“AJC WAS THE FIRST JEWISH ORGANIZATION TO SEEK CONTACT WITH GERMANY AFTER THE HOLOCAUST, AND AJC REMAINS TODAY AN IMPORTANT PARTNER FOR GERMANY— AJC AND BOTH IN TERMS OF DIALOGUE WITH AMERICAN JEWRY AND TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS IN GENERAL.” GERMANY —Angela Merkel, German Chancellor
Germany has been part of the power. It was therefore vital, both for American Jewish Committee (AJC) the cause of world freedom and for DNA since the leading global Jewish the future of the Jewish people, to advocacy organization was founded ensure that Germany would reject the in 1906, chiefly by Jews of German antisemitism of its past and adhere to descent, to protect the well-being of the principles of democracy. Jews around the world. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, For many Americans—especially AJC was the first American Jewish Jews, six million of whose brethren organization to embrace the renewed had been murdered by the Nazi unification of Germany. AJC was the regime and its accomplices—the only international Jewish group to future of Germany after 1945 was establish a permanent office in Berlin, hardly high on the priority list. in 1998.
AJC was the exception. Taking a Today, AJC remains uniquely active long-range view, AJC understood in working together with Germany on that Germany would eventually threats to the Jewish people, to Israel, resume its place as a major European and to democracy.
Far left: Woman holding her infant daughter at Bamberg DP camp, 1947
Left: Ruins of the Reichstag in Berlin, 1945 IN 1944, AJC AND NBC RADIO BROADCAST LIVE THE FIRST JEWISH SERVICE HELD ON LIBERATED NAZI SOIL.
AJC closely monitors the 1940s postwar situation in Germany, with frequent reports from October 29, 1944 From finances the Gotthold Committee on Displaced visiting AJC staff and the Aachen battlefield, Ephraim Lessing Persons to campaign AJC-NBC radio broadcast Association for the for admitting to the U.S. correspondents in Germany. the first Jewish religious Promotion of Tolerance, Jewish DPs in Germany. AJC works on resettlement service from Germany dedicated to building a 1948 AJC’s Make Way for Jewish displaced persons since the advent of Hitler. new generation of leaders for Youth film promoting in the country. “If we build in the U.S. and elsewhere, 1945 The Office of tolerance and democratic up Germany materially at Advisor on Jewish Affairs, values is screened by the and intensifies research on the present time without attached to the U.S. Army U.S. Army occupation doing a complete the sources and patterns headquarters in Germany, authorities to German spiritual and educational of antisemitism and is established, based on youth groups, teachers, reorganization job, we are an AJC recommendation, and parents. Army authoritarianism. Cooperating building up a Frankenstein to deal principally with representatives inform monster who will infect with U.S. occupation the situation of Jewish AJC that the film helped and menace the world,” authorities, AJC focuses on displaced persons in gain community support says AJC Executive Vice camps in Germany. AJC for a U.S.-sponsored youth education programs in President John Slawson. member Judge Simon H. program in Germany. Germany and the promotion Rifkind is appointed to 1946 AJC Executive the post. Committee Member of democracy. Lessing Rosenwald, 1946 To promote former chairman of Sears, democracy in Germany, Roebuck and Company, AJC organizes and co-founds the Citizens
Top: A group of women waiting Top: Kindergarten class at AJC-NBC Jewish radio on line to receive soup, circa the Bergen Belsen DP Camp, broadcast from the Aachen late 1940s circa 1948 battlefield, October 29, 1944
Left: A young Buchenwald survivor at the Feldafing DP Camp, 1947 AJC IS THE FIRST AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATION TO CALL FOR ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH GERMANY.
