American Jewish Committee
Excerpts from the Weekly Update: May 9th, 2007
101st Annual Meeting Concludes
More than 1,400 AJC members and friends gathered to help celebrate the culmination of AJC's Centennial year at AJC's 101st Annual Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington. Speakers included Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Argentine First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad. During the week of the Annual Meeting and International Leadership Conference sessions, participants explored top issues facing world Jewry and the current threats facing Israel, as well as strategies on energy independence. Also in attendance were Jewish leaders from more than 50 countries and the graduating class of the Israel National Defense College.
Annual Meeting Video, Audio Available at AJC.ORG
The Annual Dinner and several sessions from the Annual Meeting were webcast live for the first time. Many of the sessions also are available via audio, and several texts of speeches. For the full list visit: www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.2712459/k.D511/101st_Annual_Meeting_Mult ime dia.htm
Father Patrick Desbois Receives AJC's Jan Karski Award
AJC honored Father Patrick Desbois, a central figure in Jewish-Christian relations, with its Jan Karski Award. "Father Desbois's efforts to identify the mass graves of Jewish victims of the Shoah and ensure that these unnamed Holocaust victims are remembered, combined with his dedication to furthering understanding between Christians and Jews, are a testament to the human spirit and the power of good," said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC's director of international Jewish affairs. Over the last decade, his "Operation Ukraine" program has been instrumental in identifying the mass graves of Eastern European Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. "I do this work to combat a wave of Holocaust denial being used to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish people," said Desbois. "When the last of the Holocaust survivors passes away, Holocaust denial will become worse."
Greek Jewish Community Formalizes Ties
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) and AJC signed an agreement formally linking the two organizations. "The Greek Jewish communities have worked with, and relied on, AJC for many years," said KIS President Moses C. Constantinis. "We look forward to this new chapter in our mutually beneficial relationship, which will also strengthen Greek-U.S. relations."
Colombian Jewish Community Signs Association Agreement
Colombia's Jewish community signed an association agreement with AJC during the Annual Meeting, attended by a large number of Jewish leaders from Latin America. "The American Jewish Committee is politically the most important Jewish organization in the world," said Marcos Peckel, president of the Bogotá Jewish community. Peckal signed the accord on behalf of Colombia's entire Jewish community. This is the seventh AJC association agreement with a Latin American Jewish community, and the 24th worldwide.
Davos Chairman Explores Poverty-Extremism Link
Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum (Davos), described a disturbing connection between poverty-stricken nations and expressions of violent extremism, often in the form of anti-Semitism, in his address at the Annual Meeting opening plenary session. "As the more educated, creative, entrepreneurial and plugged-in segments of global society have been brought closer together in this global world, those left behind have become prey to the hate-filled vitriol of radicalized Islamic thought or poisonous canards and stereotypes about Jews, immigrants and other minority groups," said Schwab.
Advocacy Training in Washington
AJC leaders from across the country gathered in Washington the day before the Annual Meeting for advocacy training and action on issues regarding the Middle East and energy independence. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) engaged in a vibrant dinner conversation with the more than 100 AJC members who came to Washington in advance of the Annual Meeting. They also visited several dozen Representatives and Senators in their Capitol Hill offices.
Africa Institute Visits Ethiopia
An AJC Africa Institute delegation visited Ethiopia to discuss with President Girma Woldegiorgis the institute's initiatives. Stanley Bergman, chair of the Africa Institute, and Marion Bergman, president of AJC's Long Island Chapter, also met with Tekeda Alemu, State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Abba Paulos, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and president of the World Council of Churches; as well as with the U.S. and Israeli ambassadors to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian leaders expressed their friendship with Israel and the Jewish people, and invited the AJC group to participate in September in ceremonies welcoming the new millennium on the Ethiopian calendar.
Congratulating Nicolas Sarkozy on Election Victory
AJC was the first major American Jewish organization to formally congratulate Nicolas Sarkozy on his election as president of France. "We have long admired Nicolas Sarkozy as a political leader deeply committed to France's democratic values, his readiness to confront threats to those principles, and his dedication to strengthening trans-Atlantic relations," said David Harris. AJC has enjoyed a close relationship with Sarkozy since he became Interior Minister in 2002 and has met regularly with him in Paris, as well as in New York and Washington on his visits to the U.S. In 2004, Sarkozy delivered an important speech to AJC in Washington. "As you assume the responsibilities of office, we hope you will continue to look to AJC as an ally in the essential task of strengthening understanding and cooperation between France and the United States," wrote AJC President Richard Sideman and David Harris in a congratulatory letter.
Richard Sideman Elected AJC President
"These turbulent times pose enormous challenges to the Jewish people. With AJC's emphasis upon reason and tolerance, we will confront these problems with measured determination and AJC's trademark diplomacy," said Sideman, who was elected AJC President during the Annual Meeting, succeeding E. Robert Goodkind. Sideman, an AJC member since 1982, has served as president of AJC's San Francisco Chapter. On the national level, he has served as chair of the Community Service Commission, chair of the International Relations Commission, and was the founding chair of the Anti-Semitism Task Force.
AJC Lauds E. Robert Goodkind
E. Robert Goodkind was honored with AJC's Distinguished Leadership Award at a tribute dinner during the Annual Meeting marking the end of his three-year term as AJC president. "This award has been given to me simply for doing what my soul compelled me to do," said Goodkind. "Bob has brought a sense of excellence to all that he's done. In the process, AJC, over and over again, has been the fortunate beneficiary," said David Harris. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), who represents the district where Goodkind resides in Westchester County, also spoke.
Ari M. Gordon Assistant Director Department of Interreligious Affairs American Jewish Committee 165 E56th St. New York, NY 10022 (212) 891-6768 (212) 751-4000 x266 www.ajc.org www.engagingamerica.org