Gal Gadot Speaks Out on Jewish Identity and Fighting Antisemitism

“My name is Gal, and I’m Jewish.” With these simple yet powerful words, Israeli actress Gal Gadot took the stage at the Never Is Now 2025 summit, accepting the Anti-Defamation League’s International Leadership Award.

Gadot’s speech was a passionate call for Jewish pride and a stand against antisemitism, which she described as being at its worst point in modern history. “Isn’t it crazy that just saying that [I’m Jewish] feels like a controversial statement?” she asked the audience.

Reflecting on the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, Gadot described the deep impact it had on her. “Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying, and cheering on a massacre of Jews,” she said.

While she had previously avoided speaking about politics, the rise in global antisemitism compelled her to take a stand. “Even if speaking up wasn’t really your thing, none of us can ignore the explosion of Jew hatred around the world anymore.”

Gadot emphasized that Jewish people must support each other rather than wait for outside validation. “We can’t hold our breaths and pray or beg for support from people, groups, or the community that don’t want to be there for us. We need to be there for ourselves.”

She also shared her personal connection to Jewish history. As the eighth generation of her family born in Israel, she described the Jewish homeland as both a refuge for persecuted Jews and a place of deep indigenous roots. “We are an ancient people with an ancient story in an ancient homeland. We challenge hate when we face it, but we do it with love while always striving to make the world a better place.”

The ADL praised Gadot for her unwavering support for Israel and her advocacy against antisemitism. “A hero both on screen and off, Gal Gadot has been an unshakable force in the fight against antisemitism,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

Her final words at the summit rang clear and strong: “My name is Gal, and I’m Jewish. Am Yisrael Chai.”

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