TheAuschwitz JewishCenter Foundation
Honors
McDermott Will&Schulte
Firm Recognized For Sustained Pro Bono Leadership, Strategic Legal Counsel & Investment In Next Generation Of Black, Jewish Leaders
The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) presented its Institutional Leadership Award to McDermott Will & Schulte, recognizing the firm’s sustained pro bono service, strategic partnership and support for the inaugural RISE Leadership Fellowship. Through its legal counsel and commitment to public service, the firm has helped advance AJCF’s mission to combat antisemitism, preserve Holocaust memory and prepare the next generation of civic leaders. Behind many of AJCF’s educational and
“McDermott Will & Schulte didn’t just give us legal counsel. They gave us conviction. They understood immediately that the RISE Fellowship isn’t about responding to hatred, it’s about building the leaders who will stop it before
Andrew B. Kratenstein flanked by AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson (L) and AJCF Director General Jack Simony (R)
CyberwellReports OnTheWeaponization Of “SonOfAJew”: As A Slur In Arabic- Language
Online Discourse
CyberWell, a NonProfit and trusted partner of Meta (Facebook, Instagram and Threads), TikTok and YouTube working to combat online antisemitism, alerted platforms on the use of the phrase “son of a Jew” as a recurring antisemitic slur across Arabic-language social media platforms, where it is used to negatively frame Jewish identity and weaponize its meaning as a marker of betrayal, corruption, cowardice and moral inferiority.
CyberWell’s research examines how the term “Jew” and phrase “son of a Jew” function within Arabic online discourse not as neutral terms but as derogatory expressions embedded in a broader pattern of dehumanization. The slur is often directed towards non-Jews, particularly political opponents, public figures and individuals perceived as supporting Jews or Israel to imply that these individuals exhibit inherently “Jewish” traits, such as greed or corruption. By transforming “Jew” into a synonym for something contemptible, the rhetoric reinforces antisemitic stereotypes while normalizing hostility toward both Jews and their allies. A significant percent of the analyzed posts directly called for violence.
Enforcement varied significantly across platforms. TikTok recorded the highest removal rate at 80 percent, broadly consistent with its 88.8 percent removal rate for antisemitic content documented in CyberWell’s 2025 Annual Report. Meta demonstrated a 59 percent removal rate within the dataset and removed 100 percent of content containing explicit violent rhetoric. X showed the largest enforcement gap, with a 0 percent removal rate compared to 29.5 percent in CyberWell’s prior reporting and only 15 percent of posts receiving visibility restrictions.
The use of Jewish identity as an insult in Arabic discourse long predates social media, reflecting entrenched antisemitic stereotypes that portray Jews as deceitful, corrupt, or inherently suspect. As social media use expanded across the Arab-speaking world and antisemitic rhetoric became more visible online, these forms of identity-based abuse increasingly appeared on digital platforms. CyberWell identified documented online examples dating back to 2014 in which Jewish identity was explicitly weaponized as a form of verbal abuse.
A related but distinct trend concerns the phrase “son of a Jew.” The phrase gained significant visibility during the 2014 Gaza war when Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida used it as an insult in a public statement. Following this high-profile use, the phrase spread widely in online discourse and was subsequently adopted beyond its original context as a recurring form of antisemitic abuse. Continued presence of this content online more than a decade later demonstrates that the phrase has persisted beyond a single moment and remains an enduring feature of online antisemitic Arabic discourse.
CyberWell identified three dominant areas of use of the phrase, “son of a Jew.” The first involved direct insults in which “son of a Jew” was used to portray Jewish identity as inherently shameful or inferior. In some cases, the phrase appeared alongside hostile imagery and content targeting Jewish individuals and symbols. The second involved the repetition of the slogan attrib-
Antisemitism has become normalized within everyday language and digital culture.
cal rivals or people perceived as supporting Jews, the message is the same: being associated with Jews is something shameful, corrupt or worthy of contempt. That is how antisemitism becomes normalized within everyday language and digital culture.”
