December 23, 2024
American Jewish Committee (AJC) prides itself on its non-partisan approach to advocacy. But what does non-partisanship mean in an age where virtually everything is hyper-polarized? How does an organization hold on to the important, but ever shrinking, center space?
The conventional wisdom tells us that 2025 will pick up where 2024 left off. Americans seem to only agree to disagree – and not agreeably. No matter the issue, many Americans are saying no to compromise and choosing tribe over everything else.
AJC believes that our issues are too important to sit on the sidelines when there is a shift in government. The Jewish community needs us at all the tables where decisions are made so that our voices will be heard by people in power, no matter the party affiliation.
But, there is a secret in America. In Congress and in state legislatures, the vast majority of bills that pass have bipartisan support. The workings of our governments at every level depend on the power of compromise to get things done. That isn’t just a high school civics lesson, it’s a truth that every advocate knows to be reality.
A few months ago AJC brought together a strong bipartisan group of legislators to sign a letter to French President Emanuel Macron objecting to his call to halt some arms deliveries to Israel. This letter could have been sent by one party’s leaders or the other, but it would not have had the same impact as it did if it hadn’t come from a bipartisan group. In April of this year, AJC applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Countering Antisemitism Act led by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK) and Representatives Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). This proposed legislation is the most comprehensive to date to counter domestic antisemitism and protect Jewish communities across the country. It is our hope that it will pass in the next Congress.
So how do we advocate effectively for Israel, combat antisemitism, and promote democracy and pluralism? How do we translate our passion into meaningful change?
At the very core of AJC’s ethos is one guiding principle. Relationships matter. Nothing worthwhile can get done without a connection to someone whose views you don’t completely share. At its essence, AJC builds those relationships on behalf of the global Jewish community no matter where we live.
In what will be a challenging year, AJC will continue to stand up for our values and build ties on behalf of the Jewish people here and abroad. We invite you to join us through your support to push back on Jew hatred, promote Israel’s security and preserve the democratic values we all hold dear.
Have a wonderful and fulfilling new year!
Alan Ronkin