AJC becomes the first American Jewish 1950s organization to call for active engagement with 1951 In a groundbreaking 1952 AJC President October 1959 AJC policy statement, AJC Jacob Blaustein plays a Honorary President Germany, as well as becomes the first key role in negotiating an Irving M. Engel addresses supporting the re-emergence international Jewish $822 million agreement the Bad Godesberg of Jewish life in Germany. organization to call for between the West German Conference, co-organized active engagement with government and the by the Atlantik Bruecke AJC also is the first Jewish postwar Germany. Claims Conference to (Atlantic Bridge) and provide compensation the American Council organization to advocate 1951 AJC leadership to Israel and Holocaust on Germany. Engel plays a critically important for German re-education. survivors. pleads for an immediate role in creating the Working with the West and comprehensive Conference on Jewish 1954 In a letter to German reform of the German German government as well Material Claims Against Jewry, AJC Honorary educational system to Germany and pressing President Jacob Blaustein as U.S. occupation forces. teach recent history and for German government pledges AJC support for AJC supports ongoing instill understanding for compensation payments the community. “I pray democracy and civic education and democracy to survivors and to the to God that from the responsibility. Following State of Israel. tragedies of the past you efforts in Germany, while the conference, Engel will draw the strength 1951 AJC is the first and AJC Paris Director publishing constant alerts to look to the future Jewish organization Zachariah Schuster meet about the growing with hope, secure in the to advocate for German with German Chancellor knowledge that we have numbers of Nazis in re-education following Konrad Adenauer to not forgotten you,” writes WWII. An AJC educational discuss educational government, resurging Blaustein. program supported by reforms. popularity of neo-Nazi the U.S. Department May 11–13, 1956 AJC’s 1959 AJC publishes groups, and antisemitism. of State and U.S. High Executive Board calls The German Dilemma: Commission for Germany, on the West German On Antisemitism and Ultra- as well as important government to take nationalism in Germany. German leaders, advocates prompt action against for denazification and an upsurge in antisemitic a reorientation toward and anti-democratic democracy. propaganda, specifically noting renewed interest in the notorious forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
AJC Press Release, Top: Scene from Make Way for Top: AJC Committee Reporter, July 14, 1952 Youth, a film co-sponsored by March, 1947 AJC and the National Social Welfare Assembly
Right: Jacob Blaustein, AJC President AJC ENCOURAGES REFORM OF THE GERMAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND PROMOTES DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION
AJC steps up efforts to 1960s encourage reforms of Germany’s educational February 1960 AJC June 1960 AJC Honorary German education, war- system and promote presents recommendations President Jacob Blaustein crimes trials, Holocaust on fighting antisemitism meets with German restitution, and the Middle democratic education, and anti-democratic Chancellor Konrad East. reaching out to high-level influences at a meeting of Adenauer to warn about 1960 to 1971 AJC German officials and creating the German Permanent resurgent neo-Nazism and sponsors the “German Conference of the antisemitism, after reports annual study trips to the U.S. Educators Program,” a Ministers of Education. of over 1,000 antisemitic series of annual three- to expose leading German incidents in Germany Early 1960s AJC protests week study trips by West that began with the educators and academics to cancellation of West German educators and desecration of a Cologne American-style discussion German arms shipments academics to observe the synagogue on December to Israel and the military teaching of democratic forums and teaching 25, 1959. work of German scientists values in the U.S. and to methods. AJC lodges in Egypt on missile 1965 AJC’s Foreign study American methods protests with West German development. Affairs Committee meets of social and civic with West Berlin Mayor education. politicians about policies in Willy Brandt in New the Mideast threatening Israel. York, where they discuss
Top: The Brandenburg Gate in Above: John Slawson, AJC Top: German educators visit AJC delegation meets East Berlin behind the Berlin Executive Vice-President, a NYC classroom to observe with West Berlin Mayor Wall. A sign in German warns meets with West Berlin Mayor American methods of social Willy Brandt, center, of the border between East and Willy Brandt, March 23, 1966 and civic education for use April 19, 1966 West Berlin, August 13, 1965 in German school curricula, circa 1960s AN AJC DELEGATION TO GERMANY CONVINCES CHANCELLOR HELMUT SCHMIDT TO ABOLISH THE COUNTRY’S STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON THE MURDER OF JEWS DURING THE NAZI PERIOD.
