'He pursued a world without hate': Former Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman dies at 86
The Times of Israel • • nation
Key Points:
- Abraham (Abe) Foxman, former national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), died at age 86, having led the organization from 1987 to 2015 and remained national director emeritus until his passing.
- Foxman transformed the ADL into a powerful force against antisemitism, overseeing educational programs, monitoring hate globally, and advocating for anti-discrimination laws; he was widely respected as a key authority on antisemitism.
- Born in 1940 in Poland (now Belarus), Foxman survived the Holocaust in hiding with a Catholic nanny, later immigrating to the U.S., where he pursued law and rose through ADL ranks before becoming its leader.
- Prominent figures including ADL successor Jonathan Greenblatt, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and other Jewish leaders praised Foxman for his moral clarity, dedication to fighting hate, and leadership in Jewish communal life.
- Foxman’s funeral will be held at Park Avenue Synagogue and livestreamed; he is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.
