American Jewish Congress (AJC)
The American Jewish Congress (AJC) is a prominent organization founded in 1918 that represents the interests of Jewish communities in the United States. Initially formed as a coalition aimed at revitalizing Jewish life post-World War I and advocating for Jewish representation at the Versailles peace conference, the AJC was reestablished as an independent community-relations organization in 1928. Its early focus included facilitating Jewish migration to Palestine and addressing anti-Semitism in the U.S. Over the decades, the AJC has evolved to build coalitions with various groups to promote liberal social legislation, combat discrimination, and support civil rights.
Today, the AJC's mission encompasses the protection of constitutional freedoms and democratic institutions while emphasizing the civil and religious rights of all individuals. The organization is committed to social and economic justice, women's equality, and human rights globally, while also prioritizing the security of the State of Israel. Additionally, it continues its foundational efforts to combat anti-Semitism and racism, striving to enrich Jewish cultural, communal, and religious life. The AJC remains a significant voice in the ongoing dialogue surrounding Jewish identity and rights in America.
On this Page
Subject Terms
American Jewish Congress (AJC)
The American Jewish Congress began in 1918 as a coalition of Jewish groups interested in reviving Jewish life after World War I and in promoting Jewish interests at the Versailles peace conference and Treaty of Versailles. The original Congress was dissolved at the completion of its mission in 1920 but was immediately reformed as a self-standing community-relations organization, achieving independent status in 1928. At that time, its chief interests were in aiding Jewish migration to Palestine and combating anti-Semitism in the United States.
After World War II, it shifted attention to building coalitions with other groups so as to promote liberal social legislation, combat bigotry, and advance civil rights. Its current mission statement includes working “to protect fundamental constitutional freedoms and American democratic institutions, particularly the civil and religious rights and liberties of all Americans.” In addition, it is dedicated to advancing social and economic justice, women’s equality, and human rights at home and abroad. The Congress also has an abiding interest in the security of the State of Israel and maintains its founding interest in combating anti-Semitism and other forms of racism while at the same time enhancing Jewish religious, institutional, communal, and cultural life.
Bibliography
American Jewish Congress Organization, ajcongress.org/. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
“American Jewish Congress (AJC).” The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, kinginstitute.stanford.edu/american-jewish-congress-ajc. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Beinart, Peter. "The American Jewish Cocoon." New York Books, New York Times, 26 Sept. 2013, www.nybooks.com/articles/2013/09/26/american-jewish-cocoon/?srsltid=AfmBOopsmxchu‗2duD0-KB8OsbTVeWrXZcag8XqJKYqXBs0sPSvkYLiA. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Dinnerstein, Leonard. Uneasy at Home: Antisemitism and the American Jewish Experience. Columbia UP, 2013.
Herf, Jeffrey. Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in Historical Perspective: Convergence and Divergence. Routledge, 2014.
Hess, Tobias. “American Jewish Peace Archive: An Interview with Robert K. Lifton.” Hannah Arendt Center, 13 Jan. 2024, hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/american-jewish-peace-archive-an-interview-with-robert-k-lifton-2024-01-13. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Kosmin, Barry A., and Ariela Keysar. "American Jewish Secularism: Jewish Life Beyond the Synagogue." American Jewish Year Book 2012. Springer Netherlands, 2013. 3–54.
Praz˙ Mowska, A. J. "Anti-Jewish Violence. Rethinking the Pogrom in East European History." Journal of Modern Jewish Studies 12.2 (2013): 376–77.
Rosen, Daniel, et al. “The DNC—Like the Most of the U.S.—Stands with Israel.” Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2024, www.newsweek.com/dnclike-most-usstands-israel-opinion-1943176. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.