Washington, DC – In response to the passing of Abraham H. Foxman, longtime National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:
“Abe Foxman was a giant of the American Jewish community. A Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to fighting antisemitism, he led the Anti-Defamation League for decades, serving as a clear moral voice and championing the rights of Jews and other minorities in the United States and around the world.
What I will always admire most about Abe is how he held two things in balance that so many find impossible to hold together: An unrelenting, deeply personal commitment to fighting antisemitism and hatred, and an equally deep commitment to the core American values of free expression and open debate. He understood that a Jewish community and a democratic society are strongest when we protect the rights of those with whom we profoundly disagree – that our security and our freedoms are not in tension, but bound together.
Abe brought his own moral compass to every fight, but never let it become a club. That kind of leadership – principled, courageous, and rooted in a genuine love of this country and its ideals – is exactly what our community needs more of right now. He will be sorely missed.
J Street joins the broader Jewish community in mourning his passing. May his memory be a blessing.”