“Identity-based slurs become more difficult to address when they are embedded within political discourse, social movements and online slang. As such language becomes normalized, it spreads more widely while avoiding detection by moderation systems that focus primarily on explicit hate speech,” she added.
The platform alerts included recommendations addressing these trends and providing stronger solutions for Arabiclanguage moderation, greater investment in regional linguistic expertise and deeper partnerships between technology platforms and organizations specializing in online hate.
ing the spread of antisemitism online, operating globally. Its AItechnologies monitor social media in English and Arabic for posts that promulgate antisemitism, Holocaust denial and promote violence against Jews and their allies based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Its analysts review and report this content to platform moderators while indexing all verified posts in the first-ever open database of antisemitic social media posts, cataloging it openly for transparency at app.cyberwell.org. Through partnerships, education and real-time alerts, CyberWell partners with social media platforms and digital service companies to help them enforce their policies more effectively, promoting proactive steps against online Jew-hate. For more information, visit: https:// cyberwell.org/.
[L] Attendees heard directly from ZAKA leaders about Jewish laws and customs that govern the treatment of the deceased.
[R] The session aimed to equip law enforcement agencies with practical tools to better understand the traditions of Jewish victims of fatalities, violent crimes, disasters and mass casualty incidents in their jurisdictions.
ZAKASearch&RescueContinuesU.S.LawEnforcementTrainingOnRespect ForTheDeceased,
LaunchesFirstResponderMentalHealthPartnership
Hundreds of sheriffs, deputies and public safety leaders representing all 50 states gathered at the National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference for a specialized program hosted by ZAKA Search & Rescue, Israel’s internationally recognized volunteer emergency response and disaster victim recovery organization. The session focused on Jewish customs and traditions surrounding Kavod HaMeit, the obligation to honor the dignity of the deceased, and marked the latest chapter in the growing partnership between ZAKA Search & Rescue and the National Sheriffs’ Association.
The program was led by ZAKA North Executive Director Moshe Rozenberg, ZAKA Search & Rescue Commander Simcha Greiniman and ZAKA Search & Rescue Chief Medical Psychologist and Head of Resilience Dr. Vered Atzmon Meshulam.
Attendees heard directly from ZAKA leaders about Jewish laws and customs that govern the treatment of the deceased, including the religious imperative for rapid burial, respectful handling of human remains and close coordination with Jewish communities during times of crisis. The session aimed to equip law enforcement agencies with practical tools to better understand the traditions of Jewish victims of fatalities, violent crimes, disasters and mass casualty incidents in their jurisdictions.
“The relationship between ZAKA, the National Sheriffs’ Association and each of the departments that we engage with are extraordinarily important both for the broader Jewish community,” said ZAKA North Executive Director Moshe Rozenberg. “Every sheriff who better understands Jewish traditions surrounding death and burial is better equipped to serve Jewish families during their most difficult moments. At the same time, these partnerships create trusted relationships with departments across the United States, ensuring that when communities
need assistance, expertise or guidance, ZAKA Search & Rescue can help. Whether that support comes over the phone, through training or in person, our goal is to strengthen preparedness, dignity and service for everyone involved.”
In addition to the program, ZAKA Search & Rescue and the National Sheriffs’ Association began a working partnership focused on first responder mental health and resilience. The initiative will bring together public safety professionals from the United States and Israel to share best practices, learn from one another’s experiences and develop training frameworks to better support responders facing trauma, burnout and the cumulative impact of repeated exposure to critical incidents.
“Sheriffs and public safety leaders face many of the same challenges our responders face in Israel,” said Chief Medical Psychologist and Head of Resilience Dr. Vered Atzmon Meshulam. “Whether responding to violent crime, natural disasters, terror attacks or mass casualty incidents, the responsibility extends far beyond the scene itself. Through this partnership, we are not only sharing Jewish customs surrounding dignity for the deceased, but also learning from one another and working together to strengthen responder resilience, preparedness and community trust.”
