Latest news with #JLens
Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Elle Caruso Fitzgerald From the Faith Based Investing Content Hub Explains How Investors Should Think About Liquidity & Large-Cap ETFs
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Elle Caruso Fitzgerald, a leading voice from the Faith Based Investing Content Hub, explains in her latest article how investors should think about liquidity and large-cap ETFs. Fitzgerald details how liquidity concerns may be overblown, particularly for large-cap ETFs, and investors may miss out on compelling opportunities. How Investors Should Think About Liquidity & Large-Cap ETFs To summarize, an ETF's liquidity is directly linked to the liquidity of its underlying securities. Therefore, to accurately assess an ETF's liquidity, it's crucial to examine the portfolio's holdings. Relying solely on total assets or trading volume may be misleading. To view the full article, please visit: About the Faith Based Investing Content Hub by JLens The Faith Based Investing Content Hub on ETF Trends is dedicated to helping investors understand and leverage the power of JLens' Jewish-themed funds. In particular, TOV provides a new investment vehicle for the Jewish community to hold corporations accountable, while also giving investors and shareholders the ability to 'invest Jewishly.' About VettaFi VettaFi is a leading provider of data-driven insights and specialized services for asset managers and investors, bringing together a wealth of expertise to support client success. At the core of VettaFi is a commitment to fostering strong relationships and delivering innovative solutions that help clients engage, grow, and thrive in an increasingly complex financial landscape. For more information about VettaFi, please visit
Business Wire
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
JLens and ADL Condemn UN Report Targeting Companies for Israel Ties
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JLens, a Registered Investment Advisor and sponsor of the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (NYSE: TOV; the 'TOV ETF'), along with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the world's leading anti-hate organization, strongly condemn the report issued by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Titled 'From economy of occupation to economy of genocide,' the report urges companies to sever ties with Israel, halt operations, and pay reparations. JLens and ADL emphasized that these extreme recommendations seek to further the goals of the antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and are based on distorted legal interpretations and inflammatory rhetoric. The report even goes so far as to call on governments to investigate and prosecute corporate executives whose companies do business in Israel for so-called complicity in 'international crimes and the alleged laundering of related profits.' JLens believes that this is not a serious human rights assessment but rather a politicized attack on the Jewish state and the businesses that operate within it. Of the 13 U.S.-listed public companies named in the UN report, all are currently held in the TOV ETF portfolio. These companies—including leaders in defense, technology, and finance—are long-standing contributors to Israel's economy, security, and innovation ecosystem. 'This report is not a human rights analysis—it is a blatant effort to economically isolate Israel,' said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of ADL. 'Francesca Albanese has a long record of antisemitic rhetoric and abuse of her UN platform, and has been condemned by the US, France, and Germany for her antisemitism. Her work undermines human rights and fuels hate, not accountability.' Of the 13 TOV-held companies named in the report, five—HP Inc., Microsoft, BlackRock, Lockheed Martin, and IBM—have earned JLens' highest ' metzuyan ' (excellent) designation and are overweighted in the ETF. 'We helped build the TOV ETF so Jewish investors could stand up for our values and stand with companies that do the right thing, including supporting Israel,' said Ari Hoffnung, Managing Director of JLens. 'This report directly attacks many of TOV's top holdings. We are proud to represent shareholders in these U.S. companies and will reach out to each one to reaffirm our support and urge them to continue rejecting BDS pressure.' Since launching on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2025, the TOV ETF has grown to over $160 million in assets, reflecting strong interest from investors seeking a values-aligned strategy rooted in Jewish advocacy and shareholder engagement. The Fund tracks the 500 largest U.S. public companies and uses a proprietary screening and scoring process to assess alignment with Jewish values—including support for Israel. JLens then engages with portfolio companies through proxy voting, board-level dialogue, and other forms of shareholder advocacy to combat antisemitism, oppose BDS, and advance the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). TOV was developed in response to the alarming rise of antisemitism, and the increasing efforts to target U.S. corporations as instruments in an attempt to economically harm Israel. Anti-Israel activists are targeting companies through sophisticated tactics—including shareholder resolutions and university divestment campaigns. At the same time, many Jewish employees face challenging workplace environments, with internal employee protests taking place at major companies like Alphabet. The ETF provides a mechanism for investors to engage directly with companies on these emerging risks. The UN report's call for divestment and reparations is part of a broader trend