Press Releases and Statements

AJC Europe is outraged by the intervention of antisemitic protesters at an academic conference on the Holocaust.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised French President Emmanuel Macron’s call tonight for France to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of antisemitism.

AJC is urging France’s political leadership to re-examine the efficacy of current strategies to combat rising antisemitism in France. The call comes following the release of a government report showing a 74% spike in antisemitic incidents during 2018, compared to the previous year.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) hailed today’s announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Elan Carr has been appointed Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

AJC applauded the House of Deputies of the Czech Parliament for adopting the international working definition of antisemitism.

“Moldova has taken a laudable step in recognizing clearly the resurgent cancer of antisemitism and mobilizing to effectively combat it,” said American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris.

For the 11th consecutive year, Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC’s director of International Jewish Affairs, will serve as Personal Representative on Combating Antisemitism for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

AJC is outraged at the tweet posted by Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) claiming that U.S. senators who had introduced Israel-related legislation “forgot what country they represent.” That assertion, which completely avoids legitimate debate about the content of the bill itself, insinuates that a number of respected, long-serving senators are somehow more loyal to Israel than they are to the United States.

“The FRA conclusion that antisemitism has become ‘normalized’ across the EU is simply unacceptable,” said AJC CEO David Harris, who met with European officials In Brussels ahead of the report’s release, and who began alerting European leaders to the resurgent wave of antisemitism as early as 2001.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the Council of the European Union unanimous adoption today of a statement on combating antisemitism across Europe. It is the first time the Council’s 28-member states have passed a comprehensive measure aimed at mobilizing to counter antisemitism and to assure the safety of European Jews.

AJC condemns the antisemitic attack directed at Andras Heisler, President of the Hungarian Jewish Federation (MAZSIHISZ), in the business magazine Figyelő.

“Mihnea Constantinescu was a stalwart supporter of the State of Israel, a leader in the fight against antisemitism, and a true friend of the Jewish people. His untimely passing is a great loss for all of us,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

“The clarion call to confront head-on this menace to individuals, to communities, indeed to American society, must come from leadership at the highest levels of our government,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

“The rapid, continually growing response to #ShowUpForShabbat is heartwarming. It restores hope in the human capacity to unite in confronting antisemitism and attacks on houses of worship,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

AJC is calling on Jewish communities across the country—along with elected officials, religious and civic leaders, and other communal allies—to flock to synagogues this coming Shabbat (Friday night and Saturday, November 2-3) in a nationwide campaign named #ShowUpForShabbat. The AJC initiative is being launched in response to the horrific attack at Tree of Life Or L'Simcha Congregation in Pittsburgh, which left 11 Jewish worshipers dead.

AJC is totally appalled by the horrific shooting attack inside a Pittsburgh synagogue during Shabbat morning services today. At least eleven people were killed and six wounded in the assault at Tree of Life Or L’Simcha Congregation. The shooter was apprehended by law enforcement.

AJC welcomed the Pope’s compassionate words commemorating Lithuania Jewish Holocaust victims and strong remarks against contemporary antisemitism. The Pope spoke on the 75th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilnius ghetto during a two-day visit to Lithuania, his first to the Baltic nation.

H.R. 1911, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a bipartisan group of other representatives, will elevate the envoy position to the rank of Ambassador, to report directly to the Secretary of State.

AJC salutes the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights decision to employ the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism when examining questions of antisemitism on college campuses under Title VI.

The Greater Washington Urban League and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Washington Region call on civic, political and religious leaders to unequivocally reject the antisemitism and racism of the white nationalists who will gather for the “Unite the Right” rally in Lafayette Park on Sunday.