Abraham Foxman

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Abraham Foxman
Foxman in January 2011
5th Director of the Anti-Defamation League
In office
1987–2015
Preceded byNathan Perlmutter
Succeeded byJonathan Greenblatt
Personal details
Born
Abraham Henry Foxman
American (1950–present)
SpouseGolda Bauman[3]
Alma materCity College of New York (BA)
New York University (JD)

Abraham Henry Foxman (born May 1, 1940) is an American lawyer and activist.[4] He served as the national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 1987 to 2015,[5] and is currently the League's national director emeritus. From 2016 to 2021 he served as vice chair of the board of trustees at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City in order to lead its efforts on antisemitism.[6]

Early life

Foxman, an only son, was born in

Baranovichi just months after the Soviet Union took the town from Poland in the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and incorporated it into the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The town is now in Belarus. Foxman's parents, Helen and Joseph Foxman, were Polish Jews.[2][7]

ghetto in 1941. Foxman was baptized into Christianity by the Catholic Church, given the Polish Christian name of Henryk Stanisław Kurpi, and raised as a Catholic in Vilnius until he was returned to his parents in 1944.[8][9]

Education and career

Foxman immigrated to the United States in 1950 with his parents.[7] He graduated from the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn, New York City.[10] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the City College of New York[10] and graduated with honors in history.[citation needed] Foxman also holds a J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law.[10] He did graduate work in Jewish studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and in international economics at The New School.[citation needed]

ADL legal representative

Arnold Forster hired Foxman in 1965 as a legal assistant[11] in the ADL's international affairs division.[10] In 1987, Foxman was the consensus choice of the Board to become its new National Director, replacing long-time director Nathan Perlmutter.[5]

Recognition

Foxman with Rick Sanchez in New York City at Yankee Stadium

Foxman has been awarded several honors from

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey.[13][non-primary source needed
]

On October 16, 2006, Foxman was named a Knight of the

Legion of Honor by French President Jacques Chirac. This award is France's highest civilian honor.[14]

During a May 22, 2008, ceremony, Foxman was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Yeshiva University by Richard Joel, the then-president of Yeshiva University.[citation needed]

Additionally, American President George W. Bush appointed Foxman to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Israel in May 2008.[15]

Political stances

Support for gay rights

Foxman's support for

Supreme Court in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale—a case in which "the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America could exclude a gay scoutmaster because of his sexual orientation." It was report that, "Within the Jewish community, Orthodox groups supported the ruling, saying civic organizations should be empowered to determine their own message - but most Jewish organizations condemned it as endorsing discrimination." According to a report published a year later, "the Anti-Defamation League's national director, Abraham Foxman, and its national chairman, Howard Berkowitz, said in a statement at the time: 'We are stunned that in the year 2000, the Supreme Court could issue such a decision. ... This decision effectively states that as long as an organization avows an anti-homosexual position, it is free to discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans.'"[16]

Criticism of Mel Gibson

Foxman has received criticism from Jewish and non-Jewish quarters for his antagonist approach to the 2004 film

anti-Semite, and look where he is today. That's the beauty of America."[22]
Foxman continued to condemn Gibson for The Passion of the Christ, saying in 2008, "What he was doing was giving credibility, on film, in our lifetime, to deicide. Where is Mel Gibson today? He did his movie, and one day, he revealed himself to the American people. He's no icon anymore."[23]

Opposition to a Congress resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide

In July 2007, Foxman opposed a congressional resolution recognizing the

U.S. Congress
."

Sharistan Melkonian, chairwoman of the

Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing regret over the difficulty his position caused for the government of Turkey: "We had no intention to put the Turkish people or its leaders in a difficult position."[27]

Opposition to Park51

Foxman opposed the Park51 Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site. Fareed Zakaria, a recipient of ADL's Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize, returned the prize and its $10,000 honorarium, saying that he "cannot in good conscience hold onto the award or the honorarium that came with it". Zakaria has "urged the ADL to reverse its decision".[28]

Books

Films

  • Defamation (2009): Filmmaker Yoav Shamir profiles Anti-Defamation League director Abraham Foxman in this documentary about anti-Semitism.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Marquis Who's Who On Demand". Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-9613219-0-3
    .
  3. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths Bauman, Leah". The New York Times. 1997-08-21.
  4. ^ "Abraham (Abe).Foxman". Jewish Virtual Library.
  5. ^ a b Berger, Joseph (2015-07-15). "Abraham Foxman to Retire After 28 Years of Fighting Anti-Semitism". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  6. ^ "Leadership". Museum of Jewish Heritage. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  7. ^
    Who's Who in America
    , 60th Diamond Ed. (2006) 2: 1358.
  8. ^ "Biography of Abraham Foxman". Archived from the original on 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  9. ^ "'The Righteous': An Anthology of Heroes". The Forward. 2003-03-14. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  10. ^ a b c d Efrem, Maia (2012). "Who Earns What, Salary Survey 2012: Abraham Foxman, Anti-Defamation League". The Forward. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  11. ^ Fox, Margalit (27 March 2010). "Arnold Forster, Who Fought Anti-Semitism With B'nai B'rith, Is Dead at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Humanitarian Award Winners: Lifetime Achievement Award Winners: 1998", Interfaith Committee of Remembrance, accessed January 19, 2007.
  13. ^ "Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman is Recipient of Wallenberg Humanitarian Award", [press release]. Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Ramapo College. February 8, 2002. Accessed May 29, 2014.
  14. ^ "French President Chirac Urges Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism". Haaretz. Associated Press. 2006-10-16.
  15. ^ "Bush Visit May Boost Olmert". The New York Sun. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
  16. Jewish Bulletin of Northern California
    ), February 13, 2001, accessed January 19, 2007.
  17. The Jewish Week. Archived
    from the original on 2019-04-12.
  18. ^ Greenberg, Eric J. (2003-09-19). "Foxman: Gibson Spewing 'Anti-Semitism'; ADL leader says statements by 'The Passion' director 'paint the portrait of an anti-Semite.'". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on 2009-02-14.
  19. ^ Zoll, Rachel (2003-09-20). "Actor accused of anti-Semitism". The Boston Globe. Associated Press.
  20. ^ Jasper, William F. (2003-12-15). "Crucifying The Passion". The New American. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  21. ^ Chafets, Zov (2006-08-01). "Slurring more than his words". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012.
  22. ^ Pine, Dan (2008-04-04). "Taking aim: ADL top gun keeps shooting down 'deadliest' anti-Semitic rhetoric". The Jewish news weekly of Northern California.
  23. ^ Passman, Aaron (2008-10-02). "Hatred Finds New Home on Internet, says Foxman". Jewish Exponent. Archived from the original on 2012-05-23.
  24. ^ O'Brien, Keith (January 8, 2007). "Antibias effort stirs anger in Watertown". The Boston Globe.
  25. ^ O'Brien, Keith (2007-08-18). "ADL local leader fired on Armenian issue: Genocide question sparked bitter debate". The Boston Globe.
  26. ^ O'Brien, Keith (2007-08-22). "ADL chief bows to critics: Foxman cites rift, calls Armenian deaths genocide". The Boston Globe.
  27. ^ "ADL insistent on 'genocide claim'". The Jewish Advocate. 2007-08-28. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  28. ^ Zakaria, Fareed (2010-08-06). "Build the Ground Zero Mosque". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
  29. ^ IMDB Defamation

External links

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