American Jewish Committee Mourns the Horrific Murder of Samantha Woll

American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns the horrific murder of Samantha “Sam” Woll, a longtime leader in the Detroit Jewish community, who was found stabbed to death earlier today outside her home. At the time of her death, Sam was a board member of Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)/AJC Detroit. In addition to being President of Detroit’s Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, she was a longtime AJC lay leader who served as a member of AJC’s Global ACCESS Steering Committee from 2016-2018 and as co-chair of AJC’s ACCESS Detroit Young Leadership Program. At this time of heightened tensions for the Jewish community around the world, it is important that all law enforcement agencies involved ensure a thorough investigation into this heinous crime and quickly apprehend and bring to justice the murderer.

“We are absolutely heartbroken over the murder of Sam Woll, a thoughtful and beloved leader, neighbor, and member of the JCRC/AJC family. We are grieving for her family and with our community. She will forever be remembered as a ray of sunlight to all who knew her. She was a longtime leader in AJC’s Global ACCESS and ACCESS Detroit Young Leadership Programs and a passionate Muslim-Jewish bridge builder. We will cherish her memory. May it forever be a blessing,” said Asher Lopatin, Director of JCRC/AJC Detroit.

“I am devastated by the news of Sam’s murder. Sam personified the sacred Jewish duty of Tikkun Olam, to repair the world. She was only 40 years old, and yet as a Jewish leader she had already made a profound impact in her community as president of her synagogue and as a beloved AJC lay leader,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “We will do all we can to support the Detroit Jewish community and the global Jewish community during this time of mourning.”

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

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