Lexington's Robbins Named Chair of ADL's New England Region

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has officially selected Jeffrey S. Robbins and David Grossman as the new Board Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, for ADL’s New England Region.

Robbins and Grossman, both long time supporters of ADL and its core mission, bring two generations of legal, political and business experience to the organization.  Robbins will be handed the gavel by his predecessor, Michael N. Sheetz, at the ADL New England Board meeting on September 13. 

Robbins, a Lexington resident, is a respected attorney who is currently a Litigation Member in the Boston office of Mintz Levin, specializing in complex civil litigation involving allegations of fraud, First Amendment issues and claims of defamation. He has twice served as United States Delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, and as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Minority of the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Special Investigation into campaign fundraising practices, representing the Democratic Senators during the probe into fundraising during the 1996 Presidential election. Robbins has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts and Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture Division, Special Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts, and as lead litigation and trial counsel in many highly publicized cases.  Robbins is a staunch advocate for Israel and was also President of the World Affairs Council of Boston; he has had op-ed pieces published on a range of foreign policy and other issues in a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

Grossman is co-president of Grossman Marketing Group (GMG), having assumed leadership of the family business in 2011 along with his brother, Ben. At GMG, Grossman specializes in marketing execution for professional services firms, sports teams, venture-backed startups and institution-sized non-profit organizations.  He is also a frequent lecturer on marketing and family business issues.  Grossman has been active in service to ADL and the Boston Public Library for many years; he grew-up around politics as the son of former Democratic National Committee Chairman and current Massachusetts Treasurer Steve Grossman. Grossman previously worked in marketing and development in New York City. He holds a BA from Princeton University and lives in Chestnut Hill with his wife and 3 children.

"Jeff Robbins brings to the position of regional board chair significant experience in government, public policy and law- all helpful in dealing with the myriad issues that comprise our mission.  Having traveled to Israel with him recently, we know well that he has the safety and security of the Jewish people at heart and has a firm grasp of the critical issues at play in the Middle East.  David Grossman comes from a distinguished family devoted to public service and the Jewish Community.  His selection as Vice Chair is a statement by the New England Region that it cares greatly about and recognizes the importance of promoting our next generation of leadership,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair. 

“Jeff and David are perfectly positioned to lead ADL into its centennial year,” said Derrek L. Shulman, ADL New England Regional Director.  “This dynamic, intergenerational team will build upon Mike Sheetz’ highly successful Board Chairmanship, and strengthen ADL’s mission to confront anti-Semitism and promote civil rights for all people.”

“Jeff Robbins is a strongly engaged part of our Jewish community and a good friend. He has worked as part of the American Jewish Committee, ADL, the JCRC and CJP over decades as an untiring and courageous spokesperson for Israel and for human rights," said Barry Shrage, president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies. "David Grossman is deeply committed to human rights, the fight against anti-Semitism and the Jewish community.  He is the fourth generation of his family to dedicate an important part of his life to community service, and has been involved in every part of ADL’s important work serving on its board and executive committee. Jeff and David will add immeasurably to ADL’s great work in our community.”