American Jewish Committee

In 2020, AJC is leading the charge against antisemitism and hate. Read more in AJC Impact.	Click to View in Browser

With the beginning of a new decade, the challenges facing the Jewish people have not diminished—but neither has AJC’s resolve to tackle them. In this edition of AJC Impact, you’ll read about how AJC is breaking down barriers and building unity so the Jewish people, and all people, can live in greater safety and security. None of this work would be possible without the support of friends like you.

A new chapter is being written in Muslim-Jewish relations—and AJC is proud to be an author. In January, AJC CEO David Harris and Muslim World League Secretary General Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa led a Muslim-Jewish delegation, which included 62 Muslim representatives from 28 countries—including 25 prominent religious leaders—to Auschwitz 75 years after its liberation. This represents the most senior Islamic leadership delegation to ever visit a Nazi death camp. The historic mission, which also included time in Warsaw, is a key element of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two global institutions seeking to deepen ties and counter hate. While knowledge of the Holocaust is deeply deficient throughout the Arab world, AJC is educating influential leaders about this history—an essential step in ensuring that such horrors never happen again. Learn more.

Read the Chicago Tribune article David Harris and Dr. Al-Issa co-wrote following the visit.

In the wake of a frightening surge in antisemitic attacks in the greater New York area, AJC marched with 25,000 others from Manhattan to Brooklyn in protest of rising hatred against Jews. The January 5 “No Hate. No Fear.” march, organized by AJC and four other organizations, featured signs and chants condemning hate and proclaiming the AJC slogan #JewishandProud. The march concluded with a rally where AJC CEO David Harris addressed the crowd, calling for unity. As we encounter a veritable epidemic of antisemitism, AJC designated January 6 as #JewishandProud Day—a day to wear a kippah, a Star of David, or some other identifiably Jewish item in a public display of solidarity. The initiative reached an estimated 200 million people on social media and inspired countless members of the Jewish community and its allies to participate. This included world leaders, elected officials, interreligious partners, and celebrities. Together, we showed that we will not let hate or fear win. Read more.

A new AJC survey on antisemitism in France revealed that 70% of French Jews say they have been victims of at least one antisemitic incident in their lifetime, leading many to take protective action: 25% avoid revealing their Jewish identity at work, 37% refrain from wearing Jewish symbols, and 43% avoid certain areas. On a more promising note, 73% of the French public, and 72% of French Jews, agree that antisemitism is a problem that affects society as a whole. AJC has been communicating this message to government and civil society leaders across Europe for two decades. Days after the survey’s release, French President Emmanuel Macron, joined by AJC CEO David Harris, commemorated French victims of the Holocaust at the Shoah Memorial Museum in Paris, where he echoed this message, saying anti-Jewish hate is “not the problem of Jews; it’s the problem of France.” View the survey results.

AJC continues to urge governments to adopt the Working Definition of Antisemitism. Originally drafted by AJC, and formally adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the definition ensures a universal understanding for what constitutes antisemitism. In January, following AJC advocacy, it was adopted by three additional nations: Italy, Sweden, and Uruguay—the first Latin American country to take this step. Learn more about the Working Definition.

The spread of anti-Jewish hate has become an all-too-familiar reality. We cannot accept this as our new normal. But who will confront this scourge if not us? We need AJC leading the charge. Since 1906, AJC has built coalitions to fight bigotry and advanced concrete measures to keep Jewish communities—and all communities—safer. We cannot do this work alone. Can we count on your support?

AJC has launched 'An al-Yahud, or “About the Jews,” an Arabic-language online video series aimed at increasing understanding of the Jewish people in the Arab world. The animated videos focus on various aspects of contemporary Jewish life, Jewish history, and issues of importance to the Jewish people, including antisemitism and Israel. AJC has also launched Arabic-language social media pages, which are being used to foster conversation around these same topics. While AJC has a long history of engaging with Arab and Muslim leaders, this initiative is AJC’s first attempt to speak directly to the hundreds of millions of Arabic speakers around the world. The videos have already reached more than 3 million people across the Middle East. Read more and watch the first video.

AJC partners with governments at home and abroad to help devise strategies to stem rising antisemitism. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives called on AJC to present concrete approaches for fighting anti-Jewish hate. AJC’s Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson (pictured above, center) shared five policy recommendations on combating domestic antisemitism with the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, including more community protection and greater consistency in hate crimes reporting. Then, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker presented three essential steps to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on how to combat this scourge in Europe: (1) define antisemitism, (2) recognize its multiple sources, and (3) mobilize governments to develop tools to address the problem, including enhanced security and education efforts. Read more about AJC’s recommendations for fighting antisemitism in the U.S. and in Europe.

AJC has redoubled its efforts against Iranian-backed Hezbollah by pressing nations to label it, in its entirety, a terrorist organization. Many countries grant Hezbollah partial legitimacy by recognizing it as a valid player in Lebanese politics. But AJC’s campaign is gaining momentum. Colombia and Honduras just joined the list of countries that designate all of Hezbollah a terrorist organization. AJC, through its Belfer Institute of Latino and Latin American Affairs, recently met with senior government leaders from both nations, urging them to take this important step. And through AJC Project Interchange, we brought diplomats from several Latin American countries, including Honduras, to experience Israel, where they were exposed to Hezbollah terror tunnels first-hand. Learn more about how AJC is setting the record straight on Hezbollah.

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Find more at AJC.org/globalvoice.

AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.

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