American Jewish Committee

American Jewish Committee. The American Jewish Committee is a prominent Jewish advocacy organization that was founded in 1906 by a group of Jewish Americans, including Jacob Schiff, Mayer Sulzberger, and Louis Marshall, with the goal of promoting the rights and interests of Jewish people in the United States and around the world, in collaboration with organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The organization has been involved in a wide range of issues, including civil rights, social justice, and foreign policy, often working with other organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Human Rights Campaign. The American Jewish Committee has also been a strong supporter of the State of Israel, and has worked to promote United States-Israel relations through initiatives such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Jewish Federation of North America.

● History

The American Jewish Committee was founded in response to the Kishinev pogrom and other anti-Jewish violence in Eastern Europe, with the goal of promoting the rights and interests of Jewish people in the United States and around the world, in collaboration with organizations such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Joint Distribution Committee. The organization's early leaders, including Louis Marshall and Jacob Blaustein, played a key role in shaping its mission and objectives, often working with other prominent Jewish leaders, such as Rabbi Stephen Wise and Abba Hillel Silver. The American Jewish Committee was also involved in the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's efforts to provide relief to Jewish communities affected by World War I and World War II, in partnership with organizations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. During the Cold War, the organization was a strong supporter of the State of Israel and worked to promote United States-Israel relations, often in collaboration with organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The American Jewish Committee's mission is to promote the rights and interests of Jewish people in the United States and around the world, in collaboration with organizations such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the World Jewish Congress. The organization's objectives include combating anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance and understanding between different ethnic and religious groups, often working with organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Interfaith Alliance. The American Jewish Committee also works to promote social justice and human rights, and has been involved in a wide range of issues, including immigration reform, LGBT rights, and women's rights, in partnership with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women. The organization has also been a strong supporter of the State of Israel and has worked to promote United States-Israel relations, often in collaboration with organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Jewish Federation of North America.

● Organization_and_Leadership

The American Jewish Committee is headquartered in New York City and has regional offices throughout the United States, including in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.. The organization is led by a board of directors and a professional staff, including David Harris (AJC), who has served as the organization's chief executive officer since 1990, and has worked with other prominent Jewish leaders, such as Rabbi David Saperstein and Deborah Lipstadt. The American Jewish Committee also has a number of lay leaders and volunteers who are involved in its work, often in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Jewish Community Federation and the United Jewish Appeal. The organization has a strong relationship with other Jewish organizations, including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and often works with these organizations to promote the interests of the Jewish community.

● Programs_and_Initiatives

The American Jewish Committee has a number of programs and initiatives that are designed to promote its mission and objectives, including the AJC Transatlantic Institute, which works to promote transatlantic relations and European Union-Israel relations, in partnership with organizations such as the European Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress. The organization also has a number of programs that are designed to promote interfaith dialogue and interfaith understanding, including the AJC Interfaith Affairs department, which works with organizations such as the National Council of Churches and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The American Jewish Committee has also been involved in a number of initiatives that are designed to promote social justice and human rights, including the AJC ACCESS program, which works to promote global understanding and social justice among young people, in collaboration with organizations such as the American Jewish World Service and the Jewish World Watch.

● Notable_Members_and_Affiliates

The American Jewish Committee has a number of notable members and affiliates, including Elie Wiesel, who served as the organization's chairman from 1987 to 1993, and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, who has served as a member of the organization's board of directors. The organization has also been affiliated with a number of other prominent Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Stephen Wise, Abba Hillel Silver, and Golda Meir, who have worked with the organization to promote the interests of the Jewish community. The American Jewish Committee has also had a number of notable non-Jewish members and affiliates, including Coretta Scott King, who served as a member of the organization's board of directors, and Desmond Tutu, who has worked with the organization to promote social justice and human rights, in partnership with organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the African National Congress.