The program provided sheriffs with practical knowledge about Jewish customs surrounding death, including the importance of timely burial, coordination with clergy and faith leaders, the prohibition on unnecessary autopsies in many circumstances and methods for working effectively with Jewish families and communities during periods of grief.
The growing relationship between ZAKA Search & Rescue Executive and the National Sheriffs’ Association has already expanded beyond educational programming into operational collaboration, emergency preparedness and responder wellness ini-
tiatives. Leaders from both organizations emphasized that the exchange of knowledge benefits communities on both sides of the Atlantic. “We are deeply grateful for the special relationship we have built with the National Sheriffs’ Association and for the partnerships ZAKA North has developed with sheriffs and their departments across the United States,” said ZAKA Search & Rescue CEO Dubi Weissenstern. “These relationships are far more than professional connections. They are partnerships rooted in a shared commitment to serving families during their most difficult moments with dignity, compassion and respect. Together with our friends and supporters across the United States, they help empower the sacred work performed by ZAKA’s volunteers 24 hours a day, seven days a week across North America, Israel and around the world. We are grateful to the National Sheriffs’ Association, to ZAKA North and to every volunteer, supporter and partner who makes this work possible.”
For many attendees, the session represented more than a cultural competency program. It served as an opportunity to exchange ideas with Israeli emergency response leaders who have extensive experience responding to mass casualty incidents, disasters and acts of terrorism while preserving dignity for victims and supporting families through unimaginable loss.
Founded to honor the dead in accordance with religious tradition, ZAKA has evolved into a full-scale emergency response network, with over 4,000 trained volunteers operating 24/7 across Israel to honor the dead, aid the living and bring dignity in times of devastation. Today, it operates a wide range of units –from rapid medical response and search and rescue to water recovery to culturally sensitive burial teams serving Israel’s Jewish, Bedouin, Arab and Druze communities to international units deploying at a moment’s notice to crises across the globe. For more information, visit: https://zakaworld.org/.
Over20,000NYCPublicSchoolStudentsReceiveAnti-Hate TrainingThroughAJCF’s“DecodeHate”Program
www.ajcfus.org
The “Decode Hate” program gives middle and high school students the tools to recognize, navigate and confront antisemitism and all forms of hate, online and in their communities.
As online harassment and digital radicalization increasingly shape how young people experience hate, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF), in partnership with the New York City Council, reached more than 20,000 New York City public school students this academic year through its “Decode Hate” program, a program that gives middle and high school students the tools to recognize, navigate and confront antisemitism and all forms of hate, online and in their communities.
Since September, dozens of specially trained facilitators have worked directly with teachers and visited classrooms across New York City, building students’ online critical thinking skills. The program includes advance and follow-up modules led by teachers, paired with workshops led by AJCF facilitators, teaches students to identify online harassment, understand, recognize and avoid manipulation and misinformation, and understand their individual social responsibility in practicing responsible online citizenship. In the classroom workshops, students participate in discussion-based activities, scenario exercises and sessions that build practical skills for navigating digital spaces, including how to identify manipulation tactics, report harassment, and intervene when they see peers targeted online. Students completed the pro-
gram with greater awareness of online harassment and peer bias, a deeper understanding of bigotry and antisemitism, and practical strategies to respond when they encounter hate, on and offline. AJCF’s facilitators report that students are leaving the classroom prepared to speak up rather than stay silent.
“This is how you defeat hate, not with slogans, but by giving every student the digital literacy and judgment to recognize manipulation the moment they encounter it online,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Director General Jack Simony. “We’re preparing a generation that recognizes hate and refuses to stay silent.”
“‘Decode Hate’ is more than a program, it’s a movement to ensure that our young people are equipped to navigate the digital world they actually live in,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Chairman Simon Bergson. “By teaching students to think critically online as clearly as they would in person, we are building a generation committed to justice, empathy and moral courage.”
