In New York, the world of advocacy mourns the passing of Abraham H. Foxman, a stalwart figure for American Jews who led the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) with unwavering commitment for nearly thirty years. Foxman, who passed away at the age of 86, leaves behind a legacy of relentless dedication to combating antisemitism.
The ADL expressed profound sorrow over the loss of their long-serving national director, although they didn’t disclose the specifics of his passing. Foxman’s influence extended far beyond his role, touching the lives of presidents, diplomats, corporate leaders, and celebrities alike. Throughout his tenure, which spanned from 1987 until his retirement in 2015, he was a formidable voice against antisemitic acts and was known for holding high-profile figures accountable for their words and actions, often accepting apologies on behalf of the Jewish community.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the current ADL director, paid tribute to Foxman, highlighting his significant impact. “Abe’s voice was heard—and listened to—by popes, presidents, and prime ministers, a voice he used wherever Jews were at risk,” Greenblatt stated. “He spoke on the global stage with moral authority and clarity, embodying an unwavering dedication to a world free from hate.”
Foxman’s remarkable journey began in 1940, born to Polish Jewish parents in what is now Belarus. Surviving the Holocaust through the courageous act of a nanny who baptized him as a Catholic to protect him, he was reunited with his family post-war, eventually emigrating to New York. His career with the ADL began after he earned a law degree, joining as a staff lawyer before rising to become a prominent national voice against antisemitism. His entire 50-year career was devoted to the fight against hate, culminating in his influential leadership of the ADL.
Born in 1940 to Polish Jews in what’s now Belarus, Foxman survived the Holocaust after a nanny had him baptized as a Catholic to conceal his Jewish identity. He was reunited with his parents after the war and the family moved to New York.
After earning a law degree, Foxman joined the ADL as a staff lawyer. He spent his entire 50-year career with the group, becoming a leading national voice against antisemitism and hate. He was named the organization’s national director in 1987.
Upon his retirement, Foxman told The Associated Press that he worried that the internet was giving bigots a way to spread their beliefs “not only anonymously but at the speed of light.”
The ADL was founded in 1913 with a mandate to fight antisemitism and all bias. But the emphasis differed over time depending on who was in charge and the issues of the day.
Foxman faced criticism that the ADL put too many resources into non-Jewish issues. Under him, the organization built a formidable research arm into white supremacists and other extremists, advocated for immigrant and gay rights, conducted diversity training for law enforcement and developed programs for schools on issues ranging from the Holocaust to the 1964 Civil Rights Act to the impact of bullying.
Foxman long endured objections that he overreacted to perceived slights against the Jews and was too quick to condemn. Yet he was also chided for too easily forgiving and embracing those who repented their anti-Jewish remarks.
Foxman said it was essential to accept apologies, especially from those who can serve as prominent allies for Jews.
“If you don’t let them change, then you become the bigot.”
