Reading time | 3 min.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, my name is Emanuel. I’m 29 years old, currently living in Tel Aviv, and pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science at Ben-Gurion University. In my free time, I enjoy spending time at the beach and playing volleyball.
What inspired you to volunteer with FOA? Did you encounter online antisemitism before or after you started volunteering?
After completing my miluim (IDF reserve service), I became increasingly aware – like many of us – of the growing wave of antisemitism around the world. I felt a strong urge to take action. While I haven’t experienced antisemitism personally, I’ve seen a disturbing amount of fake news and antisemitic content in the media, which motivated me to get involved.
Can you tell us a bit about your role at FOA?
I lead the engineering team at FOA. My responsibilities include maintaining and advancing our technical infrastructure. On one side, I work to improve the user interface and overall user experience. On the other, I focus on developing AI-based systems that can identify and flag antisemitic content online.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with FOA?
For me, the most rewarding part is knowing that I’m contributing to something meaningful. I truly enjoy working with the passionate and talented people involved in the project, and I hope more like-minded individuals will join us in the future.
How was your experience meeting other FOA volunteers during the conference? Did you take away anything meaningful from those interactions?
I was genuinely impressed by the size and strength of the FOA network. The conference topics were insightful, and I appreciated seeing how others are working to address antisemitism through different perspectives and solutions.
Has anything you’ve learned about online antisemitism surprised you?
Yes, I was surprised to learn that there are serious antisemitic groups operating on the dark web—some of them even forming cells similar to terrorist organizations. The scale and organization of this activity were shocking.
What are your hopes for the future in the fight against online antisemitism?
I hope that by combining innovative technology with committed, impactful individuals, we can make a real difference. My vision is to help create a safer digital environment—not just for Jewish people, but for everyone.