AJC intensifies efforts to eliminate antisemitic 1970s stereotypes in the well-known Oberammergau Passion Play. February 1978 An AJC 1979 AJC President delegation travels to Richard Maass heads AJC leaders work to abolish Munich, Germany, to an AJC delegation to the statute of limitations participate in a major the Federal Republic of regarding murders of Jews conference with Catholic Germany that convinces partners on antisemitism in Chancellor Helmut during WWII. AJC conducts passion plays, and meets Schmidt and other intensified discussions with with organizers of the government figures to Oberammergau Passion abolish the country’s German officials regarding Play to discuss changing statute of limitations on ways to strengthen bridges the antisemitic script and the murder of Jews between the German staging, and eliminating its during the Nazi period. anti-Jewish features. government and the U.S. Jewish community.
Above: West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt receives a Chaim Gross lithograph presented by AJC President Richard Maass, AJC Press Release, June 8, 1979. Left to right: Oberammergau Passion Play June 8, 1979 Helmut Schmidt, Richard Maass, performance Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum
Top: West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in Cologne synagogue for commemorative service on 40th anniversary of 1938 Nazi programs, November 9, 1978 AJC, TOGETHER WITH THE KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION, LAUNCHES A PATHBREAKING U.S. JEWISH–GERMAN EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT REMAINS ACTIVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS LATER.
AJC launches unique 1980s exchange programs between American Jews and Germans 1980 AJC, in cooperation in cooperation with and President Ronald to introduce them to Jewish with the Konrad Adenauer the Friedrich Ebert Reagan to the Bitburg Foundation, which is Foundation, linked to military cemetery, where life in the U.S. and deepen linked to the Christian Social Democratic Party. SS officers are buried. commitments in Germany Democratic Union (CDU), 1983 AJC is first American 1987 AJC and the to fight antisemitism and launches an annual Jewish group to visit prestigious transatlantic U.S.-German exchange strengthen democracy. the East German Berlin organization Atlantik program that participants Jewish community. AJC Bruecke (Atlantic call “a life-changing later sends prayer books Bridge) launch a decade experience.” The exchange and arranges for the first of cooperation on a program brings American visiting rabbi to lead High highly-regarded series Jewish leaders to Germany Holy Day services there. of conferences exploring and German young German and Jewish professionals to the U.S. to 1985 AJC intervenes attitudes toward one learn about contemporary to ease a serious strain another in post-WWII politics and Jewish life. in German-American Germany. Jewish relations raised 1983 AJC begins by the projected visit of exchanges and Chancellor Helmut Kohl transatlantic programs
Above: AJC Statement on German Reunification, May 17, 1990
Top: Konrad Adenauer American Rabbi Ernst Lorge Foundation exchange group leads High Holy Day services in from Germany visits the East Berlin, 1986 U.S., 1982
Right: Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989 THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC STUDY CONDUCTED IN A UNIFIED GERMANY ON ISSUES OF JEWISH CONCERN REVEALED SURPRISING AND DISTURBING FINDINGS...
