May his memory be a blessing — This prayer was universally expressed by Abe Foxman’s family members, friends, colleagues as well as many Jews whose lives he made better.
NEW YORK CITY (Press Release) — ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director, Abraham H. Foxman. Born in 1940, Abe survived the Holocaust after he was entrusted to his Polish Catholic nanny, who had him baptized as a Catholic to hide his Jewish identity. He was miraculously reunited with his parents after the war.
Abe graduated from City College of the City University of New York and NYU School of Law, joining ADL immediately after graduating from law school and serving in various roles before being tapped as national director in 1987. An outspoken, passionate, and tireless advocate for the Jewish people and Israel, Abe served his entire 50-year career at ADL, becoming one of the world’s foremost voices against antisemitism and hate. He retired in 2015.
Nicole Munchnik, ADL Board Chair, issued the following statement:
“Abe Foxman helped build the modern liberal era of America. He was recognized across the globe as a great leader and passionate advocate for tolerance, a voice of the generation rebuilding in the shadow of the Shoah, and longtime advisor to American presidents and world leaders. To those of us who knew him, Abe was a warm friend, advisor, spirited antagonist and hugger – all over lunch.
On behalf of the ADL Board of Directors, and our thousands of ADL volunteer leaders over decades, I extend our deepest condolences to his beloved Golda and beautiful family, who were the ultimate prizes of his life.”
Statement from Jonathan Greenblatt, Foxman’s successor.
“America and the Jewish people have lost a moral voice, a passionate advocate for the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and a remarkable leader.
Abe Foxman was an iconic Jewish leader who embraced the ideal of an America free from antisemitism and hate and who strongly believed that these scourges could be defeated if good people opposed it.
In his storied career, Abe transformed ADL while confronting antisemitism and hate (from both left and right), opposing the global rise in antisemitism, holding world leaders accountable and working to ensure that Israel was Jewish, secure and democratic. Abe’s voice was heard – and listened to – by popes, presidents, and prime ministers, a voice he used wherever Jews were at risk. Abe Foxman spoke on the global stage with moral authority and clarity and was relentlessly dedicated to his pursuit of a world without hate.
Abe understood the power of words. He often said that the Holocaust did not begin with bricks and mortar and gas chambers, but rather, it began with words. From this foundational principle, he made education and antibias training a cornerstone of ADL’s work just as ADL would stand in opposition to hateful rhetoric and violent bigotry whatever its source.
His work and philosophy were forged in a remarkable childhood. During the Holocaust, his parents were forced to entrust him to the care of his Polish-Catholic nanny Bronislawa Kurpi who baptized him and raised him as a Catholic for four years; she sought to retain custody of Abe. Although he lost 14 members of his family in the Holocaust, his parents survived and emigrated to the United States with Abe. He attended the Yeshiva of Flatbush and then went to City College and NYU Law, among other graduate studies. Abe joined ADL in 1965 as an assistant director of legal affairs.
We extend our deepest condolences to Abe’s wife Golda, his children Michelle and Ariel and his son-in-law Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, as well as his grandchildren, Cielo, Leila, Gideon, and Amirit.”
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From organizations other than ADL, these comments were issued about Foxman’s passing:
American Jewish Committee:
“AJC mourns the passing of former Director Abe Foxman, a towering figure in the fight against antisemitism and hatred. Abe brought moral clarity, courage, and unwavering conviction to generations of advocacy and leadership. His voice helped shape the American Jewish experience and strengthened the global fight against bigotry in all its forms. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were inspired by his extraordinary life and legacy.
“As National Director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades, Foxman helped build the organization into one of the most influential institutions in American Jewish life. He believed antisemitism could never be ignored or minimized, and that moral clarity and courage were essential to leadership.
‘For generations of American Jews, Abe Foxman represented moral clarity, courage, and an unapologetic willingness to stand up for the Jewish people,’ said AJCF Director General Jack Simony. ‘He never confused conviction with extremism or silence with dignity. He understood that hatred must be confronted directly, publicly, and without fear. Abe helped shape modern Jewish life in America, and his absence will be deeply felt.’
‘Abe Foxman belonged to a generation that carried the weight of history personally and transformed it into public service,’ said AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson. ‘He dedicated his life to ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust were applied to the defense of democratic values, human dignity, and the Jewish people. His legacy will endure for generations.’
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Jewish Council for Public Affairs (Amy Spitalnick’, CEO) —“Heartbroken to hear of Abe Foxman’s passing. Few embodied what it meant to fight antisemitism and fascism — a Holocaust survivor who spent his final years speaking out against today’s authoritarianism. And what a mensch! May his memory be … a call to action for us all.”
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Compiled by the staff of San Diego Jewish World