We, the undersigned, are concerned members and allies of the Jewish community who object to the selection of Jonah Platt as keynote speaker for the upcoming Presidents Dinner on May 17 at the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture & Education.

Jonah Platt has publicly advanced messaging that aligns with hasbara framing, often presenting support for Israel as central to Jewish identity while marginalizing or dismissing dissenting Jewish perspectives. This framing excludes and erases many Jews, particularly those who are non-Zionist or anti-Zionist, and undermines the diversity that is fundamental to a healthy Jewish community.

We are further concerned that some of his public statements have been perceived by many as minimizing or justifying violence against Palestinians, including in the context of ongoing occupation, displacement, and what numerous human rights organizations have described as apartheid and genocide. Elevating a speaker associated with these perspectives at a major Jewish communal event is deeply troubling. It risks normalizing views that many in our community experience as incompatible with core Jewish values of justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, and can make members of our own community feel excluded or misrepresented. In this sense, selecting a speaker linked to these views does not support the wellbeing or inclusivity of the Jewish community.

The Jewish community is not monolithic. Its strength lies in its diversity of thought, identity, and moral perspective. At a time when many are grappling with urgent questions of human rights and accountability, it is especially important to elevate voices that engage these issues with care, openness, and respect for a wide range of views.

A keynote speaker at a major communal event should reflect or meaningfully respect this diversity. We believe this selection does not meet that standard, and we respectfully call on the organizers to reconsider their choice and to prioritize speakers who better represent the breadth of perspectives within the Jewish community.