American Jewish Committee

The only way to confront the challenges of this moment is if every individual steps up.	Click to View in Browser

This unprecedented moment has upended our daily lives, challenged the ways we connect, and put so many of the people we care about at risk. Yet, amidst this world in crisis, we have witnessed an inspiring response. Heroes have emerged from all corners of our community. At the same time, however, we have also seen new waves of hate surface, making AJC’s work even more urgent. In this edition of AJC Impact, you’ll read about how AJC is ensuring that you still have the tools you need to stay informed and continue advocating. And, though our offices remain physically closed, you’ll see that AJC staff is still engaging our key interlocutors and making real progress. AJC remains devoted to protecting our shared values. We will always defend the Jewish people, stand alongside Israel, and counter hateful attacks against any vulnerable group. The only way to confront the immense challenges of this moment is if every individual steps up. Join us by making a gift to support AJC’s vital work.

This Sunday, the premier global Jewish advocacy conference is going virtual! Join us for AJC Virtual Global Forum, June 14-18. Expect spirited policy debates and conversations with world leaders, including Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Israel Benjamin (Benny) Gantz. Sign up now to receive an update when free registration opens.

AJC continues to mourn the tragic death of George Floyd, who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer while three other officers stood by. On June 4, AJC joined the NAACP for a moment of silence that lasted eight minutes and forty-six seconds, the amount of time the officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck. But a moment of silence is not enough to close the wound of racism in America. AJC is committed to helping us face the hard truths in our communities. Just as antisemitism is a societal problem for all people—not just Jews—to counter, all Americans must come together to combat racism. Read AJC’s statement on the killing of George Floyd and the pursuit of racial justice.

How can American Jews help promote racial justice? See AJC’s ten recommended books or films to help American Jews understand what’s at stake.

At the start of this global health crisis, AJC launched Advocacy Anywhere, a platform that brings exclusive expertise and other high-quality content to you at home. Through this platform, our community is able to participate in regular webinars with world leaders, public figures, and top analysts on a range of topics of concern to the Jewish people. In the past week alone, we’ve talked to Ambassador of Jordan to the U.S. Dina Kawar about Middle East cooperation; Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Lonnie G. Bunch III about racial justice; Editor in Chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg about the spread of misinformation and antisemitic conspiracy theories; and Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel Isaac Herzog on Israel-Diaspora relations. More than 2.7 million viewers have already tuned in.

A full schedule of Advocacy Anywhere programs will return following AJC Virtual Global Forum, June 14-18. In the meantime, view past Advocacy Anywhere programs here. And plan to join us for our first post-Global Forum program, a conversation with Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State (1997-2001), on Tuesday, June 23, at 12:00 pm ET. Register here.

In April, a move long championed by AJC became reality when Germany banned all Hezbollah activities on its soil. This was a severe blow to the antisemitic and anti-Israel terrorist group, a proxy of Iran, in a country that had previously been a key base of its operations. The ban came after U.S. and Israeli leaders signaled the importance of the issue and followed two decades of sustained public and private advocacy by AJC. This included numerous meetings with leaders at the highest levels of the German government, opinion pieces in international media, and a multifaceted grassroots campaign. Now, we must build on this momentum. We must push other European Union member states to follow Germany’s lead and to change EU policy. Immediately following the decision, the Brussels-based AJC Transatlantic Institute united lawmakers from both sides of the Atlantic in a declaration urging the EU to ban Hezbollah in its entirety. Read more.

Join AJC in calling on the EU to stop Hezbollah.

In these uncertain times, we stand stronger together. AJC is committed to protecting the Jewish people, defending Israel, and helping vulnerable communities worldwide. We cannot do this alone. If you’re able, please consider making a donation today.

Hate crimes were already on the rise in America, but the pandemic has provided fertile ground for the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories and the targeting of Jews and other vulnerable minority groups. In recent months, AJC has worked to build strong bipartisan congressional support for the NO HATE Act, an essential piece of legislation that would improve hate crimes reporting in the U.S. and make our communities safer. AJC has been instrumental in pushing the bill forward since its inception. Urge your senators to support the NO HATE Act.

While AJC has been fighting at the federal level for hate crimes legislation, our three New York regional offices have been advocating for a crucial New York State law, which passed this April: Governor Cuomo’s No Hate in Our State Act. It was subsequently renamed the Josef Neumann Hate Crimes Domestic Terrorism Act, in honor of the victim of the horrific antisemitic attack in Monsey, NY, this past December. Though working remotely, AJC’s teams met virtually with state officials to encourage support for this important legislation. It is a first-in-the-nation law that calls mass violence motivated by race and religion what it really is: domestic terrorism. And it ensures that those who commit these crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Let’s build on this success. Take action to help us fight hate crimes at the federal level as well.

Even in these unique times, AJC has continued to foster alliances for Israel. In May, more than 125 participants from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) gathered with top Israeli election officials for an online briefing co-hosted by AJC Project Interchange (PI). Israel had just conducted national elections with precautions instituted to ensure the safety of Israel’s voting sites. This was an opportunity for Israel to share its experience and provide important lessons for American officials who will have to tackle this same challenge. The briefing marks the second time PI and NASS have worked together. In December 2019, a bipartisan delegation of 11 NASS members visited Israel with PI. This is just one example of how PI alumni have helped advance Israel’s global positioning through mutually beneficial partnerships. Read more.

As the pandemic swept across the globe, bringing with it darkness and uncertainty, AJC inspired us to celebrate the countless points of light through our #BeAMensch campaign. Launched in March, this social media initiative encouraged acts of kindness and decency during this crisis. Just as the world needed “menschiness” more than ever before, we saw so many answer the call. AJC shared these uplifting stories on social media using the hashtag #BeAMensch and called on others to do the same. The campaign reached more than half a million people on social media, including CNN journalist Jake Tapper, actress and activist Andie MacDowell, and major companies like Uber and AT&T, who all displayed their support. Read more.

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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