"'Tolerance' is not a wonderful word, but I will settle for it because we've learned that the human being is capable of evil," said Abe Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Foxman will deliver a lecture, presented by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University, on Wednesday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Room of Fairfield University's Barone Campus Center. The presentation, "American Attitudes Towards Jews in America," is this year's Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Lecture in Judaic Studies.

Foxman was born in Poland in 1940. His family soon escaped to Vilnius, Lithuania, but his parents were captured by the Nazis shortly after and sent to a ghetto. Foxman was raised Catholic by his nanny until the end of the war. His parents survived and introduced him to the Jewish faith at a young age, resulting in confusion over his religious identity. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1950. He went on to graduate from City College of City University of New York and New York University Law School.

Foxman joined ADL in 1965 and was promoted to national director in 1987. Through the years he has never ceased working to combat anti-Semitism and secure fair and equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of their race, faith or ethnic background.

During Foxman's tenure, ADL arranged the First International Gathering of Children Hidden During World War II, reuniting 1,600 Jewish children, who, like Foxman, were hidden and disguised as Christians during the war. Since then, ADL has worked to establish the Hidden Child Foundation.

"I am convinced that without ADL, the situation in our world would be much worse," said Foxman. "The Talmud (the written interpretation of Jewish law) says that if you save one life, you save the world. I think we've saved lives."

Foxman is the author of "Never Again? The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism," published in 2003.

"Abe Foxman's dedication and his work with ADL have been true contributions to humanity and we are indebted to the Adolf and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation for enabling us to bring him to Fairfield University," said Ellen Umansky, Ph.D., the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies at Fairfield University and director of the Bennett Center.

Admission is complimentary for this event, but registration is required and IDs will be checked at the door. To register, please contact Judaic Studies at Fairfield University at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2066.

Posted On: 11-09-2005 10:11 AM

Volume: 38 Number: 97