Press Releases and Statements

Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims, the highly acclaimed book by Rabbi Dr. Reuven Firestone of Hebrew Union College, first published by American Jewish Committee (AJC) in 2001, will be updated and distributed in multiple languages prevalent in Muslim-majority countries around the world. "We see a growing desire across the Muslim world for in-depth knowledge about Judaism and the Jewish people,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “The Children of Abraham translation project will make an authentic Jewish voice widely accessible to hundreds of millions of Muslims.”

To expand American Jewish Committee’s (AJC’s) reach to audiences in the Middle East, the global advocacy organization launched AJC Farsi today, with Persian-language social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. “The intersection of my Iranian, American, and Jewish identities makes me particularly proud to make this exciting announcement,” Saba Soomekh, Associate Director of AJC Los Angeles, told the 2021 Virtual AJC Global Forum’s worldwide audience. “AJC Farsi will bolster our efforts to reach Iranians in Iran and diaspora communities in the United States and around the world.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is firmly denouncing Arizona’s widely reported plan to use a Holocaust era poisonous gas to execute prisoners.

The 2021 American Jewish Committee (AJC) Virtual Global Forum opened today with remarks by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, whose seven-year term ends in July. “For many years, AJC has played a central role as an advocate for the Jewish people, combating antisemitism, BDS, and supporting Israel’s fight against terror,” said Rivlin. He thanked AJC for its “work to promote Muslim-Jewish relations and ties between Israel and Arab states, and for all you do for Israel and the Jewish people.”

More than four months after President Biden’s inauguration, majorities of American Jews give him high marks for his performance as president, and his handling of U.S-Israel relations and the threat of antisemitism, according to a new national survey by the nonpartisan American Jewish Committee (AJC). The questions on U.S. political issues, U.S-Israel relations, and the peace process are part of a larger survey that will be released later this month.

"We wish President-elect Isaac Herzog much success in fulfilling the duties of this high office, which is vital to the well-being and standing of Israel in the global community,” said AJC CEO David Harris, who has known Herzog for many years. “He brings enormous assets to the position, including an unusually deep understanding of world Jewry, including the American Jewish community. It is vitally important that Jews, whether in Israel or elsewhere, feel connected to, and welcomed by, the office of Israel’s President. In that spirit, as we have with each President since the state’s rebirth in 1948, we look forward to working closely with Mr. Herzog after he takes office on July 9.”

“Every trip to Israel is a reminder of the remarkable qualities of this nation,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “This solidarity visit, like so many others AJC has sponsored since 1991, when Iraq fired Scud missiles at Israeli cities, underscores the courage, resilience, ingenuity, and determination of Israelis to defend their country — in this case against Hamas, a genocidal terrorist group. Each trip is also a reminder of how misrepresented and mischaracterized Israel is by many in the media and some countries who seek to demonize this thriving democracy and the lone Jewish-majority country on earth.”

“The number of Jews attacked on the streets of New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, Chicago and other U.S. cities is growing,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Antisemitism, the world’s oldest hatred, is not solely a Jewish problem. It is a societal problem, and we urge elected officials, civic leaders, and others to stand up and speak out. History has taught us that silence and indifference are never the answer.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds the Cambridge City Council’s rejection tonight of a resolution supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel and Hewlett Packard (HP).

American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds the U.S. Representatives for its overwhelming approval today of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assaults, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act, following Senate passage last month. The vote was 364-62.

The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) lauds the passage of the Jabara-Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assaults, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act, as an amendment to the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As sirens blared across the country and civilians sought shelter, American Jewish Committee (AJC) called on the U.S. and other governments to condemn the rocket barrage directed against Israeli cities and towns today from Hamas-ruled Gaza – the latest unprovoked violence unleashed against the Jewish state.

An additional American Jewish Committee (AJC) donation to IsraAID will bring vital Israeli medical supplies to India to deal with the rapid spread of the coronavirus. “The images from India are heartbreaking, and compel us, as longtime friends of India, to do whatever we can to provide relief to the millions of Indians suffering from this deadly COVID-19 surge,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

American Jewish Committee’s groundbreaking outreach to the Arab world through social media has reached new heights, having engaged millions of Arabic speakers across its platforms, the global Jewish advocacy organization announced today.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, is partnering with IsraAID, the Israeli humanitarian relief organization, to provide urgent coronavirus relief in India.

The first in a series of short videos to foster awareness of Jewish and Muslim contributions to American society was released today by the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC). The videos and other stories of Muslim-Jewish cooperation will be promoted on MJAC’s new Facebook (@MJACAdvocacy) and Twitter (@Muslim_Jewish) pages, also unveiled today.

In a joint letter to Representatives and Senators, American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Chief Rabbi in the United Arab Emirates are urging their support of the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 (H.R.2748 and S.1061).

An updated, expanded edition of Translate Hate, American Jewish Committee’s (AJC’s) widely-used glossary of common antisemitic terms and tropes, was released today and is now available at AJC.org/TranslateHateGlossary. Release of the edition comes on the second anniversary of the fatal attack on the Chabad of Poway, California.

“Decisive bipartisan support in the Senate for this landmark bill demonstrates that unity is achievable in building defenses against hate,” said Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer. “We now look to rapid House passage of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, and to President Biden signing it into law.”

The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) praises the passage of the Jabara-Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assaults, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act 94-1, as an amendment to the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in the U.S. Senate.