of politically motivated financial activism that poses real risks for investors. In a prior analysis, JLens forecast that the 100 largest U.S. university endowments would forgo $33 billion in investment gains over 10 years if they adopted BDS-aligned investment strategies. This illustrates how such ideologically driven divestment campaigns not only undermine Israel but also jeopardize long-term portfolio performance. JLens and ADL jointly urge asset managers, trustees, university boards, and institutional investors to reject this UN report and stand firmly with the companies committed to Israel's future. JLens' shareholder advocacy focuses on combating antisemitism and hate, supporting Israel, and promoting the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). JLens has a strong track record of running campaigns which call on shareholders to reject anti-Israel shareholder proposals at top companies including Alphabet, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Intel. Public U.S. Companies Named in the UN Report (Alphabetical with Tickers): Airbnb, Inc. — (NASDAQ: ABNB) Alphabet (Google) — (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Amazon — (NASDAQ: AMZN) BlackRock — (NYSE: BLK) Booking — (NASDAQ: BKNG) Caterpillar Inc. — (NYSE: CAT) Chevron Corporation — (NYSE: CVX) Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) — (NYSE: HPE) HP Inc. — (NYSE: HPQ) IBM — (NYSE: IBM) Lockheed Martin — (NYSE: LMT) Microsoft — (NASDAQ: MSFT) Palantir Technologies — (NYSE: PLTR) Private U.S. Companies Named in the UN Report (Alphabetical): Drummond Company Keller Williams Realty Vanguard Empowered Funds (dba ETF Architect, LLC) is the Fund Advisor. For more information about the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF, please visit About TOV ETF The JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (TOV) empowers investors to combat antisemitism and hate, support Israel, and promote the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) through shareholder advocacy. It aims to deliver performance comparable to index funds that track the 500 largest U.S. public companies. About JLens Founded in 2012, JLens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Registered Investment Advisor that empowers investors to align their capital with Jewish values and advocates for Jewish communal priorities in the corporate arena. JLens' Jewish Investor Network is composed of over 30 Jewish institutions, representing $11 billion in communal capital. In 2022, JLens established an affiliation with ADL (Anti-Defamation League), the leading anti-hate organization in the world. More at About ADL ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is 'to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.' Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at The fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Prospectus and SAI contains this and other important information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by calling (215) 330-4476. Read it carefully before investing. ADL and JLens are affiliated nonprofit organizations. Neither organization's staff receive direct or indirect compensation for referrals or purchases of TOV ETF or any other investment products. This communication is informational and does not constitute a securities offer. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Visit for the fund's standardized performance and holding details. The Index considers JLens' Jewish Value Pillars in its index methodology and may exclude otherwise profitable investments in companies which have been identified as being in conflict with JLens' Jewish Value Pillars. The Fund is not actively managed, and the Adviser will not sell any investments due to current or projected underperformance of the securities, industries or sector in which it invests, unless the investment is removed from the Index, sold in connection with a rebalancing of the Index as addressed in the Index methodology, or sold to comply with the Fund's investment limitations. Large-Capitalization Companies Risk: Large- capitalization companies may trail the returns of the overall stock market. Large capitalization stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better – or worse – than the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. When large capitalization companies are out of favor, these securities may lose value or may not appreciate in line with the overall market. In addition, large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology or consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful small companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. Jewish Values Investing Risk. The Index considers JLens' Jewish Value Pillars in its index methodology and may exclude otherwise profitable investments in companies which have been identified as being in conflict with JLens' Jewish Value Pillars. The Index does not select constituents for inclusion in the Index on the basis of future anticipated performance or capital appreciation, similar to traditional market capitalization-weighted indexes. Responsible Investing Criteria Risk. Because the methodology of the Index selects securities of issuers using responsible investing considerations, the Fund may underperform the broader equity market or other funds that do not utilize responsible investing criteria when selecting investments. New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decision. The Fund is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. The fund's investment advisor is Empowered Funds, LLC, which is doing business as ETF Architect. JLens serves as the Sub-adviser to the Fund. Quasar is not affiliated with ETF Architect or JLens.
