H eadlines
ADL Philadelphia Hires New Executive Director
the number of schools partic-
ipating in its No Place for Hate
program. Now, more than 200
institutions in the region use
the “school climate improve-
ment framework,” as the ADL’s
website describes it.

Goodman also said that,
despite working from home
since the start of the pandemic,
her regional office continued to
increase the amount of money
L OCA L
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
THE ANTI-Defamation
League’s Philadelphia branch
has a new executive director in
Andrew Goretsky.

A DL
Phi ladelphia
announced the decision in
a Jan. 10 press release, and
Goretsky started in his new
role on Jan. 24. He replaced
Shira Goodman, who led the
regional office for two years
before moving to a new position
as director of campaigns and
outreach for the ADL’s national
office. Goretsky, 48, lives in
Whitemarsh Township and
spent the last six-plus years
working as the dean of students
for Arcadia University. He
wants to lead the local ADL
chapter because of the recent
increase in “antisemitism, hate
in all its forms and extremism,”
he said.

“My son, Ari Shawn, is 10
and when I think about him,
his friends and all children, I
want a better world for him/
them,” Goretsky added.

ADL Philadelphia is one
of 25 regional ADL branches
across the United States, along
with the national office that is
known for its annual report
on antisemitic incidents. The
local office serves “eastern
Pennsylvania, southern New
Jersey and the entire state of
Delaware,” according to the
press release announcing
Goretsky’s hiring.

In that release, organization
officials praised Goretsky’s
experience working to promote
diversity. At Arcadia, he advanced
the values of “justice, equity,
diversity and
inclusion through daily interactions with
students, faculty and staff,” the
release said.

Pre-Arcadia, Goretsky
served on the diversity and
inclusion committee at George
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM it raised on an annual basis.

“That means people believe
in that work,” she added.

Goretsky hopes to build
on Goodman’s progress, but
he knows he won’t do that
overnight. He plans to spend
his first three months getting
to know his staff of 12 and
institutional leaders in the
region. The
new director’s
long-term goal is to continue
building relationships with
“synagogues, law enforcement,
legislators, school administra-
tions and others,” he said.

During the Jan. 15 hostage
situation at Congregation Beth
Israel in Colleyville, Texas, it
was pre-existing relationships
that helped the four hostages
escape unharmed, according
to Goretsky. In an interview
See ADL, Page 24
Andrew Goretsky
Photo by Lafayette Hill Studios
Shira Goodman
Courtesy of Shira Goodman
Washington University
and the Native American
Special Interest Residential
Community at the University
of Massachusetts Amherst.

He also helped students
with learning differences at
Landmark College in Vermont.

“We are excited for Andrew
to lead ADL’s efforts to combat
antisemitism and bigotry of
all forms in the Philadelphia
region,” said Hope Comisky,
ADL Philadelphia’s regional
board chair. “Andrew has
a reputation as a dedicated
strategic leader, educator and
administrator.” The new leader is taking
over a strong organiza-
tion, according to his
predecessor. Under Goodman,
ADL Philadelphia increased
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