JLens Launches First-Ever Jewish Advocacy ETF (TOV) on NYSE, Backed by ADL Foundation and Jewish Organizations

Rhea-AI Summary

JLens has launched the first-ever Jewish Advocacy ETF (TOV) on the NYSE, backed by over $100 million in seed capital from the ADL Foundation and various Jewish organizations. The ETF tracks the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. Index, investing in America's 500 largest public companies while screening out those misaligned with Jewish values.

The fund, trading under ticker symbol 'TOV' (Hebrew for 'good'), aims to combat antisemitism and support Israel through shareholder advocacy, management engagement, and proxy voting. The launch comes in response to unprecedented antisemitic incidents, with ADL reporting over 10,000 cases in the year following October 7, 2023. According to JLens research, more than 75 of the 500 largest U.S. public corporations were targeted by the BDS movement in the past year.

Positive

• Secured $100M+ in seed capital from established institutions
• First-mover advantage in Jewish advocacy ETF space
• Broad market exposure to 500 largest U.S. companies
• Active shareholder advocacy approach for value creation

Negative

• New, untested ETF without performance track record
• Screening criteria may limit investment universe
• Potential impact of BDS movement on portfolio companies

Insights

Financial Analyst

The debut of the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (TOV) on the NYSE marks a notable innovation in the rapidly growing thematic ETF space, particularly within the values-based investing category. With $100 million in seed capital from Jewish organizations including the ADL Foundation, TOV enters the market with substantial institutional backing compared to typical thematic ETF launches.

TOV's investment approach combines a large-cap U.S. equity strategy with values-based screening and active shareholder advocacy. The fund tracks an index of the 500 largest U.S. public companies, excluding those deemed inconsistent with Jewish values, then employs scorecards to evaluate remaining companies. This positions TOV in the competitive landscape between broad market index funds and more narrowly focused ESG products.

What distinguishes TOV from other faith-based or values-aligned funds is its explicit dual mandate: competitive financial returns alongside active corporate engagement. JLens plans to leverage shareholder rights to address antisemitism and workplace hostility through management engagement, proxy voting, and other advocacy tactics. Their research indicating that 75 of the 500 largest U.S. corporations faced BDS movement pressure in the past year highlights the specific corporate governance issues they aim to address.

For investors, TOV offers U.S. large-cap equity exposure with a values overlay, but without the sector concentration risks of narrower thematic funds. The ETF's success will likely depend on balancing competitive performance with its advocacy goals, as well as expanding beyond its initial institutional investor base to attract broader market participation.

This launch represents an evolution in how communities can strategically deploy capital to influence corporate behavior, potentially creating a template for other identity-based or values-focused investment vehicles.

Investments in America's Largest Public Companies Will be Used for Shareholder Advocacy to Combat Antisemitism and Hate

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (NYSE:TOV), a groundbreaking exchange-traded fund that aims to empower investors to combat antisemitism, support Israel and embody Jewish values, is set to begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TOV” – the Hebrew word for “good”.

Created by JLens, an affiliate of ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), TOV offers investors a way to align their financial goals with Jewish values while investing in America's largest companies. Several U.S. Jewish organizations, along with the ADL Foundation, have committed to invest over $100 million in seed capital to launch the new Fund. The supporting organizations include the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, Goodman Family Foundation, Jewish Community Partners (Memphis), Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Libitzky Family Foundation, and Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust.

TOV tracks the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. Index, which provides exposure to the 500 largest U.S. public companies and screens out companies whose activities do not align with Jewish values. The remaining companies are then assessed based on their performance on Jewish values scorecards. JLens uses this information to advocate for Jewish communal interests through engagement with management and boards of directors, proxy voting, and other forms of shareholder advocacy. The Fund aims to deliver performance comparable to other US Large Cap index funds and amplify the Jewish voice in the corporate arena.

“The launch of TOV reflects the need for a strong, deliberate and innovative response to the unprecedented spike in antisemitism following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of ADL. “In the aftermath of this event, we have seen a wave of actions against corporations by the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as more Jewish employees finding themselves in hostile workplaces, which demands a robust response.”

According to ADL, there have been more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the year following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. This is the highest number of incidents ever recorded in any 12-month period since ADL started tracking in 1979. In addition, many leading U.S. companies have been targeted by campaigns associated with the BDS movement, which has used shareholder proposals and other tactics to pressure corporations to suspend or withhold economic interaction with Israel. According to JLens research, more than 75 of the 500 largest U.S. public corporations were targeted by the BDS movement in the past year.

“For over 100 years, ADL has pursued a mission to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. New challenges call for new tools and strategies, and thanks to JLens the TOV will allow us to stand up to hate using a wide array of shareholder advocacy tools,” Mr. Greenblatt added.

“Given their profound influence on society—now rivaling that of governments—corporations have an obligation to ensure their products, platforms, and workplaces remain free from antisemitism and all forms of hate,” noted Ari Hoffnung, Managing Director of JLens, the non-profit organization serving as the ETF’s sponsor. “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’.”

Empowered Funds (dba ETF Architect, LLC) is the Fund Advisor. For more information about the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF, please visit investjewishly.org.

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 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 www.adl.org.

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 www.jlensnetwork.org.

The fund is effective and is scheduled to be listed on the NYSE on February 27, 2025. 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. 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.

The JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250227623184/en/

Dukas Linden Public Relations

JLens@dlpr.com



Jessica Cohen (929) 618-6393 | adlmedia@adl.org

Source: JLens

FAQ

What is the investment objective of the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy ETF (TOV)?

TOV aims to deliver performance comparable to US Large Cap index funds while investing in the 500 largest U.S. companies that align with Jewish values and using shareholder advocacy to combat antisemitism.

How much seed capital has been committed to the TOV ETF launch?

Over $100 million in seed capital has been committed by the ADL Foundation and several U.S. Jewish organizations.

How many antisemitic incidents were reported after October 7, 2023?

ADL reported over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the year following October 7, 2023 - the highest number ever recorded in any 12-month period since 1979.

How many large U.S. companies were targeted by the BDS movement according to JLens?

According to JLens research, more than 75 of the 500 largest U.S. public corporations were targeted by the BDS movement in the past year.

What screening process does the TOV ETF use for stock selection?

TOV screens the 500 largest U.S. public companies, excluding those that don't align with Jewish values, and assesses remaining companies based on Jewish values scorecards.