Press Releases and Statements

American Jewish Committee (AJC) President Michael Tichnor and CEO Ted Deutch led a leadership delegation to the Vatican. “We are so grateful for the transformation in Catholic-Jewish relations and for the privilege AJC has enjoyed and continues to enjoy as a central actor in this ongoing historic reconciliation, which Pope Francis has taken to even greater heights,” said Deutch. “Pope Francis’s love and care for the Jewish People is universally known. We are grateful for his strong voice condemning antisemitism.”

The American Society of International Law (ASIL) has honored Felice Gaer, Director of American Jewish Committee’s (AJC’s) Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, with the organization’s 2023 Honorary Member Award. The award was presented to Gaer today at ASIL’s annual meeting in recognition of her “critically important contributions” to the development, interpretation, and implementation of international human rights law, including in the areas of prevention of torture, women’s human rights and freedom of religion or belief.

We welcome the Israeli government’s suspension of legislative consideration of judicial reform measures. The last three months have been painful to watch and yet a textbook case of democracy in action. We respect the political leaders, business executives, community activists, cultural figures, and ordinary Israelis who took to the streets, exercising their love of country, and their passion for democracy."

“AJC stands in solidarity with the people of Malawi, as they strive to deal with an enormous tragedy. Malawi, a country known as the Warm Heart of Africa, has long shown a warm heart toward the United States and Israel. We are pleased to join with IsraAID, our long-time partner, to provide urgent humanitarian relief,” said Wayne Sussman, Director of AJC’s Africa Institute.

A new American Jewish Committee (AJC) study of Latino Millennial and Gen Z leaders in the United States reveals a troubling disconnect between this growing segment of the American population and the Jewish community.

A bipartisan group of U.S. mayors is visiting Israel this week with Project Interchange, an educational institute of American Jewish Committee (AJC), in partnership with The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The program’s intensive sessions and visits throughout the country will enable the mayors to gain a first-hand understanding of Israel’s vibrant democracy, innovative technologies, diverse society, and regional challenges. This is the fifth delegation of U.S. mayors to participate in this annual seminar.

AJC commends Israeli President Isaac Herzog's remarkable effort to reach a resolution for the good of the State of Israel. We believe all sides should expeditiously work to forge a compromise that preserves Israel’s vibrant democracy and the principle of judicial independence on fundamental issues. The final outcome of this process should reflect the broadest possible consensus – not what is politically expedient in the short term.

AJC welcomes additional data in the 2021 Hate Crimes Statistics Report and thanks the FBI for efforts to bridge the gap from the incomplete data in the report, which is the only official record on the state of hate in America.
Supplemental hate crimes data was report from 96 reporting agencies in nine states and reflects hate crimes data from major Jewish population centers such as Los Angeles and New York City.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today met with senior ministers in the Indian government as part of AJC’s efforts to strengthen ties between the Jewish community and one of the world’s most populous nations. Deutch led a delegation from AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute (API) that met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) has named Holocaust and genocide expert Sara E. Brown as director of its new San Diego Regional Office. Brown will represent AJC as the organization expands its presence in Southern California and the Southwest. AJC San Diego is the 25th U.S. regional office for AJC, the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) has joined with religious liberty scholars Asma T. Uddin and Steven Collis in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to support employee rights to seek religious accommodations to not work on the Sabbath.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is supporting Skala, an NGO in Indonesia, in its ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian relief to people in the Cianjur region of the country, where a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck in November. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit Indonesia since 2018. “Consistent with our Jewish values to assist those in need, we are pleased to join with Skala in delivering much-needed humanitarian relief during this continuing crisis,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute. “Recovery is a long-term process andchildren especially are in need of attention to ensure their education, as well as trauma counseling, continue to help normalize their lives as much as possible.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) today convened a meeting at the White House of antisemitism envoys from around the world as part of the efforts of an interagency group created by President Biden to build a national strategy to combat antisemitism.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) expressed deep concern regarding renewed attempts to hold the far-right Lukov March in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on February 25.

In a call with American Jewish Committee (AJC) leaders from across the United States, AJC CEO Ted Deutch made remarks on judicial reform in Israel.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) strengthened Jewish-Latino relations in the United States today by formalizing their collaborative relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by AJC CEO Ted Deutch and CHLI Chair Lincoln Diaz Balart.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continue supporting the Ukrainian people as they endure the brutal Russian invasion of their country. “Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also global security and the rules-based international order. Like-minded countries must stand together in support of Ukraine, and there must be accountability and justice for Russia’s war crimes,” said Deutch. AJC has stood in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and staunchly supported a free and democratic Ukraine for more than 30 years.

On the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, American Jewish Committee (AJC) is urging Congress to pass legislation designating the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). A private military company with ties to Russian white supremacist and neo-Nazi far-right extremists, the Wagner Group has a long record of committing atrocities against civilians in Ukraine and in African countries.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) has launched an awareness raising campaign to urge social media companies to take concrete actions to address the spread of antisemitism on their platforms. The campaign follows the release of AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America Report 2022, which showed troubling numbers of Americans are experiencing antisemitic content online and on social media. “The report underlines the need for more to be done to fight antisemitism in the digital world,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Social media companies must do more in the fight against antisemitism, first by ensuring their platforms are not used as launching pads for conspiracies and hate targeting Jews.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes the U.S. Supreme Court decision today declining to review Arkansas Times v. Waldrip, a case regarding an Arkansas law opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed our view that state statutes opposing BDS are indeed constitutional,” said AJC General Counsel Marc Stern. “The primary aim of the BDS movement is to eliminate the State of Israel. The court’s action gives a boost to efforts to put a stop to the pernicious effort to isolate Israel economically and morally.”