On a daily basis, AJC Boston advocates on a local level- engaging local diplomats, world opinion makers, Massachusetts political representatives, and Boston ethnic and religious leaders- to advance Israel's pursuit of peace and security, safeguard Jews worldwide, and promote the human rights of vulnerable peoples. With unrivaled access and credibility, AJC advocacy generates real results. We hope you enjoy reading our blog and look forward to engaging you in conversation.
AJC Remembers: A Commemoration of Italian Holocaust Remembrance Day
By Abby Kulawitz, AJC Boston Intern
Together with BostonUniversity, the Consulate General of Italy in Boston, the Consulate General of Israel to New England, and Professional Italians in Boston, the American Jewish Committee remembered and honored the thousands of Italian Jewish men, women, and children who perished during the Holocaust.
The event centered on the film The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. Originally a book by 20th century Italian writer Giorgio Bassani, the film reexamines and recasts Italian Jewish history. Through fictional characters, Bassani conveys the fascism and oppression that slowly uprooted and ultimately obliterated Italy’s Jewish community.
Flanking the film, Boston University Professor Nancy Horowitz spoke about the role of collective memory – of the need for active commemoration of the past. Through joint commemoration – including active reflection and the reanimation of history – we can repair the world and perform tikkun olam.
Paola Bassini, Giorgio Bassani’s daughter, personalized this message. She told the story of her father’s complex identity – an identity that both included him in and excluded him from the Italian Jewish community. In telling the life of her father, Paola Bassani touched on the wider context of the times – the marginalization, betrayal, and dehumanization experienced by Bassani and his contemporaries.
Through academic, diplomatic, and personal perspectives, all those present actively remembered the Jews of Italy. Stressing the timeliness – and timelessness – of the event, Consuls General of Italy and Israel jointly advocated for further education and commemoration. Attempting to understand the inexplicable as one community, Italians, Israelis, and Americans undertook the great responsibility of memorializing and eternalizing the past.
January 20, 2012 - Earlier this week, AJC Boston and the American Islamic Congress (AIC) hosted the latest installment of "The Witnesses Initiative: Stories of Repression and Redemption," entitled Tahrir Square Revisited: Local Egyptians Reflect on One Year after Mubarak. One year ago, Egyptians from many walks of life took to the street to protest repression and ended up toppling the country’s long-time ruler in a matter of days. To mark the anniversary, local Egyptians of diverse backgrounds (Muslim, Jewish, and Christian) shared their personal stories of enduring repression, how they experienced events as they unfolded last year, and how they now view the future of their native country. Voices on this special interfaith panel included eyewitness testimony from Tahrir Square, as well as rarely heard testimony of the Egyptian Jewish experience. For more information about the Witnesses Initiative, please contact Boston@ajc.org.
Letter to the Editor: Withdrawal from West Bank Puts Country in Peril
January 10, 2012- Boston, Massachusetts - H.D.S. GREENWAY wants Israel to withdraw from the West Bank (“Israel’s modern tragedy,’’ Op-ed, Jan. 3). Polling data have documented that most Israelis would also like to do so. Unlike Greenway, however, they have to consider some difficult realities.
Hamas continues to advocate for Israel’s annihilation. Palestinian schools continue to teach their students that Israel is not a legitimate state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continues to glorify terrorists who are best known for having murdered Israeli civilians. The Palestinians’ arsenal of rockets and other weapons continues to grow in quantity and sophistication....
December 19, 2011- Last week, over 275 people gathered for "Hanukkah: A Story That Still Needs to be Told," an evening of conversation, music, and food hosted by AJC Boston and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. Speakers included AJC Boston Director Rob Leikind, Acting Consul of Greece Panayota Katsarou, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, Professor Shaye J.D. Cohen, Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University, and Fr. George Dragas, Professor of Patristics at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The evening also featured Jewish music performed by Deiskeit, the Brandeis Klezmer Ensemble, Greek music by Taximi, and mediterranean and Hanukkah foods.
Perspectives on Israel from Zeidan Atashi, Israeli Druze Diplomat and Former MK
November 8, 2011 - On Monday, October 31st, AJC Boston was pleased to host Mr. Zeidan Atashi, former Israeli MK and diplomat, the first Druze Israeli to hold a diplomatic post as Consul and Head of Information Affairs at the Consulate General in New York. During the program he spoke candidly both about his love for the state of Israel and his strong feelings regarding social inequality between Arabs and Jews in his country. Mr. Atashi, who spoke as a private citizen, was in Boston to meet with various Jewish organizations, something he has been doing both privately and on behalf of the state of Israel for decades. Those seated around the table included AJC Boston Board members and staff from some of Boston’s leading Jewish cultural and community organizations...
The Pursuit of True Peace: The International Community and UNESCO
November 1, 2011 - Yesterday’s admission of the Palestinian Authority into UNESCO was another step in a tragic dance that seems without end. The measure will do nothing to advance a two state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It is, however, virtually certain to feed the polarization between the parties that is sinking prospects for a return to meaningful negotiations....
Over 500 People Come Out to Show Support for New England Campaign for True Peace
October 4, 2011 - On Monday, September 19th AJC, in partnership with CJP, ADL, JCRC and over 67 other New England Jewish organizations brought together more than 500 people to celebrate the pursuit of true peace, and to show their support for a return to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The event featured an impressive roster of speakers, including AJC Executive Director David Harris, US Congressman Barney Frank, AJC Boston director Robert Leikind, JCRC of Greater Boston Interim Executive Director Alan Ronkin, CJP President Barry Shrage and others. Although each speaker came to the microphone with their own unique perspective on the challenges posed by Palestinian unilateral action at the UN, they all spoke with passion and sincerity about their belief in the power of negotiations to bring an end to this violent stalemate, and a sense that unilateral Palestinian action only has the potential to cause further problems....
