand apart from those who are different, but by how courageously we stand together in defense of the values we share.
That is the promise of allyship and the responsibility we must all embrace.
Laurence Milstein is Director of AJC Palm Beach.