AJC is the first global Jewish organization to advocate for 1990s German unification after the fall of the Berlin Wall, while May 7, 1990 A “Statement lectures at German military 1998 After decades on German Unity” passed academies, and conduct of engagement with also cautioning about the at AJC’s annual meeting study programs on Jewish Germany, AJC becomes need to fully integrate eastern declares that “democracy life and annual missions to the first American Germany into a united, and human dignity are the Israel for German officers, Jewish organization to winners; fear, repression run by AJC Berlin and demonstrate its enduring democratic Germany. AJC and control economies are AJC Jerusalem. commitment to German the losers.” As conditions Jewish relations by launches a special partnership 1994 AJC publishes for unification, the establishing a permanent German Attitudes Toward with the German military. statement lists education office in Berlin. Jews and Other Minorities, After decades of engagement about the Holocaust, showing that more than 1999 AJC releases a Jewish life and history; and activity with Germany, one in five Germans comprehensive settlement of Holocaust harbor negative attitudes list of more than 250 AJC opens an office in Berlin, survivor claims in East toward Jews and nearly German companies that the first American Jewish Germany; the end of a third believe Jews used slave or forced labor East German support for organization to demonstrate exert too much influence during World War II. terrorist groups attacking on world events. While its enduring commitment to Israel; a unified German 1999 AJC donates factual knowledge of the commitment to democracy medical supplies to German-Jewish relations by Holocaust is high, a third and Holocaust memory; Kosovo refugees, forced establishing a permanent of Germans show little and a pledge to remain to flee by Serbia, living interest in maintaining presence in Germany. in NATO and promote in camp facilities in its memory. It was European unification. Macedonia administered the second study AJC by the Johanniter, a commissioned from the 1992 AJC initiates with German Protestant relief Emnid Institute. the Friedrich Naumann organization. The supplies Foundation an annual 1994 AJC’s Executive are flown to Macedonia study program that Committee endorses by the Bundeswehr, in promotes democratic Germany’s candidacy a poignant symbol of thinking among young for a permanent seat German-AJC cooperation leaders of emerging on the United Nations to aid Muslim refugees. Central and East European Security Council. democracies. 1998 After an extensive 1994 AJC partners diplomatic and media with the Bundeswehr campaign AJC secures (Germany’s military) to Germany’s agreement host regular visits by Two East German border Top Right: Berlin Mayor Germans celebrating to compensate Holocaust Top: AJC Advertisement German military officers guards talk to a West German Eberhard Diepgen meets with New Year’s Eve sit atop the survivors living in in The New York Times, policeman through a hole in the AJC President Alfred Moses, Berlin Wall over graffiti reading to AJC headquarters East Europe. May 7, 1997 Berlin Wall, February 1990 February 4, 1992 Prosit 1990! (“Here’s to 1990!”). in New York, hold AJC On October 3, 1990, the formal reunification of Germany took effect “THIS SPECIAL TRUST IN A DEMOCRATIC GERMANY, EXPRESSED IN YOUR INVITATION TO ME TONIGHT, FILLS ME WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE.” —Chancellor Angela Merkel, AJC Centennial Gala, May 2006, Washington, D.C.
AJC Berlin expands its 2000s network of contacts and partners in Germany. It May 2000 German 2001 During a visit November 2004 AJC May 2006 German launches new initiatives President Johannes Rau, to Germany by AJC CEO David Harris receives Chancellor Angela Merkel on his first visit to the U.S. President Harold Tanner the Golden Cross, the addresses the AJC to promote democratic since his inauguration, and CEO David Harris, German military’s highest Centennial Gala Dinner education, and to addresses the AJC Global AJC Berlin initiates the honor, in Berlin. “The in Washington, D.C., memorialize the Holocaust. Forum in Washington, first in a series of Turkish- Bundeswehr sees the AJC together with President D.C., where he is joined Jewish roundtables, with as an important enrichment George W. Bush and UN AJC intensifies outreach by U.S. Secretary of State prominent representatives for our officers. We would Secretary General Kofi efforts to the German Turkish Madeleine Albright and from both communities not want to be without the Annan. “This special trust Swedish Prime Minister living in Germany. partnership,” says Defense in a democratic Germany, community. AJC exposes Göran Persson. “It is no Minister Peter Struck, expressed in your invitation one-sided reporting of 2002 AJC Berlin coincidence that I am who presents the award to me tonight—as the commissions the first Israel in the German print giving my first speech at a ceremony marking German Chancellor—fills me major study to