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ADL and JLens Urge Shareholders of Alphabet Inc. to Vote AGAINST Anti-Israel Shareholder Proposal
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JLens, a Registered Investment Advisor, along with ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), today called upon shareholders of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)(the 'Company') to vote AGAINST a shareholder proposal designed to harm Israel by pressuring the Company into severing business ties with the country. ADL and JLens noted that Proposal 9 is expected to be submitted to a shareholder vote at the Alphabet annual meeting on June 6, 2025. The proposal cites the fact that Alphabet provides cloud-computing technology to 'Project Nimbus,' a system used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and many civilian applications, as justification for a request that the Company commission an independent third-party report to determine whether its customers' use of certain products and services, 'contributes to human rights harms in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA).' The Board of Directors of Alphabet has recommended that their shareholders vote AGAINST the above-noted shareholder proposal. 'Proposal 9 offers the pretense of concern for human rights when in fact it is a thinly disguised ploy to weaken Israel's national security—and to undermine its right to defend itself—by pressuring Alphabet to withhold vital technology that supports the country's self-defense capabilities,' said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of ADL. 'We believe this proposal is closely aligned with the objectives of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, whose goal is to delegitimize the State of Israel.' ADL and JLens believe that Proposal 9 misrepresents 'Project Nimbus' by portraying it solely as a military initiative, while ignoring its broad civilian applications across Israel's ministries of finance, healthcare, education, and transportation. At the same time, the proposal disregards the urgent and lawful need for modern defense technologies—especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023 terror attacks, which killed over 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage. Alphabet's cloud services play a vital role in both safeguarding Israeli civilians and strengthening essential public infrastructure, making this proposal not only misleading but dangerously out of touch with the realities on the ground. 'Alphabet's shareholders should see this proposal for what it is: an attempt to misuse the proxy process to advance a divisive political agenda that has no place in corporate governance,' said Ari Hoffnung, Managing Director of JLens. 'Proposal 9 not only distorts the purpose of Project Nimbus—it also risks undermining shareholder value by inserting geopolitics into decisions about lawful, commercially sound partnerships.' The shareholder proposal is not the first time Alphabet has come under attack from anti-Israel activists, but rather part of a broader campaign targeting Google for its business ties with Israel. In April 2024, Google terminated 28 employees following a series of protests against its cloud contract with the Israeli government, citing workplace disruptions and policy violations, according to an internal memo. BDS movement organizers also condemned the company's 2025 acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, claiming it reflects support for the so-called 'Israeli apartheid system.' In one extreme case, protesters targeted the home of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, hanging banners that labeled him a 'genocide profiteer.' JLens has filed a Notice of Exempt Solicitation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, describing its opposition to Alphabet shareholder proposal. About ADL ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is 'to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.' Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at About JLens Founded in 2012, JLens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Registered Investment Advisor that empowers investors to align their capital with Jewish values and advocates for Jewish communal priorities in the corporate arena. JLens' Jewish Investor Network is composed of over 30 Jewish institutions, representing $11 billion in communal capital. In 2022, JLens established an affiliation with ADL (Anti-Defamation League), the leading anti-hate organization in the world. JLens has an indirect financial interest in Intel, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin as a data and proxy service provider, and sub advisor to investment vehicles with holdings in those companies. More at PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PROXY SOLICITATION AND NO PROXY CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Anti-Defamation League and JLens are not asking for your proxy card and cannot accept your proxy card. Please DO NOT send us your proxy card.