Terror Attacks Underscore Challenges to Peace Process
August 18, 2011 - Boston, Massachusetts - Today’s tragic assault on innocent civilians in Southern Israel (7 dead, 40 wounded) underscores the challenge to any viable peace process. There are many Palestinians who support a two-state solution that will result in a Jewish and democratic state of Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security. There are also millions of people who categorically reject any accommodation with Israel and believe that the only settlement is one that includes Israel’s destruction...
AJC Boston to Senator Scott Brown: Thank you for your support of Israel
May 24, 2011 – Boston, Massachusetts– A delegation of the Boston office of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) met with Senator Scott Brown yesterday to thank the senator for his support of Israel.
“AJC wants to see an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through a negotiated two-state solution,” said AJC Boston Director Rob Leikind. “We are grateful to Senator Brown for his support of Israel and look forward to continuing the conversation with him and other supporters of peace, democracy, and human rights in the Middle East.”
AJC is a global advocacy network that works to secure the well-being of Jews and vulnerable peoples around the world. AJC is a tax-exempt organization and does not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office.
AJC Boston Witnesses Initiative: Testimony of an Egyptian Human Rights Activist
May 17, 2011 - AJC Boston and the American Islamic Congress (AIC) hosted Dalia Ziada, a liberal blogger, Egyptian human rights activist, and AIC Cairo Director for the third installment of the innovative series, "The Witnesses Initiative: Stories of Repression and Redemption"...
April 12, 2011 - On Sunday, April 10th, the Boston office of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and diplomats representing 30 countries from around the world celebrated the universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights at the AJC Boston 12th Annual Diplomats Seder "Journey to Freedom" at the Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, MA...
Wednesday March 30, 2011 has been designated a Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Day of Action by the movement dedicated to the delegitimization of Israel. Leaders of this movement propose that stores that carry Israeli products and the products themselves should be subject to a boycott....
Witnesses for the Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East
March 8, 2011- AJC Boston and the American Islamic Congress (AIC) recently launched the pilot program of the "Witnesses Initiative: Stories of Repression and Redemption." Through this new program we are able to bear witness to the harrowing testimonies of Jews, Christians, and Muslims who have survived human rights abuses under repressive regimes in the Middle East....
AJC Boston Launches Greek-Jewish Community Exchange Initiative
March 3, 2011 - Over 150 people gathered at the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College in Brookline, MA for the launch of the AJC Boston and Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston Greek-Jewish Community Exchange Initiative yesterday evening. The event, entitled Passover & Pascha: How Greeks and Jews Shaped Each Other’s History, Culture, & Faith," is intended as the first in a series of programs dedicated to enhancing understanding and friendship between Greek and Jewish Americans...
AJC Boston Resource Guide: Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood
February 24, 2011 - This is a time when most of us are praying that the people of the Middle East will finally be able to enjoy the freedom and democracy that is the birthright of all citizens of the State of Israel. At the same time, there are profound concerns that the hope we feel today will be quashed tomorrow by an Islamist movement that will, as happened in Iran, replace one authoritarian government with another. At the heart of this worry are questions about the Muslim Brotherhood. What is this movement? What aspirations guide it? What do they have to say about democracy, peace with Israel, religious pluralism, law, and a range of other vital concerns?
In order to help you better understand the Muslim Brotherhood’s history, views and current status, AJC Boston has put together documents and video resources from AJC, the Muslim Brotherhood’s own website, representatives of prominent think-tanks and research institutions, journalists and others. The ideas that are represented, of course, do not necessarily reflect the views of AJC.
No array of articles and resources can hope to provide a complete view of a phenomenon this large and complex. Instead, we offer this guide as a starting point that we hope will help demystify events that are now taking place and support your efforts to become an informed and responsible advocate. Let us know what you think...
February 4, 2011- As part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed about global affairs, AJC has put together a compilation that provides timely references – from news and other sources in the U.S., Israel, Europe, and the Arab world – on the evolving story of political change across North Africa and the Middle East. Please take a moment to read, comment, and share with others.
February 2, 2011 - What started in December 2010 as street protests in Tunisia escalated into a major uprising that ended President Ben Ali’s 23-year rule and led to the creation of a transitional coalition government headed by longtime Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi. The transitional government brought in opposition parties, pledged national elections within six months, lifted press restrictions, freed political prisoners, and began drafting a new constitution. Notwithstanding, the situation remains volatile, with unemployment high, civil order strained, Ben Ali loyalists and former party and government aides discredited, and new political processes untested.
February 3, 2011 - AJC Boston will host a variety of viewpoints on the recent uprisings in the Arab world. Today, AJC ACCESS Boston member Zack Gold explores recent events in Egypt.
AJC Boston Commemorates Italian Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 31, 2011 - This past Sunday AJC Boston co-hosted for the 5th year with Boston University, the Consulate General of Italy in Boston, and the Consulate General of Israel to New England acommemoration of Italian Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The program poignantly addressed the question of why the world remembers the Shoah and how a national day of remembrance in Italy impacts the collective identity and collective memory of contemporary Italian society.
