Adobe Recognizes Jewish Employee Network, Applauded by Brandeis Center for Championing Inclusion

By: Jerome Brookshire

In a landmark move applauded by Jewish advocacy groups, the global software giant Adobe has officially recognized a Jewish employee resource group (ERG) within its corporate structure, joining the ranks of its other identity-based ERGs. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which had supported Adobe employees in their effort to secure this recognition.

According to a report from The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), the newly recognized Jewish Employee Network represents a significant milestone for Jewish professionals within the tech sector, many of whom have long advocated for formal inclusion alongside other ethnic and affinity groups in corporate diversity frameworks.

Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, commended Adobe for acknowledging the unique and multifaceted nature of Jewish identity. “The Brandeis Center applauds Adobe’s Jewish employees on the establishment of an officially recognized ERG—the Jewish Employee Network—joining Adobe’s other ethnicity-based ERGs,” Marcus stated, as quoted by JNS.

He emphasized that Adobe’s decision represents more than symbolic recognition. “Adobe is to be commended for acknowledging that Jewish identity is not limited to religious beliefs but, like other ethnic groups, is rooted in shared ancestry, culture, history, and language,” Marcus said. This broader definition, he noted, is critical to ensuring equal treatment for Jewish employees in today’s increasingly diverse workplaces.

Marcus also highlighted the dual nature of Adobe’s responsibility—both moral and legal. “We are proud to have supported Adobe employees in securing this important recognition and grateful to see a major global company do right by its Jewish workforce,” he continued. “Ensuring that all employees receive equal access to the benefits of ERG participation is both a legal obligation and the right thing to do.”

As JNS reported, ERGs are not mere symbolic entities. These groups provide tangible workplace benefits, such as community-building, resource allocation, mentorship, and collective advocacy. For historically marginalized or misunderstood communities, ERGs serve as critical platforms for identity affirmation and policy influence.

The Brandeis Center underscored this point, noting that ERGs offer “significant employment benefits in the workplace.” By including Jewish employees within this corporate structure, Adobe is acknowledging their right to the same cultural and professional support systems afforded to other groups based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Adobe’s decision arrives against the backdrop of growing scrutiny over how major corporations treat their Jewish employees, especially amid rising anti-Semitism and increased awareness around diversity and inclusion. Just last week, the Brandeis Center issued a warning to Microsoft, demanding that the company recognize a Jewish ERG—or face potential legal action. As JNS reported, this move signals a broader push for systemic change across the tech industry and beyond.

With Adobe now taking a proactive stance, it could serve as a catalyst for other corporations to follow suit. For companies that pride themselves on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the failure to accommodate Jewish identity within those frameworks may increasingly be seen as both a reputational and legal liability.

The issue of Jewish inclusion within corporate DEI initiatives has gained urgency over the past year, as Jewish employees have reported being excluded from equity-based programming or having their concerns sidelined under broader “religious accommodation” policies. Many Jewish advocates, including those at the Brandeis Center, argue that treating Jewish identity solely as a religious category fails to reflect its complex cultural, ethnic, and historical dimensions.

This recognition by Adobe represents a crucial step toward redressing that imbalance. It sends a message that Jewish professionals are entitled to the same support, dignity, and visibility as other identity groups within the corporate landscape, according to the information provided in the JNS report.

Adobe’s decision to formally recognize a Jewish ERG is more than a corporate box-checking exercise—it’s a landmark acknowledgment of Jewish identity as a legitimate and valued part of the broader DEI conversation. With the support of organizations such as the Brandeis Center and mounting public scrutiny, other tech giants and multinational firms may soon find themselves under pressure to follow Adobe’s example.

This development signals a meaningful shift in how Jewish identity is perceived and protected in the modern workplace—bringing long-overdue visibility, community, and safeguards to Jewish employees worldwide.