By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News

In a striking declaration that signals a profound shift in her public priorities, media heir Shari Redstone announced on Wednesday that the central mission of her post-Paramount life will be combating antisemitism and racism—an effort she described as “the most important work” she has ever undertaken. Her remarks, delivered at a New York event attended by Jewish communal leaders, media executives, and philanthropists, came only months after the $8 billion sale of Paramount Global, a transaction that formally ended her family’s nearly 40-year stewardship of one of America’s most storied entertainment empires.

Redstone’s comments, highlighted in a report that appeared on Wednesday ay VIN News, underscored the degree to which the events of the past two years—particularly the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel and the explosive rise in antisemitism that followed—have shaped her public advocacy and personal commitments. “We have to create that world we want for our kids and for generations to come,” Redstone told attendees, her tone firm and reflective. What had once been a supplementary philanthropic interest, she suggested, has now become the animating principle of her post-corporate life.

The sale of Paramount Global earlier this year marked the close of a defining era for the Redstone family. Long overseen first by the late Sumner Redstone and then by Shari, the media conglomerate encompassed a constellation of major American institutions: CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Showtime, and the Paramount Pictures film studio. The acquisition by David Ellison’s Skydance Media, in partnership with RedBird Capital and other major investors, represented both a financial pivot for the company and a personal turning point for Redstone.

As VIN News noted at the time of the deal, Redstone played a central role in shepherding Paramount through years of industry transformation—cord-cutting, streaming disruptions, pandemic-era upheavals, and the aggressive consolidation that reshaped Hollywood. Yet in her remarks this week, she made clear that her departure from the corporate helm marks not a retreat but a redirection.

“I believe with every fiber of my being that this is the moment to stand up,” Redstone said. “There is no more important work than fighting antisemitism and racism, and ensuring the future we leave to the next generation is brighter, safer, and more just.”

Redstone’s renewed focus emerges amid an unprecedented wave of antisemitic incidents across the United States. From violent demonstrations outside synagogues to threats targeting Jewish students on campuses, the escalation has alarmed Jewish leaders nationwide.

While antisemitism in America had been steadily rising for several years, the eruption of pro-Hamas activism and anti-Israel extremism after the October 7 atrocities magnified the urgency of the threat. “We are witnessing something that demands not only vigilance but leadership,” she said. “And we all have a responsibility to provide that leadership.”

Redstone has increasingly stepped into that role. Through her family foundation and several philanthropic partnerships, she has funded Jewish education initiatives, campus advocacy programs, and efforts designed to counteract anti-Israel misinformation. According to the information provided in the VIN News report, she has been particularly outspoken about the climate on college campuses, where Jewish students say they often feel intimidated or unsafe.

Redstone’s transition from media executive to full-time advocate reflects a wider trend among high-profile Jewish philanthropists who have stepped forward in the past two years to confront antisemitism head-on. But her remarks this week carried unique weight because of her history in shaping American culture.

“You ran a company whose content influenced hundreds of millions of people,” one attendee told her afterward. “Now you’re using that influence in a different way.”

Redstone acknowledged this evolution, emphasizing that her media career equipped her with a keen understanding of narrative, persuasion, and public perception—tools she intends to use vigorously in the fight against antisemitism. “Stories shape how we see the world,” she said. “Right now, the Jewish community needs to tell its story clearly and fearlessly.”

Throughout Wednesday’s event, speakers noted that the Redstone family’s decades-long stewardship of Paramount Global left an indelible mark on the American media landscape. From blockbuster films to iconic television franchises, Paramount’s creative output helped shape cultural conversations across generations.

Yet Redstone’s audience sensed that she views her future work as an even more consequential undertaking. “Running a media empire was formative,” she said. “But fighting hatred—this is defining.”

Observers told VIN News that Redstone’s comments reflect not only personal conviction but also a broader recognition within the Jewish philanthropic world: antisemitism has metastasized into a crisis that demands large-scale, coordinated action.

According to VIN News and national law-enforcement data, antisemitic incidents in the United States have climbed to levels unseen in modern history. On campuses, Jewish students report being shouted down, physically intimidated, and subject to harassment campaigns on social media. At rallies, calls for violence against Jews and Israelis have migrated from the fringes to the mainstream. And across major cities, demonstrations outside Jewish institutions—including schools and synagogues—have surged.

Redstone referenced several of these developments directly, saying they illustrate a crisis that can no longer be minimized or dismissed. “We’ve reached a point where silence is complicity,” she said. “You cannot sit this out. Not anymore.”

Redstone told attendees that her post-Paramount phase will draw on her experience building institutions, guiding complex organizations, and mobilizing coalitions. Her foundation is expected to expand its engagement with universities, Jewish youth organizations, interfaith partners, and policymakers at the state and federal levels.

She spoke of the need to build not just response systems but proactive infrastructure—educational programs, media literacy initiatives, leadership development opportunities, and platforms capable of amplifying Jewish voices.

“This is not simply about opposing hatred,” she said. “It is about cultivating resilience, fostering understanding, and ensuring that Jews feel pride—not fear—about who they are.”

In a climate where Jewish communities nationwide feel vulnerable, Redstone’s message served as both reassurance and rallying cry. Her remarks affirmed her intention to become a leading public voice in the fight against antisemitism and racism.

The event concluded with sustained applause as Redstone reiterated her commitment: “We owe it to our children. We owe it to our history. And we owe it to ourselves. This is the work that matters most.”

With her chapter at Paramount now closed, Shari Redstone appears prepared to devote her next act to safeguarding the Jewish future—an endeavor she now regards as her defining mission.