“Seeing tens of thousands of students build these skills and then carry that awareness directly into their online communities is inspiring,” added Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Executive Vice President Michael Cohen. “Education becomes powerful when it gives students the tools to act against hate wherever they encounter it, including in the spaces where they spend most of their time.”
Critically, students also learn at a young age about the permanence and impact of their own digital footprint and how their
personal engagement in online hate can have long-lasting consequences to their futures.
The initiative reflects AJCF’s broader commitment to ensuring that New York City’s public schools are not only safe spaces but places where students build the digital judgment to navigate everyday life online. The program’s impact has already led to meaningful conversations with school districts and legislators interested in bringing the model to communities beyond New York City.
The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF), headquartered in New York City, is dedicated to harnessing the lessons of the Holocaust to combat antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry while building a better future. In addition to its educational and leadership programs in New York, including Decode Hate, developed in partnership with the New York City Council and New York City Public Schools, as well as the American Service Academies Program and the RISE Leadership Program, AJCF maintains the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oswiecim, Poland, including the city’s last remaining synagogue, a museum and educational center, and other preserved Jewish properties that serve as living reminders of a once-thriving Jewish community. Through its work with students, educators, civic leaders, clergy and law enforcement, AJCF equips current and future leaders with the tools to recognize and confront antisemitism, extremism, and hate in all its forms.
ACallForJustice InUnsolvedKissena ParkMurder
Leading Queens elected officials, Itzkowitz family members and Jewish community leaders came together Thursday morning at the entrance to Kissena Park, demanding answers in the unsolved murder of Albert “Avrumie” Itzkowitz, a beloved Queens resident, volunteer EMT, Kosher supervisor and grandfather who was shot and killed in broad daylight on May 18th while sitting near Kissena Lake.
More than five weeks after the killing, no arrests have been made. Investigators continue to seek leads from the public, noting that more than 200 people were present in the park at the time of the shooting.
Ahead of the press conference, Crime Stoppers announced an increased reward of $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. At the gathering, the Itzkowitz family announced they will match that reward, bringing the total to $20,000.
Speakers included State Senator John Liu, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, Assemblymember David Weprin, Council Member Sandra Ung, community leaders and members of the Itzkowitz family.
Throughout the press conference, speakers emphasized growing concern within the community that the killing may have been motivated by antisemitism, noting that Itzkowitz was a visibly Orthodox Jewish man attacked in a public park in a period of
rising antisemitic incidents across New York City.
Family members described Itzkowitz as a deeply faithful, gentle man who spent his life in service of others.
“Five weeks ago, my father was sitting in Kissena Park during a routine break, a place he knew and trusted and he was murdered in broad daylight. He was visibly Jewish, he was alone and he was killed in a public space where he should have been safe,” said Itzkowitz’s daughter, Leah Lifshitz. “In a city where antisemitic incidents are rising, we cannot ignore the context of what happened here. Whether or not it is ultimately confirmed, this is a question that must be fully and seriously investigated from every angle. My father deserved safety, and our community deserves honesty and urgency.”
“We are grateful to Assemblymember Nily Rozic for hosting today’s press conference, and to State Senator John Liu,
Assemblymember David Weprin and Council Member Sandra Ung for standing with our family and this community,” said Tzvi Yonie Itzkowitz, Itzkowitz’s youngest son. “We are also thankful to the NYPD, the Queens District Attorney’s Office and Crime Stoppers for their continued work. Crime Stoppers has increased its reward to $10,000, and our family is matching that amount, bringing the total reward to $20,000. We are asking anyone who was in Kissena Park on May 18th. if you saw something, no matter how small it may seem, please come forward.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at: 1 (800) 577-TIPS. Call: 1 (800) 577-8477. Or submit tips online at: https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org
Family gathering from 2024
ZOASupportedAndPraises HouseCommitteePassing3Bills OnJewHatredInEducation
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
Jew-hatred in our schools and universities has reached the crisis stage. ZOA commends the House Committee on Education and Workforce for passing three bipartisan bills yesterday. ZOA was directly involved in getting support for these bills, and we salute the co-sponsors from both parties which made passage possible. We strongly urge all House Members from both parties to vote for final passage of all three bills.
