Available in both English and Spanish versions on YouTube.
AJC’s channel can be accessed here.
2009 AJC Annual Meeting
The annual AJC gala in Washington D.C. featured speeches by Congressman John Lewis, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Attorney General Eric Holder.
On April 22, AJC in Los Angeles held their 64th Annual Meeting. The keynote speaker was Dr. Christian Stocks Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany who emphasized his country’s special responsibility to never forget the crimes of the Holocaust and the continued need to advance German-Jewish relations in cooperation with organizations such as AJC. Dr. Stocks paid his profound respects to the Holocaust survivors and their families, and to the victims who perished and lauded the work of the AJC, a Jewish advocacy and diplomacy organization which seeks to achieve German-Jewish understanding and reconciliation.
Chapter Chairman, Sherry A. Weinman presented Dr. Stocks with the prestigious C.I. Neumann Lifetime Achievement Award that recognizes individuals in our community who possess strong character and demonstrate moral and ethical standards in the face of adversity. Also honored was Marcia Burnam for her fifty years of leadership, dedication and friendship.
More than 225 members of AJC attended along with a diverse group of diplomats, interfaith and ethnic leaders. Rev. Msgr. Royale Vadakin, Moderator of the Curia/Vicar General, Archdiocese of Los Angeles offered the invocation in tribute to Marcia Burnam’s half century of work in advancement of interreligious understanding. Bruce M. Ramer, AJC’s Past National President, presented Ms. Burnam with an award of appreciation.
2nd Annual African-American/Jewish Passover Seder
AJC and The Center for Religious Inquiry of Wilshire Boulevard Temple hosted the second annual African American/Jewish Passover Seder on April 14. More than 200 people participated in the annual celebration from slavery and bondage led by Wilshire Boulevard Temple Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs, Randy Brown and Rev. Brenda Lamothe of Brookins AME. Cantor Arianne Brown and the Brookins AME Church choir added lively music.
Cantor Arianne Brown and children reciting the four questions.
Participants reading the Haggadah during the African America/Jewish Passover Seder at Wilshire Blvd. Temple.
ACCESS/German Consulate General event at LACMA
On April 4th 2009 ACCESS and the Consulate General of Germany organized an evening at LACMA to view the exhibition Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Cultures. More than 30 participants included diplomats and interns working at the German Consulate General, interns and guests of Villa Aurora, the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, and ACCESS members. We were honored to have LACMA's Curatorial Assistant Dorothea Schoene as our docent, who eloquently and engagingly walked us through the Cold War period in the life and art of the society from West and East Germany.
Since ACCESS' beginnings in Los Angeles our group has been building on the relationship that has existed between AJC and the German Consulate General. ACCESS members have traveled to Berlin in 2006 and have since then engaged with the Consulate on many occasions.
We thank Deputy Consul General Dietmar Bock and Vice Consul Carolin Schwarz for their help and involvement in planning of this event.
l to r: Adam Weiss, Chair of ACCESS/LA, Deputy Consul General Deitmar Bock, Gosia Szymanska,
AJC's International Relations Liaison, and Dorothea Schoene, Curatorial Assistant at LACMA
Israeli Commentator Yossi Klein Halevi visits Los Angeles
Distinguished Israeli analyst Yossi Klein Halevi visited AJC Los Angeles on March 31, 2009. Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem addressed the Israel Affairs Committee and Intergroup Partners about the new Israeli government and the situation in the Middle East. Afterwards, Klein Halevi, a contributing editor and Israel correspondent for The New Republic addressed National Leadership Council members at the home of Bonnie Corwin Fuller.
Klein Halevi authored an Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, "Bibi and Barack Can Unite on Iran-new government is an 'obstacle' only to unrealistic goals." Halevi commentates on the new Israeli government's foreign policy proclaiming, "Instead of continuing to pursue the unattainable, the American-Israeli approach should focus on creating a civil society in the West Bank that is an essential precondition for the ventual creation of a Palestinian State. READ ENTIRE OP-ED.
AJC Chapter President Fredrick Levin, Naty Saidoff, Yossi Klein Halevi, Debbie Saidoff and AJC's Regional Director Seth Brysk
Consul General of Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov addresses
AJC Board of Directors
On March 18th 2009 AJC’s Board of Directors was honored to host Consul General Elin Suleymanov of Azerbaijan at its meeting. During his enlightening presentation Consul General Suleymanov discussed his country’s geo-political situation in the light of the policies of the United States and Europe. His presentation underscored Azerbaijan’s commitment to maintaining the friendship between Azerbaijan and the State of Israel, as well as with the United States. Consul General offered praise for AJC and its steadfast stance for issues of importance to democratic and free world.
Consul General Elin Suleymanov addresses Board of Directors
Live video briefing with Dr. Eran Lerman
On Thursday, February 5, 2009 AJC hosted a live video briefing from Jerusalem featuring Dr. Eran Lerman, Director of AJC's Israel/Middle East office. The breakfast meeting, generously underwritten by Dr. Marlene Bane, was attended by over 40 people, including consular representatives from 10 foreign countries.
Dr. Lerman provided his analysis of the recent war in Gaza and possible peace resolutions. He discussed Israel’s military intelligence and shared his views regarding Iran’s efforts to obtain nuclear power. Dr. Lerman also offered his remarks on the then-upcoming elections to the Knesset, and discussed possible scenarios in terms of national unity government make-up and ramifications for the peace process. To read Dr. Lerman’s most recent Israel briefing, click here.
Honey Kessler-Amado, Co-chair of Israel Affairs Committee welcomes the guests.
Dr. Eran Lerman addresses the AJC audience
Unidos For Israel
Shofar blowers support Israel
On Wednesday, January 14, 2009 American Jewish Committee and its Latino partners, Latin University of Theology, Zion Multimedia and Hispanic Ministerial Alliance hosted a prayer vigil for Israel at Llamada Final Ministries in Downey, California. Over 1,200 attendees watched a live security briefing in Spanish from Israel by renown scholar Moshe Shaier who provide a balanced understanding of the war in Gaza. In addition, Silvio Nunez from the Israeli Consulate delivered greetings to the impassioned audience who were led in song by Cantor Ron Li-Paz chanting, “Am Yisrael Chai”.
CAIFC delegation visits Los Angeles
On January 12th 2009 AJC met with a delegation from the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC). CAIFC is an organization consisting of senior Chinese leaders which fosters relationships with foreign NGOs.
The delegation was led by Hon. Xu Jialu, former Vice-Chairman of the People's National Congress. Hon. Xu is considered one of the national leaders of China and a Chinese scholar of Jewish history. Other members of the delegation included Mr. Shen Weiping, CAIFC Vice President, Mr. Song Enlei, CAIFC Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Martin Wu Zhang, CAIFC Executive Counselor. The topics of conversation ranged from common cultural interests and traditions to energy security issues.
Hon. Xu Jialu with Cliff and Marcie Goldstein, dinner hosts
L to R: Gosia Szymanska, Marcie Goldstein, Neil Sandberg, Barry Sanders, Enly Sung, Seth Brysk, Xu Jialu, Fredrick Levin, Cliff Goldstein, Shen Weiping, Mike Liwen Yue
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is a Jewish advocacy and diplomacy organization. Established in 1906, it is the oldest human relations organization in the United States. AJC combats bigotry and extremism by advancing democracy, pluralism and mutual understanding. AJC is widely recognized as a leader in interreligious and urban affairs, as well as diplomatic engagement with elected officials, ambassadors, ministers and heads of state. AJC LA was founded in 1945 and has become the preeminent voice of the Jewish community.
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