LAMAMIMET

Abraham Henry Foxman was born on May 1, 1940, in Baranovichi, then part of Poland and now Belarus. He survived the Holocaust after being hidden by a Catholic nanny and later immigrated with his family to the United States in 1950. He earned a law degree from New York University and began a career dedicated to civil rights and Jewish advocacy.

Foxman joined the Anti-Defamation League in 1965 as a legal assistant and rose through its ranks, becoming head of its Middle Eastern and international affairs divisions. In 1987 he was appointed national director, a position he held for 28 years. Under his leadership the ADL expanded its research on extremist groups, launched education programs, and became a prominent voice confronting antisemitism worldwide, advising presidents, diplomats, CEOs, and cultural figures.

He was known for confronting hate speech, advocating for immigrant and LGBTQ rights, and pressing world leaders to address anti‑Jewish incidents. While praised for strengthening the ADL, he also faced criticism for perceived overreactions to slights against Jews and for the organization’s focus on non‑Jewish issues.

Foxman retired in 2015, later serving as vice‑chair of the Museum of Jewish Heritage board. He died in Manhattan on May 10, 2026, at the age of 86.