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Anti-hate groups are pressing Meta shareholders to demand transparency on hate speech
Shareholder activists say Meta isn't doing enough to combat hate speech. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Jewish investor network JLens are calling on Meta investors to back a new proposal demanding greater transparency into how the company handles antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-disability hate speech. The campaign comes amid rising concern over Meta's rollback of moderation policies and signals that investor scrutiny of the company's approach to safety has intensified. The shareholder proposal, known as Proposal 8, calls on Meta to publish a public report detailing how it identifies, moderates, and addresses hate speech across its platforms. Shareholders will vote on the measure at Meta's annual meeting on May 28. The report would include data tracking the prevalence of hate speech on Meta's platforms, broken down by the communities targeted, and an analysis of whether such content has increased or decreased under updated policy guidelines. It would also disclose any new policies or product interventions Meta has introduced or is developing to address hate targeting marginalized groups. Still, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg controls a majority of the company's voting shares through a dual-class stock structure, effectively giving him the power to decide the outcome of any shareholder vote. Even if outside investors broadly support the proposal, it is almost certain to fail without Zuckerberg's backing. Meta declined to comment. Meta's board has urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, saying the company already has comprehensive content moderation systems and transparency reports and that an additional report would not provide meaningful new information. ADL and JLens argue that forcing the issue into public view and onto the ballot is an important step toward holding Meta accountable. "This is not a one-time effort, but part of a broader push to ensure Meta takes meaningful responsibility for the harmful content that appears on its platforms," Ari Hoffnung, managing director of JLens, told Business Insider. "Transparency is the necessary first step. Investors and the public need to understand what Meta is currently doing to combat hate on its platforms." Both ADL and JLens say Meta's current disclosures fall short and that independent, community-specific metrics are essential to understanding the risks. In addition to concerns about user safety, JLens also framed hate speech as a financial risk for Meta's shareholders. Hoffnung said harmful content on Meta could expose the company to legal, regulatory, and reputational risks and threaten relationships with advertisers. "Meta is the platform where we've consistently identified as having one of the highest volumes of antisemitic and other hateful content, making it a priority for investor engagement," Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL, told BI. "Meta also is a public company, and so as shareholders, we have a formal mechanism to push for transparency and accountability through resolutions like Proposal 8, which we believe is the most constructive way to drive lasting change from within the company." The ADL, founded in 1913, is one of the most prominent civil rights organizations in the US focused on combating antisemitism and hate. In 2022, it acquired JLens, a Jewish values-based investor network, giving it a formal foothold in shareholder advocacy. JLens manages investments in major public companies, including Meta, through funds aligned with Jewish values and has stakes in most large public companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta. While the ADL does not directly own Meta stock, its acquisition of JLens enables it to influence corporate governance through shareholder proposals. "We've previously attempted to engage the company directly without success," Hoffnung said. "This year, we felt it was time to escalate our concerns through a shareholder proposal." Shareholder proposals are a common tool during "proxy season," the period in spring when public companies hold annual meetings and shareholders vote on issues ranging from executive compensation to corporate social responsibility. The pressure on Meta comes as the company's own Oversight Board, an independent group funded by Meta, recently raised alarms about the company's approach to hate speech enforcement. In a statement last week, the board criticized Meta's recent rollback of its moderation policies and warned that the changes could undermine user safety and brand trust. Greenblatt said the ADL believes strongly in free expression but rejects the idea that it should come at the expense of user safety. "We strongly believe in the importance of free expression, but it cannot come at the expense of safety," he said. "Antisemitic content and hate speech can lead to real-world harm, threats, and violence — as we've often seen — and it then crosses the line from protected expression into dangerous conduct." Greenblatt pointed to Reddit's transparency report, which tracked incidents of Holocaust denial and other hate targeting specific groups, as a model for the kind of reporting they hope Meta will adopt if Proposal 8 is successful. Proposal 8 is one of several measures investors will consider at Meta's annual meeting. Other shareholder proposals to be voted on include calls for greater transparency around child safety risks, oversight of Meta's use of artificial intelligence, and enhanced reporting on how the company's data collection practices affect user privacy. JLens has been active beyond Meta this year. It has filed shareholder letters at Intel, General Dynamics, and Lockheed Martin, urging rejection of proposals it viewed as anti-Israel. During the 2024 proxy season, JLens and the ADL campaigned at dozens of companies to push for stronger action against antisemitism and other forms of hate.
Bloomberg
27-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Anti-Defamation League Debuts What It Says Is First Jewish ETF
Two prominent Jewish groups are starting what they say is the first-ever exchange-traded fund that will tailor investments in S&P 500 Index companies depending on whether they're friendly to Jewish causes. The Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy group that seeks to combat antisemitism, and Jewish investor group JLens, are debuting the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy US exchange-traded fund with commitments of about $100 million, according to a statement Thursday. Its ticker will be 'TOV,' which means 'good' in Hebrew.
