Press Releases and Statements

In response to the recent ethnic unrest affecting the Bnei Menashe community in Manipur, India, American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Asia Pacific Institute (API) has announced a donation of $15,000 through AJC's Heilbrunn Humanitarian Relief Fund.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today met with senior ministers in the Indian government as part of AJC’s efforts to strengthen ties between the Jewish community and one of the world’s most populous nations. Deutch led a delegation from AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute (API) that met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is supporting Skala, an NGO in Indonesia, in its ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian relief to people in the Cianjur region of the country, where a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck in November. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit Indonesia since 2018. “Consistent with our Jewish values to assist those in need, we are pleased to join with Skala in delivering much-needed humanitarian relief during this continuing crisis,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute. “Recovery is a long-term process andchildren especially are in need of attention to ensure their education, as well as trauma counseling, continue to help normalize their lives as much as possible.”

An American Jewish Committee (AJC) leadership mission completed a week of consultations and public programs in Indonesia, a country with which the leading global Jewish advocacy organization has been engaged for two decades. The 17-member delegation included AJC CEO David Harris and professional and lay leadership of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute (API) and Interreligious Affairs Department. “AJC knows the central importance of Indonesia to the Asia Pacific region and the Muslim world,” said API Director Shira Loewenberg. “We found a growing circle of friends and partners who want to engage with Jews along religious, political, cultural, and human dimensions.

American Jewish Committee is shocked and deeply saddened by the assassination of Abe Shinzo. We join Japan in mourning his senseless death. The world has lost one of its most distinguished statesmen.

Hillel chapters in Kharkiv and Indiana University received the AJC Sharon Greene Award at AJC Global Forum.

An American Jewish Committee (AJC) delegation has returned from Japan, where they met with top government leaders and diplomats to reinforce strong ties among Japan and the U.S., Israel, and the American Jewish community.

“Our longstanding friendship with the Philippines, and our Jewish values to assist those in need, summon us to respond with empathy and generosity. We are pleased to join with IsraAID, as we have done in previous crises in the Philippines, in delivering urgent humanitarian assistance,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute. AJC supported IsraAID’s relief efforts in the Philippines after Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, Typhoon Hagupit in 2014, and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

An additional American Jewish Committee (AJC) donation to IsraAID will bring vital Israeli medical supplies to India to deal with the rapid spread of the coronavirus. “The images from India are heartbreaking, and compel us, as longtime friends of India, to do whatever we can to provide relief to the millions of Indians suffering from this deadly COVID-19 surge,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, is partnering with IsraAID, the Israeli humanitarian relief organization, to provide urgent coronavirus relief in India.

“With IsraAID on the ground in Wuhan, we are able to provide relief supplies, mainly protective gear for medical teams dealing with the coronavirus,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute.

“Steadfast defense of democratic values and unwavering commitment to friendship with the United States and Israel are hallmarks of your leadership, and models for other nations to emulate,” said AJC CEO David Harris, who presented the award to the Prime Minister in Tokyo. “Japan is a democratic powerhouse in Asia, an essential ally and partner of the United States, a close friend of Israel, and an anchor of stability in a vital part of the world.”

U.S. government and civil society friends of Sri Lanka gathered at the U.S. Capitol to express sorrow and solidarity with the people of the island nation after the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings of churches and hotels that claimed more than 250 lives and wounded hundreds more.

An AJC delegation, led by AJC CEO David Harris, has concluded a visit to South Korea. It was the sixth visit to Seoul by the leading global Jewish advocacy group in the past five years alone.

AJC has partnered with the New Zealand Jewish Council to provide financial support to the Muslim community devastated by racist, terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, the worst mass killing in New Zealand history.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is appalled by the murderous assaults on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs honored American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris with its prestigious Foreign Minister Commendation, one of Japan's highest honors presented to foreign citizens.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) has welcomed the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board’s decision to strip Malaysia of the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, due to the country’s refusal to admit Israeli athletes.

Thousands of people from over 75 countries have joined the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in calling on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to condemn Malaysia’s ban on Israeli athletes and relocate the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, set to take place in Kuching, to a country willing to welcome athletes of all nationalities.

“The U.S.-Chinese relationship is arguably the single most important bilateral relationship in the world,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute, who led the 15-member group.