Vetted by NeuralPress's Multi-Agent Verifier for strict factual validity and event relevance. Our compliance engine cross-checks and filters search results to ensure zero false correlations or misleading content.
Primary Sources
Abe Foxman, former ADL national director, dies at 86 - Israel National News
Abraham “Abe" Foxman, the longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League and one of the most prominent voices against antisemitism in the United States, passed away at the age of 86.Foxman served as the national director of the ADL from 1987 until 2015, after joining the organization in 1965 as a legal assistant in its international affairs division. Following his retirement, he continued to serve as the organization’s national director emeritus.Born on May 1, 1940, in Baranovichi, in present-day Belarus, to Polish Jewish parents, Foxman spent the early years of his childhood hidden during the Holocaust. In 1941, after his parents were ordered into a ghetto by the Germans, they placed him in the care of his Catholic nanny, Bronisława Kurpi, in an effort to save his life.Foxman was baptized and raised as a Catholic under the name Henryk Stanisław Kurpi in Vilnius until he was reunited with his parents in 1944. In 1950, the family immigrated to the United States.He graduated from the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn and later earned a degree in political science from the City College of New York, followed by a law degree from New York University School of Law.In 1987, Foxman was appointed national director of the ADL, succeeding Nathan Perlmutter. During his nearly three decades leading the organization, he became a leading figure in efforts to combat antisemitism, racism, and discrimination.Foxman was appointed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan to the council of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and was later reappointed by Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden.From 2016 through 2021, he served as vice chair of the board of trustees at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, helping lead the institution’s efforts related to antisemitism.Over the course of his career, Foxman received numerous honors, including France’s Legion of Honor, awarded to him in 2006 by then-French President Jacques Chirac.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar mourned Foxman’s passing, writing, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Abe Foxman.“A towering voice against antisemitism, Abe devoted his life to defending the Jewish people and strengthening the bond between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.“On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife Golda, family, friends, and all at the Anti-Defamation League.“May his memory be a blessing."Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid tribute to Foxman, stating, “I was s...
US Jewish leader, Israel advocate Abe Foxman dies at 86
Prominent Jewish American leader and Israel defender Abraham “Abe” Foxman has died at age 86.The Anti-Defamation League, the advocacy group he led for 28 years, confirmed his death on Sunday, calling him an “outspoken, passionate, and tireless advocate for the Jewish people and Israel“.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US-Iran ceasefire under strain as Gulf states report drone attackslist 2 of 3Trump says US will not allow Iran to reach enriched uraniumlist 3 of 3Gaza volunteers plant olive trees at devastated al-Shifa Hospitalend of listA Holocaust survivor, Foxman helped shape the conversation around Israel and anti-Semitism in the US for decades.ADL Board Chair Nicole Munchnik said Foxman helped build the “modern liberal era of America”, describing him as a “longtime adviser” to US presidents and world leaders.“To those of us who knew him, Abe was a warm friend, adviser, spirited antagonist and hugger – all over lunch,” Munchnik said.Foxman joined the ADL in 1965 and served as the group’s national director from 1987 to 2015.Under his leadership, the group – which presents itself as an anti-hate watchdog – became one of the most influential advocacy organisations in the country.Palestinian rights advocates have long condemned the ADL, accusing it of demonising pro-Palestine activists and conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.Since the start of the genocidal war on Gaza, the ADL – under Foxman’s successor Jonathan Greenblatt – has intensified its campaign against Israel’s critics.Greenblatt, who has supported laws to penalise boycotts of Israel, compared the Palestinian keffiyeh to the Nazi swastika last year.Foxman also remained a staunch supporter of Israel and defended its conduct during the genocidal war on Gaza.“What is happening in Gaza is tragic. But it is not Genocide. And it is not illegal,” he wrote on X in July 2025 as Israel imposed a hunger crisis on the territory.“War is hell and inhumane, destructive and ugly. And nations must take all possible care to avoid civilian harm. And Israel has and is doing that. Having said this, Israel still needs to act with all deliberate speed and skill to provide maximum humanitarian aid to lessen the loss of innocent civilian lives.”Weeks before his death, Foxman backed the US-Israel war on Iran, voicing gratitude to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attacking the country.“Thank you President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu for standing up...
Former ADL head Abraham Foxman passes away | The Jerusalem Post
"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," Greenblatt said of his predecessor in a ...
Former ADL Leader Abe Foxman Passes Away At 86
Foxman led the ADL from 1987 until his retirement in 2015, remaining active as national director emeritus in the years that followed. During his nearly five decades with the organization, he became a leading advocate for the Jewish community and Israel, regularly confronting antisemitism and hate on the global stage.
