Abe Foxman, Former ADL National Director, Dies at 86
Abraham H. Foxman, who led the Anti-Defamation League from 1987 to 2015, passed away at 86. He was a prominent advocate against antisemitism and hate.
Abraham H. Foxman, who served as the national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 1987 to 2015, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86.
Born on May 1, 1940, in Baranovichi, now part of Belarus, Foxman survived the Holocaust by being placed under the care of his Polish Catholic nanny, who baptized him to conceal his Jewish identity. After the war, he reunited with his parents, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1950.
Foxman joined the ADL in 1965 as a legal assistant and ascended through various roles before becoming national director. Under his leadership, the ADL expanded its mission to include broader human rights advocacy, such as combating white supremacy, supporting LGBTQ and immigrant rights, and promoting diversity education.
Jonathan Greenblatt, Foxman's successor as ADL director, stated, "Abe's voice was heard -- and listened to -- by popes, presidents, and prime ministers, a voice he used wherever Jews were at risk."
Foxman is survived by his wife, Golda; his two children, Michelle and Ariel; and his four grandchildren.