evaluate in the United States as the 10th anniversary of with profound gratitude,” media and establishes daily newspaper coverage Federal President before the special relationship says Chancellor Merkel. an important forum for of Israel in Germany. The the American Jewish between AJC and the study, by the Duisberger March 2008 Charlotte educators addressing issues Committee. For over fifty German Armed Forces. Institute for Language and Knobloch, a Holocaust years, AJC has been among of antisemitism. Social Research (DISS), 2005 AJC persuades survivor and the then the avant-garde when “Mideast Coverage of the German officials to include president of the Central it comes to American- Second Intifada in the an educational pavilion Council of Jews in German relations,” says German Print Media, with with the Memorial to the Germany, becomes the President Rau. Particular Attention to the Murdered Jews of Europe, first recipient of the AJC 2001 German Federal Image of Israel,” concludes in the center of Berlin, Sidney Lefkowitz Award Foreign Minister Joschka that the image of Israel in which was inaugurated for International Jewish Fischer, addressing the German press is often in 2005. Without it, AJC Renewal, in recognition of AJC’s Global Forum negative, replete with argued, visitors would be her tireless efforts to revive in Washington, D.C., oversimplifications and left without historical detail Jewish life in Germany after praises the organization antisemitic stereotypes. about the Holocaust. the Holocaust. In addition, for its decades-long Michael Blumenthal, 2002 After a significant investment in Germany Founding Director of the rise in antisemitism in and in the transatlantic Berlin Jewish Museum, and German schools, AJC Berlin partnership. “The AJC a German-born survivor co-founds the Task Force: has been investing in the and former U.S. Secretary Education on Antisemitism. transatlantic partnership for of the Treasury, receives It has become the decades in an exemplary the AJC Ernst Cramer leading professional way. Indeed, the new Berlin Award for Outstanding forum in Germany for office has, for ever more Transatlantic Achievement. educational experts and Top Left: L-R: Lawrence Ramer, Above: AJC seminar Rabbi Menachem HaCohen, chief American Jews, become practitioners dealing with Associate Chair of AJC’s Board for police officers from rabbi of Romania, holds a Torah a bridge of understanding pedagogical approaches of Trustees, with German 15 European countries on scroll AJC donated to a new with the Germany of today,” President Johannes Rau at AJC hate crimes prevention community in Schwerin in eastern to antisemitism, Holocaust says Fischer. Global Forum, 2000 Germany, during the gala dinner education, and issues Top: AJC CEO David Harris at the Jewish Museum celebrating regarding Israel and receives the Golden Cross, AJC Berlin’s tenth anniversary, the Mideast. German military’s highest March 12, 2008. honor, November 2004 AJC CEO DAVID HARRIS LEADS AN AJC DELEGATION TO BERLIN TO BESTOW THE “LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS” AWARD, AJC’S HIGHEST DIPLOMATIC HONOR, UPON GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL.
AJC broadens its exchange programs with Germany for 2010s a younger generation of AJC leaders and young German 2010 AJC and Allianz school pupils, based on 2014–15 AJC Berlin of national identities along create the “Third AJC’s successful “Hands convenes “50/50—The Next with democratic values in professionals. AJC Berlin Generation Alliance” Across the Campus” in 50 Years: A Transatlantic Europe. The second part of launches a pathbreaking exchange program for the U.S. and Germany. The Dialogue Project,” a series the conference takes place model project to create young managers at Berlin/Brandenburg State of three conferences in in Paris that December. Allianz and AJC young Institute for Education and Berlin and Tel Aviv on the 2018 AJC Berlin marks memorial sites at five professionals from across Media, the German Society German-Israeli relationship, the 20th anniversary of the U.S. They explore for Democratic Education, marking 50 years of Holocaust mass graves in its opening. A delegation together the past and the and the RAA educational German-Israeli relations. of 50 AJC leaders from western Ukraine, an initiative present during a ten-day network help in compiling This initiative earned AJC across the U.S. participate later continued by the joint study trip to Berlin in the curriculum. Berlin a special award from in the three-day program, partnership with Germany the Israeli Embassy as the German government. The 2011 AJC CEO David Harris highlighted by an Close Up. leading NGO working on leads an AJC delegation to hour-long meeting with office undertakes numerous German-Israeli relations. initiatives to promote 2010 The AJC-Konrad Berlin to bestow the “Light Chancellor Merkel. Josef Adenauer Exchange Unto the Nations” award, 2015 AJC Berlin launches a Schuster, president of the positive perspectives on program celebrates 30th AJC’s highest diplomatic