AJC 100th Annual Meeting — May 2006  Celebrate AJC's century of leadership at the Annual Meeting, May 2 - 5, in Washington, D.C. On May 1 and 2, AJC will host a major conference, "At a Century's End, At a Century's Beginning: The prospects for Judaism and the Jews." Following the Annual Meeting, May 5 -7, will be the International Leadership Conference, bringing together Jewish leaders from dozens of countries around the world. Give a gift to yourselves and the future - Bring your adult children and grandchildren. Click for the conference programs and to register online .
AJC Ad on Iran Nuclear Threat An AJC ad on the Iranian nuclear threat to Israel will appear on the op-ed pages of the New York Times and International Herald Tribune on Friday. That day is observed by many countries and now by the UN as Holocaust Remembrance Day. With the headline "Never again?" the AJC ad juxtaposes the international commemoration of the Holocaust with the present day reality of an Iranian president who has emerged as a leading denier of the Holocaust and vowed to "wipe Israel off the map" even as he moves toward development of nuclear weapons. "If the words 'Never again' have meaning, they must compel responsible governments to prevent Iran from converting menacing intentions into horrific deeds," states the ad. Protesting Davos Assault on Israel AJC sent a strong letter of protest to the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, which is meeting now in Davos, Switzerland, regarding the publication of an article, "Boycott Israel," in Global Agenda, the official magazine of the Forum. "The inclusion of this article suggests that boycotting Israel is a possible way to improve the world," AJC wrote to Klaus Schwab. "We hope that you agree that the inclusion of this article was not only a mistake, but an unfortunate endorsement of bigotry that must be remedied immediately." AJC is urging Schwab to repudiate the article and to institute policies to insure that such hatred never again appears in a World Economic Forum publication.
AJC Radio Message: Oil Addiction Threatens National Security David Harris, in his national radio message, warns again that America's addiction to oil threatens national security. "Our nation's dependence on imported oil keeps getting us in trouble," says Harris. "We end up sending petrodollars to nations that aren't necessarily our friends." Harris's commentaries on current topics of concern air on the Osgood File on more than 400 CBS stations across the country. Listen and read this week's spot .
New Orleans Relief Trip  Jews in their 20s and 30s interested in joining AJC's advocacy efforts are invited to participate in our hands-on community service mission to New Orleans over Presidents' Weekend. We will help in rebuilding projects, as well as meet with federal officials, business owners and residents from the hurricane-ravaged city. The initiative is part of ACCESS: AJC's National New Generation Program. Contact Jeni Bauser at rsvp@ajc.org for more information.
Israeli Leader Sends Appreciation Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to a letter of concern about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from AJC President E. Robert Goodkind and Executive Director David A. Harris. "In these days of anxiety and uncertainty the people of Israel stand united in praying for the recovery of our beloved Prime Minister," Olmert wrote. "Ariel Sharon has always been known for his courage and tenacity, and we hope and pray that he will win in this most critical and difficult of all battles — the battle for his life."
AJC Praises First Lady on Africa Education In a letter to Laura Bush, AJC commended the First Lady for announcing during her recent visit to Ghana the launch of the "Africa Education Initiative" whereby the U.S. would provide 15 million textbooks to African students. "These textbooks will present a new generation of Africans with the opportunity to escape the vicious cycle of poverty through education," AJC wrote. "Requiring that these learning materials be produced by Africans will not only ensure that local cultural sensibilities are respected but will also have direct impact on young Africans by describing scenes familiar to them." The letter to Mrs. Bush comes as AJC prepares to launch its new Africa Institute, which will be chaired by Stanley Bergman.
Congratulating New Liberian President AJC congratulated the newly inaugurated President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Calling her election "a singular moment of promise and opportunity for African democracy," AJC wrote in a letter to the new president: "Your record of courage, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence will be of immense value to your nation at this historic time." The letter comes as AJC is expanding its efforts to raise awareness among Jews and non-Jews of issues affecting Africa as well as to advocate for African interests in the U.S. and abroad.
Letter to New Israeli Foreign Minister AJC congratulated Tzipi Livni upon her appointment as Israel's Foreign Minister. "As admirers of the leadership and insights you brought to bear in your previous ministerial assignments over the last five years, we know that you will guide Israel's international relations with resolve and distinction," AJC wrote. The letter recalled Minister Livni's participation in AJC's Annual Dinner in 2002, and the important speech she delivered on that occasion on behalf of the Israeli government.
JBI Urges Jewish Leaders to Speak Out on Darfur Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute, addressed more than 90 Jewish organization leaders at a special consultation to mobilize the Jewish community on the Darfur crisis. Gaer outlined the UN's response to the situation in Darfur, and what steps governments should take to halt the genocide there. The consultation was co-sponsored by the American Jewish World Service and the JCPA.
The Baptizing of America "The immediate and profound threat to our republic is the specter of our nation ruled by the extreme Christian right, who would make the United States a "Christian nation' where the vision of god's law supersedes all human law-including the Constitution," writes Rabbi James Rudin in the just published The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us. Rudin writes from the experience of heading AJC's interreligious affairs department for nearly 20 years. He now serves as AJC's senior interreligious affairs adviser. His book exposes the systematic campaign by Christian fundamentalists to co-opt and take over every "room" of American society from the bedroom to the schoolroom, hospital room, operating room, courtroom, work room, reading room and newsroom. The book is available at local bookstores.
In the Media The New York Times published a letter by AJC President E. Robert Goodkind criticizing a Times news article that focused on a Palestinian suicide bomber and his family while ignoring the Israeli victims of the attack in Tel Aviv. The International Herald Tribune published a letter by David Harris regarding an editorial, "Palestinians in Disarray," that blamed Israel for problems in Palestinian society. AJC Legislative Director Richard Foltin appeared live on the CNN program Lou Dobbs Tonight discussing the immigration issue. David Harris appeared on WCBS TV in New York discussing the life of Andrea Bronfman, philanthropist and wife of Charles Bronfman, who died tragically when a car hit her on a New York street. Harris also was quoted in the Jerusalem Post. A Pittsburgh Gazette editorial mentioned the American Jewish Committee Pittsburgh Chapter hosting France's ambassador to the U.S. The San Francisco Chronicle published a letter by chapter director Ernest Weiner criticizing the use of the term "gas chambers of Poland" in a news article. He noted that the extermination camps were built and operated by Nazi Germany.
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