AJC Newsletter

[Mediocrates]

AJC Leaders Meet Administration Officials

An AJC leadership delegation held meetings with senior White House and State Department officials in Washington this week. The group discussed Iran's nuclear program; the need to maintain international unity on the three conditions for dealing with Hamas; the upcoming Arab League summit meeting; recent developments affecting Jewish communities in Latin America; and the UN Human Rights Council.


AJC, France Celebrate French Righteous Gentiles Exhibit

French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres thanked AJC and especially Valérie Hoffenberg, AJC's Paris representative," who has contributed to dialogue and stronger ties" between the U.S. and France, at an AJC dinner at the French Consulate in New York. READ REMARKS. The event celebrated Les Justes, a traveling art exhibition highlighting the nearly 3,000 French Righteous Gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust. In addition to the minister, speakers included Congresswoman Nita Lowey of New York and AJC Executive Director David Harris. READ HARRIS'S REMARKS.


France Honors Jason Isaacson

Jason Isaacson, director of AJC's office of government and International Affairs, received the French Medal of Arts and Letters in a special ceremony at the French Consulate in New York. Isaacson was honored for his work encouraging relations between the American Jewish community and France. "My relationship with France has always been a special one, both on the personal and the professional level," said Isaacson. "As you may know, my father, Albert Isaacson, was among American troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, to help France defeat the barbarity of Nazi Germany. His personal story has in many ways shaped my relationship with France and the French people." READ ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.


AJC Executive Director Briefs EU Member States

At the invitation of the German consul general, David Harris met with the consuls general of all 27 European Union member states in New York. Harris addressed the enduring importance of strong transatlantic relations; congratulated Europe on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which launched European integration; issues related to the Arab-Israeli conflict; the challenge posed by Iran's quest for nuclear weapons; the need to implement in full UN Security Council Resolution 1701 regarding Lebanon; and strategies for combating anti-Semitism.




One Week to Sign Up for AJC/Brandeis Institute

The deadline is March 15 to apply for the second annual AJC/Brandeis Summer Institute, an intensive seminar for AJC members on modern Israel. The program will take place from August 2 to 5 at the Cranwell Resort in Lenox, MA. Ilan Troen, chair of Israel Studies at Brandeis University, and Steven Bayme, director of AJC's Koppelman Institute for American Jewish-Israeli Relations, will lead the seminar. Please contact Steve at baymes@ajc.org or 212-891-6711 for more information.


Israel IQ Quiz Winners

The winners of AJC's Israel IQ quiz, featured in last week's update, are: Peter Wizenberg of Pembroke Pines, FL; Jon Lewis of Newington, CT; Nevet Basker of Medina, WA; Joshua Levin of Australia; and Don Cohen of West Bloomfield, MI. Click for answers.


Highlighting Interreligious Ties in Scotland

Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's international director of interreligious affairs, addressed Scotland's Parliament. Scotland's "heritage of acceptance and compassion continue to be a blessing for Scotland itself and for all her citizenry," said Rosen in his invocation. He discussed the holiday of Purim and Scotland's historic positive relations with minorities, especially its Jewish citizens. While in Scotland, Rosen also delivered the keynote address at the 4th annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace.


Westchester Jewish Film Festival Opens

The sixth annual AJC-sponsored Westchester Celebrates Jewish Film festival will open tomorrow at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY. This year's festival includes the renowned Egyptian-Jewish drama, 3 Mothers; the moving documentary, The Rape of Europa; and the romantic comedy, Ira and Abby . AJC members can get tickets for a reduced price of $6. Tickets are available online at www.burnsfilmcenter.org.


Addressing Baltimore's Jewish Leaders

David Harris was the keynote speaker at the third annual Baltimore Jewish Leaders Assembly, a gathering of over 300 people dedicated to discussing local and global concerns of the Jewish community. Harris's address, What Should We Worry about Next?, explored the potential combination of radical Islam and weapons of mass destruction, threats to Israel's legitimacy, the future of Europe, the challenges for pro-Israel voices in the U.S., and the vibrancy of Jewish life in the U.S.