pathbreaking pilot project Central Council of Jews Israel, including numerous anniversary. The program honor, upon German to create memorial sites in Germany, becomes has produced hundreds of Chancellor Angela Merkel. at five Holocaust mass the second recipient of missions to Israel and the ambassadors for German- graves in western Ukraine, AJC’s Sidney Lefkowitz 2011 AJC partners with 50/50 conference series Jewish relations on both an initiative funded by the Award for International Germany Close Up, a sides of the Atlantic. German government. Jewish Renewal, and Cem examining German-Israel German government- It is the longest-running Ozdemir, a member of funded program, to bring 2016 AJC Berlin obtains relations. The office releases collaborative project parliament from the Green/ young American Jews to the signatures of 85 between a German Alliance 90 Party, receives pathbreaking studies that Germany. Eventually, more mayors of German cities political foundation and the AJC Ramer Award for illuminate complex problems than 200 AJC ACCESS for AJC’s “Mayors United an American Jewish Courage in the Defense of young professionals, AJC Against Antisemitism” of antisemitism within organization. “This Democracy. Goldman fellows, and campaign, a ten-point program was one of some Muslim circles, while student leaders participate action plan to combat 2020 AJC planned to many elements intended in the ongoing programs. antisemitism signed by mark 75 years since the continuing outreach to to further consolidate more than 500 American end of WWII and its unique various groups within German democracy, which 2012 AJC Berlin helps and European mayors. record of engagement with is founded on human defeat a parliamentary the Muslim community. Germany by convening rights and committed to resolution to outlaw April 2018 AJC Berlin its annual Global Forum protecting freedom,” says circumcision in Germany launches “3i: German and in Germany, the first time Chancellor Angela Merkel. by producing a landmark French Perspectives on in its 114-year history that report for decision- Immigration, Integration, 2010 20 years after it has held this signature makers and government and Identity,” an AJC AJC’s Light Unto the Nations Top: Announcement of “Hands German unification, AJC event in Europe. It was officials that exposes Europe initiative looking Award presented to Angela for Kids” curriculum’s expanision Berlin, in cooperation cancelled due to the fraudulent claims of at similarities and Merkel, Federal Chancellor of into all 400 elementary schools with the Berlin state the pandemic. Germany by AJC CEO David in Berlin, April 2013 circumcision opponents. differences between government, launches Harris, January 20, 2012 Chancellor Merkel cites France and Germany in Top Right: AJC Delegation with “Hands for Kids,” the the AJC study in dealing with immigrants, German President Frank-Walter first democracy-building expressing her opposition and examining ways to Steinmeier, center, April 2017 curriculum for elementary to the resolution. address the preservation “PERHAPS NO OTHER ISSUE BETTER CAPTURES AJC’S UNIQUELY FORWARD-LOOKING, RESULTS- BUILDING ORIENTED APPROACH THAN OUR POSTWAR ENGAGEMENT WITH GERMANY. THE PATHWAY HAS BEEN A NEW ERA ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT, BUT WE’VE PERSEVERED. THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.” —AJC CEO David Harris
“It is up to us whether we allow foundations, with the military, and ourselves to be prisoners of our with civil society reinforce the shared history or architects of our history,” commitment to German democracy, says AJC CEO David Harris. That one that will ensure a vibrant Jewish axiom has underscored the life in Germany, protection of all pathbreaking relationship between minorities, a close relationship with the leading global Jewish advocacy American Jews and with Israel, and organization and the Federal with the U.S., as a cornerstone of the Republic of Germany. transatlantic partnership.
We celebrate the profound Much has changed for the Jewish achievements, but their durability people, for Germany, and for the should not be taken for granted. relationship between them over the AJC, through its pioneering Berlin past 75 years, an ongoing process in office, is poised to continue to which AJC has been a major, foward- be the advocate for addressing looking actor. the new challenges, including the reemergence of neo-Nazi and other Convening the 2020 AJC Global hate groups, the task of successfully Forum in Berlin was intended to be absorbing immigrants, many of them a significant milestone, but, even Muslims, in German society, and with its regrettable but necessary rising antisemitism. cancellation, the essential work of building a new era in AJC-Germany The partnerships AJC has relations will continue. established with the highest levels of government, with political
As a tribute to the victims of a recent terrorist attack in Jerusalem, the Israeli flag was projected onto Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, January 9, 2017