Where Do We Go from Here?

by Sue Stolov, President, AJC Washington, D.C.

I was honored to serve as the closing speaker at ACCESS D.C.’s Young Diplomats Reception at the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21. The room was filled with the beautiful, energized faces of 150 young leaders representing more than 30 countries--talking, sharing and deeply engaged. There was a kind of energy you feel when people come together to achieve one goal. The feeling was so powerful, I couldn’t help but reflect on it when I spoke. “Take a moment to think about what has happened here tonight,” I said. “You all came this evening because you care. You want to make a difference. You want to find solutions.”  

That evening, attendees heard from two leaders from the Multifaith Alliance and IsraAID who described how their organizations were working to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and other areas in need.  I encouraged them to share what they learned with friends and colleagues, so the impact of the evening would ripple outward.  Of course, I had no idea at that moment, just how far that ripple would reach.

Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky--two beautiful souls taken from us that night--believed in bridge building and a better future.  

It’s the work AJC does every day.

Sarah often did this work with AJC, including relationship-building efforts visiting Morocco with AJC’s ACCESS Young Leadership program.  You probably didn’t read about her visits.  In fact, you may rarely read about AJC’s work in the news.  That’s because we focus on relationships and solutions.  It’s not flashy, and it’s hard.   

Our goal is a world where Jews can thrive--wherever they live.  And to pursue that, we bring together influential leaders from around the world and here at home. We build bridges across differences that have paved the way to important achievements like the Abraham Accords. We work on behalf of the Jewish community worldwide to create a thriving Jewish future and ensure Israel’s place among the nations.

AJC’s annual survey on the state of antisemitism in America showed that 91% of American Jews believe antisemitism is increasing.  We’ve seen a dramatic increase in rhetoric demonizing Jews and Jewish organizations.  But two truths can coexist at the same time.  We can be deeply concerned about our safety, and we can be strong.  We can thrive.  And we must be proud.

Everyone who attended that evening has their own story.  For me, I may have walked past the shooter. Had I left just six minutes later, I might have been shot. I had no idea, as I drove home, that the emergency vehicles flying past me were headed to where I had just been.  I don’t dwell on that, but I do think constantly about what must happen next. 

AJC Washington is uniquely positioned to lead in this moment. We operate at the intersection of policy and international engagement, working closely with ambassadors, legislators and global thought leaders. Those relationships provide both influence and require responsibility. It makes our region one of AJC’s most impactful. At a time where Israel is facing bombardment on a nightly basis from Iran and Jewish people are being threatened around the world, we must act.

So where do we go from here?

Will you take the next step?

Join a committee?  

Engage with a diplomat?  

Talk with someone who isn’t Jewish about Israel or antisemitism? 

Increase your financial support?  

While all of these are equally important, I can’t help but emphasize this last one.  AJC does extraordinary work, often behind the scenes.  But the truth is, none of it happens without resources.  The quiet diplomacy, the policy engagement, the relationship-building—all of it requires increased funding.  This is the moment to step up—not just to grow, but to make sure we can show up at the table where decisions are made. 

Use your skills.  Lend your voice.  Help us strengthen alliances and inspire change in our community.

Together, we can continue building the kind of world Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky believed in. 

Please reach out—I’d love to hear your ideas.

About the author:  Sue Stolov has just begun a two-year term as president of AJC, Washington, D.C.  She is a former television reporter, Washington bureau chief and filmmaker.