Global Forum 2022

Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, reflects on the experiences and accomplishments working alongside AJC CEO David Harris over the last three-plus decades together. Isaacson begins his address by reading a letter from President Joe Biden congratulating David on this lasting impact.

Diplomats, government officials, and professionals from across Israeli society speak about AJC CEO David Harris’s storied career in service of the Jewish people and Israel. 

Over the tenure of AJC CEO David Harris, AJC has attracted a galaxy of national and world leaders, unparalleled by any other comparable organization in the world.

Leaders from across the world, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-99, 2009-2021), Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (2017-19, 2020-21), Soviet Refusenik leader Natan Sharansky, and Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organization of American States pay tribute to AJC CEO David Harris for his three decades-plus as CEO of AJC.

A tireless visionary and a lifelong advocate for the State of Israel and the Jewish people, AJC CEO David Harris has built AJC into the leading global Jewish advocacy organization it is today.

In his special video address to AJC Global Forum 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken praises AJC's commitment to fighting antisemitism and supporting democracy, standing up for the Jewish people and Israel, and its solidarity and support for Ukraine.  

From Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine to China's rising political, diplomatic, and military muscle and Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, foreign policy experts examined the threats to the postwar liberal international order raging around us.

Since 2000, antisemitism has been dramatically on the rise, first in Europe, then in the United States. U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt and European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life Katharina von Schnurbein, share their views from unique vantage points as part of The Max Fisher Annual Program.

At AJC Gobal Forum 2022, AJC Project Interchange Alumni Shaikh Abdulla Alkhalifa, and Lilia Rizk shared their experiences as some of the first Arab participants on AJC's Project Interchange trips to Israel.

In a special video message to AJC Global Forum 2022, Israel’s Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid described the current global struggle between good and evil, with terrorism and violence on one side and freedom and democracy on the other.

At AJC Global Forum 2022, day two opening plenary began with an introduction from Abby Elbaum, AJC National Leadership Council Diplomats society, followed by a special address from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

At AJC Gobal Forum 2022, United Nations Ambassadors from Israel, Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates took to the stage for a historic conversation showcasing the widening circle of peace in the Middle East nearly two years after the Abraham Accords.

At AJC Global Forum 2022, Lisa Pruzan, a member of AJC’s National Board of Governors and AJC’s Women’s Leadership Board, presented the AJC Moral Courage Award to Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist who has dedicated her life to exposing the abuses of the Iranian regime, risking her life in the process to shed light on those human rights abuses and advocate for the Iranian women who are fighting bravely for a better future.

Masih Alinejad, one of the most outspoken opponents of the Islamic regime in Tehran, was honored today by American Jewish Committee (AJC) with the global advocacy organization’s Moral Courage Award. AJC honored Alinejad for her “moral, intellectual, and physical courage, extraordinary bravery, and commitment to the protection of human rights.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum today, praised the leading global Jewish advocacy organization’s leadership on key American foreign policy issues. AJC’s missions “align with many of the United States top foreign policy priorities,” he said. “I’d like to thank AJC for its enduring partnership, for its ongoing work, and for all I know that we’ll continue to do together” to support Ukraine, to combat antisemitism worldwide, support Israel’s security, prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and expand Arab-Israeli normalization and peace, Blinken remarked in a video address from the State Department.

In a very special report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed AJC Global Forum 2022 on the ongoing Russian war of aggression, including updates from the frontlines, as well as an appeal to the international community and organizations such as AJC to redouble efforts and stand together with Ukrainians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to AJC Global Forum 2022 on Sunday for additional help as Russian forces continue to occupy parts of the country and commit mass murder.

As Russia invaded Ukraine in February, AJC mobilized its global advocacy network to isolate Russia, increase sanctions, crack down on Russian war crimes and provide Ukraine with needed support, including raising millions in humanitarian relief, sponsoring two flights for Ukrainians Jews to make Aliyah to Israel and a visit by AJC CEO David Harris to the Poland-Ukraine border.

The AJC Global Forum 2022 opening plenary begins with greetings by AJC President Harriet P. Schleifer, followed followed by remarks from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and a special video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul greets attendees to AJC Global Forum 2022, announcing that she has issued a proclamation about the importance of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's Working Definition of Antisemitism and how it is vital to the state's efforts to combat hatred.