A Message from Outgoing AJC Dallas President Stuart Blaugrund

It has been the honor of my life to have been entrusted with serving as the President of AJC Dallas for the past two years. Thank you for the privilege of working alongside so many of you to further AJC’s mission of building a brighter Jewish future during a time of such consequence.

My term will always be marked by the events of October 7, 2023. The wounds from that tragic day will remain with all of us forever, and as my tenure concludes the challenges before us remain the same: the difficult reality for Jews here and around the world continues; the scourge of antisemitism remains alarmingly high; Israel faces attacks on multiple battlefields and the international stage; Jewish students are still targeted on campus; and, our politics feel more polarized than ever as we grapple with real questions about the state of our democracy and the impact of political decisions on our community.

That is why I’m so proud of AJC’s unwavering commitment to thoughtful, principled, and non-partisan advocacy on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.  From the regions to our overseas institutes and partnerships, we work together as one agency to advance AJC’s advocacy agenda. Our AJC Dallas regional office—so ably led by Regional Director Joel Schwitzer along with Shelly Gammieri, Ariella Stromberg Allen and Leah Fradkin—is critical in driving our advocacy and institutional goals. Toward that end, here are three of just some of our initiatives which fill me with pride as I reflect back on my tenure: 

1. As a lead partner for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, AJC brought family members of four Israeli hostages to Dallas to heighten awareness of their plight and advocate for their release by generating widespread media coverage and facilitating meetings with elected officials and civil society leaders in our community. We will continue to vigorously persist in these efforts until all remaining 58 captives return home to their loved ones.
2. We launched Sebakah, an innovative Dallas Jewish Professionals Network where Jewish professionals across all ages and stages of their career come together in a supportive environment to enhance their resilience and knowledge to counter misinformation about Israel, Zionism and related issues impacting our Jewish community which may arise in the workplace environment.
3. Bolstering our reputation as a respected community bridge-builder and to promote intercommunal solidarity on domestic issues of common concern in the aftermath of October 7, AJC Dallas convened a meeting of over 40 Jewish and Muslim leaders from across North Texas to meet with the FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Divisional office, the U.S. Attorney and key members of their staffs to enhance protection for our places of worship and institutions. As American Jews living in a hyperpolarized era where anti-Jewish hate crimes are at a record high, we know all too well that combating all forms of discrimination is an essential element of ensuring that our community continues to thrive. 

Let me close by congratulating my successor, Tina Wasserman.  I could not be more excited for the leadership, vision and remarkable talent Tina brings to AJC Dallas. Given her steadfast commitment to the welfare of the Jewish people and justice for all, I have utmost confidence Tina will lead AJC Dallas from strength to even greater strength.  

Am Yisrael Chai!

Stuart Blaugrund