Press Releases and Statements

American Jewish Committee (AJC) today released its 2021 State of Antisemitism in America report based on new national polling of the U.S. Jewish and general adult populations. The surveys, the largest and most comprehensive of their kind ever conducted, confirm that hatred of Jews remains a severe problem in the United States, requiring urgent attention—and that American Jews and the U.S. general public view the problem very differently.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) President Harriet Schleifer today addressed the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. Schleifer stressed that “any genuine effort to remember the Holocaust and its victims must be coupled with the present-day fight against antisemitism.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomed a Texas court’s decision to recommend a new trial for Randy Halprin, a Jewish prisoner on death row who has long claimed that the judge presiding over his trial was inherently biased against Jews and other minorities. “The court reached the only possible result, that the original judge’s long uncontested and undisguised bigotry made it essential that Randy Halprin be granted a new trial,” said AJC Chief Legal Officer Marc Stern. “The district court’s recommendation that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals order a new trial is a vindication of core American principles of impartiality in American jurisprudence.”

“The EU should be applauded for taking this significant step toward combatting antisemitism in Europe and abroad amid the dramatic surge of Jew hatred within living memory of the Holocaust,” said Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of the AJC Transatlantic Institute, the EU office of AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization. “It is reassuring to see that the strategy aims at tackling antisemitism whether it originates from the far-right, the far-left, Islamists or mainstream society and clearly identifies “Israel-related antisemitism” as a major problem. As the Commission notes, it is in fact ‘the most common form of antisemitism encountered online by Jews in Europe today.’”

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, congratulates Fernando Lottenberg on his appointment as the first Organization of American States (OAS) Commissioner for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism. Creation of the position was initially announced by OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro at the AJC 2021 Global Forum in June.

A Spanish language edition of Translate Hate, American Jewish Committee’s widely-used glossary of common antisemitic terms and tropes, is now available at Traduciendo el Odio. “Better informing Spanish speakers across the United States and around the world about hateful rhetoric and images targeting Jews is vitally important to the global fight against antisemitism,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) announced today the individuals who will serve on the Disrupt Antisemitism awards committee.

“We are delighted that young Jewish leaders, and Jewish innovators, in the business, media and tech industries, have agreed to review and select the most innovative ideas to combat Jew-hatred,” said Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, Director of AJC’s Alexander Young Leadership Department.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is deeply troubled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2020 hate crime statistics, released yesterday, which showed that overall hate crimes were up and crimes targeting Jews comprised 54.9% of all religious bias crimes last year.

Led by American Jewish Committee (AJC), Secretaries of State from across the country participated today in a virtual training on combating misinformation and disinformation through the lens of antisemitism.

Mayors and key staff participating in today’s training gained a deeper understanding of the range of antisemitic conspiracies, tropes, and symbols; the multiple sources of antisemitism emanating from the right, left and religious extremists; and concrete steps that can be taken on the local level to protect Jews and promote pluralism.

“Jews are threatened in America, around the world, and facing a growing vehemence online,” said Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, Director of AJC’s Alexander Young Leadership Department. “Addressing Jew-hatred calls for bold change and big ideas driven by us, the rising generation of Jews. It’s time to Disrupt Antisemitism.”

“The Biden Administration has chosen wisely in appointing Deborah Lipstadt to fill this ambassadorial post, so vital to U.S. leadership in fighting antisemitism,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Professor Lipstadt is one of this country’s, indeed the world’s, foremost experts on modern antisemitism, its constant morphing and multiple sources, and the current challenges to confronting it. AJC has been honored to work closely with her for years, and we eagerly look forward to partnering to advance the envoy office’s mission.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds Germany for its principled decision to not attend the 20th anniversary summit of the UN’s notorious 2001 World Conference Against Racism. “Germany has again asserted leadership in the global fight against antisemitism,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Germany has once again, as it did in 2009 and 2011, laudably recognized the discredited nature of the original conference, held in Durban, South Africa. We hope other nations will follow suit.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. “Critical to effectively fighting the hatred of Jews is understanding what antisemitism is, and the IHRA definition is the gold standard,” said Arnie Herz, AJC Long Island President.

American Jewish Committee applauds Texas Governor Greg Abbott for signing today legislation (HB3257) establishing the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. AJC Dallas Director Joel Schwitzer and Houston Director Randy Czarlinsky were present for the signing.

“Our fight against antisemitism is more urgent than ever,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told thousands participating in the 2021 American Jewish Committee (AJC) Virtual Global Forum. The commission, she announced today, will adopt later this year “the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, in an historic address to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Virtual Global Forum, reaffirmed his commitments to combat antisemitism, strengthen France’s relations with Israel and the United States, and ensure that Iran’s ballistic missile and regional activities are addressed in any agreement. It was Macron’s first address to an American Jewish organization since his election as president four years ago.

“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.”

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.”