NEW YORK โ A small Jewish nonprofit has joined forces with the Christian Broadcasting Network and Regent University to launch a national billboard campaign designed to raise public awareness of antisemitism, organizers said.
The initiative, led by JewBelong in partnership with CBN and Regent University, features bold pink and white billboards with messages aimed at drivers and campus communities. Organizers said the ads are meant to reach mainstream Americans and to underscore that antisemitism is a problem for the whole country.
The campaign comes after a dramatic uptick in reported antisemitic incidents in the United States in the year following Oct. 7, 2023. Data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League and reported by major outlets counted more than 10,000 incidents nationwide over that period, including harassment, vandalism, and threats. Organizers said that the surge motivated the cross-faith effort.
Archie Gottesman, co-founder of JewBelong, said the rise in hostility has made many Jews fearful of visibly practicing or discussing their faith. She described everyday conversations and travel plans becoming fraught because of safety concerns. โItโs scary. Itโs scary. Not to mention not being able to be who you are,โ she told CBN.
JewBelong and its partners said the billboards are being placed near college campuses and along key highways. Local media reported placements near Penn State, in parts of Virginia, and in other college towns, timed to coincide with the start of academic terms and large public events. Organizers said they plan both temporary and longer-run placements to maximize visibility.
CBN and Regent framed their participation as a moral and civic response. A CBN statement cited by local coverage described antisemitism as both a human rights and spiritual issue and urged Christians to stand publicly with Jewish neighbors. The partnership is intended to broaden the campaignโs audience beyond the Jewish community.
Campaign materials highlight concrete concerns facing Jewish students and communities, including hostility on campus and threats to communal safety. JewBelong co-founder Gottesman and other organizers said that public, uncomplicated messages are necessary to break through noise and to prompt bystanders to act when they witness harassment.
The campaign reflects a wider trend of advocacy groups using outdoor advertising to shape public norms. JewBelong has a track record of billboard messaging aimed at both celebrating Jewish life and calling out antisemitism. Organizers argued that visible reminders on highways and near campuses help normalize public support for Jewish safety and signal to perpetrators that communities are alert.
Critics have in the past argued that confrontational billboard text can polarize audiences. Organizers said the current campaign is intentionally non-partisan and focused on safety and shared civic values. They emphasized that the effort aims to preserve free debate while making clear that harassment and threats are unacceptable.
Jewish community leaders welcomed the cross-faith collaboration. They said partnerships with Christian groups can expand reach and reinforce that protecting Jewish life and liberty is an American value. Local synagogue and campus security teams have been in contact with organizers to coordinate messaging and safety advice, officials said.
Organizers encouraged community members and institutions to report antisemitic incidents to law enforcement and to national tracking organizations so that data remains current and actionable. They also urged college administrators to step up protections for students and to address hostile rhetoric before it escalates into threats or violence.
The billboard campaign is one element in a broader strategy that includes media outreach, campus events, and partnerships with local Jewish federations. Organizers said they plan to monitor impact and to expand placements where they believe the messaging makes the most difference.
This article is based on verified information from the Christian Broadcasting Network, JewBelong, the Anti-Defamation League, Jewish News Virginia, and regional reporting on billboard placements.