[Mediocrates]

Helping Somali Refugees in Kenya

An Israeli humanitarian team aiding Somali refugees in Kenya has received a contribution from AJC's Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Humanitarian Fund. The aid workers, part of IsraAID (the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid), are providing children's clothing, medicine, water and water-distribution technology, and community mobilization for the refugees. READ NEWS RELEASE.



AJC Blog on Jerusalem Post Website

Read David Harris's second blog posting, Energy independence is doable, but is there a will? at www.jpost.com. Please join the conversation by submitting your response to David's points or to others who have responded. Look for the next blog entry later this week.


Supporting Development in Africa

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) thanked AJC for its key efforts to help ensure U.S. government support of its programs. USADF President Rodney J. MacAlister noted that, with AJC's help, USADF will "realize our vision of ending the poverty of a million Africans" through their work fostering local businesses throughout Africa.


Africa Institute Advances Women's Rights

AJC's Africa Institute hosted a breakfast for sub-Saharan African UN ambassadors, their delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women and Israel's delegation to the commision. Marit Danon, head of Israel's Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, and Mazal Renford, Director of the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center in Haifa, discussed Israel's development cooperation program with African nations and new areas for potential cooperation. The ministers of gender, women's rights, and child protection from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda attended.


UN Watch at Canadian Parliament

Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director, visited the Canadian Parliament to present a new report on Canada's record at the UN Human Rights Council. The UN Watch report, available at www.unwatch.org, was praised during a House of Commons debate, and was extensively covered by Canadian media.


AJC Radio Message: Saudi Poem Depicts Stark Realities of Middle East

David Harris, in his national radio commentary, shares a Saudi poem that opens a window into the stark realities of the Arab world. Harris delivers weekly messages on the CBS radio network, airing during the Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org. LISTEN.


LA's ACCESS Program Hosts Moral Courage Award Winner

Over 200 young professionals gathered to hear Ayaan Hirsi Ali at a special program organized by AJC's LA ACCESS program. Hirsi Ali received AJC's Moral Courage Award in 2006. She answered questions about her new book Infidel, spoke about her lifelong fight for women's equality and religious reform in Islam, and described the role the U.S. has in fighting radicalism around the world.


Miami Chapter Luncheon for UN Ambassadors

AJC's Greater Miami and Broward Chapter hosted a luncheon for UN Ambassadors from Albania, Australia, Iraq, Kenya, the Republic of Burundi, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Jay Snyder, former commissioner on the U.S. Advisory Commission for Public Diplomacy, led the delegation. More than 40 leaders from the Miami Jewish community joined for the panel discussion, which addressed the treatment of Israel at the UN and Iranian government violations of UN resolutions regarding its nuclear program.


AJC's Mideast Briefing: Can Israel's Domestic Crises Spark Hope?

In his weekly analysis, Eran Lerman, director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office, explores the possibility that Israel's recent political scandals may be "blessings in disguise." READ ANALYSIS.


In the Media

The Boston Globe published a letter from Lawrence Lowenthal, director of AJC's Boston Chapter, about an op-ed on the plight of Israeli Arabs.
The Cincinnati Enquirer published a letter from Barbara Glueck, director of AJC's Cincinnati Chapter, about embattled Bangladeshi journalist Shoaib Choudhury.
Agence France-Presse distributed an article about AJC's involvement in the French government-sponsored art exhibition highlighting French Righteous Gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust. READ ARTICLE .
In Newsweek's Periscope section, David Harris was quoted in an article about the possibility that U.S. President Thomas Jefferson had Jewish roots. READ ARTICLE.
The Guardian quoted Dana Moss of the Transatlantic Institute on Saudi-Iranian relations.
The Jerusalem Post cited AJC among several American Jewish organizations supporting efforts to bring Israel studies to college campuses.
The Boston Jewish Journal profiled Rev. Joel Matthew Anderle about his recent trip to Israel on a Project Interchange mission for Christian clergy.

Please contact Kenneth Bandler, AJC's Director of Communications,
at bandlerk@ajc.org with any questions or comments.
© 2006 American Jewish Committee