The No Antisemitism in Education Act, (H. R. 8476) sponsored by Representative Randy Fine (R-FL) was directly endorsed by ZOA and we were active in securing co-sponsors before the hearing. The bill requires all recipients of federal funds to treat discrimination “motivated by antisemitism in an identical manner to how such school[s] or institution[s] treat discrimination motivated by race.” It explicitly spells out the examples from the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Two Democrats joined all the GOP members of the committee to pass this bill.
The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act (H.R. 4795) is sponsored by Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) would require universities to certify they are not complying with BDS efforts against Israel every year. ZOA has been supportive of this effort since it was introduced last year. It was passed with five Democratic votes as well as all the votes of all the Republicans who were present.
The Student Protection and University Accountability Act (H.R. 9203) is sponsored by Representatives Elise Stefanik (RNY) and Laura Gillen (D-NY). It requires universities to treat accusations of antisemitism in a rigorous way and notably prevents the Department of Education from dismissing complaints before they have been fully investigated. ZOA, which pioneered the submission of many of these complaints, has experienced unacceptable wait times and baseless dismissals of its complaints at times. Although the bill had a Democratic original co-sponsor, only the Republicans in the committee voted to pass this bill.
ZOA Director of Government Relations Dan Pollak said:
“We are gratified by the bipartisan way in which two of these bills were passed and pleased with the progress towards protec-
frustrating. Even as he voted for the BDS bill, ranking member of the committee Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), brought up objections to all three bills in a disturbing manner, calling the bill he supported ‘a solution in search of a problem.’ It is outrageous to ignore the special status of the antisemitism problem on our campuses today, and not easy to hear the claim that Representative Fine’s bill ‘establishes one religion as having a higher priority over others.’ “ZOA is proud to have contacted every member of the committee to urge passage of these bills, and gratified that several cosponsors of the ‘No Antisemitism in Education’ bill thanked ZOA for bringing the bill to their attention. “The double standard between hatred of Jews and all other civil rights laws is exactly the issue here, and ZOA is proud of the leadership of Representatives Fine, Foxx, Gottheimer, Stefanik and Gillen as they take action to begin addressing the actual Jewhatred in America today.”
ZOA urges every American to contact their Representative by phone or email to urge final passage of all three of these bills on the floor of the House of Representatives, and eventually in the Senate as well.
Jewish&Christian IsraelSupporters ComeTogether ForCapacity CrowdPrograms Featuring MortonKlein
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) hosted a series of highly successful programs in the Chicago area featuring ZOA National President Morton A. Klein, drawing large audiences at a Christian Zionist gathering and a major community event.
The first program took place at Quentin Road Baptist Church, where Klein addressed a large and enthusiastic audience of Christian Zionists. He spoke about Israel’s security challenges, the rise of antisemitism, the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance, and the moral and historical case for supporting the Jewish state. The program concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session moderated by Pastor Jim Scudder, host of InGrace Israel, allowing attendees to discuss current events and issues affecting Israel and the Jewish people.
Mr. Klein spoke that evening, as ZOA hosted “Truth Under Fire: Confronting the Lies Against Israel” at Bryn Mawr Country Club in Lincolnwood. The event drew a full house of community members, Israel supporters, and concerned citizens seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Israel today.
Klein delivered a powerful and inspiring address highlighting decades of ZOA advocacy, exposing misinformation about Israel, and discussing the lessons learned from policies that have endangered Israeli security. He also outlined the growing threats posed by antisemitism on college campuses and in public discourse while emphasizing the importance of unapologetic support for Israel and the Jewish people’s historic rights.
The driving force behind the success of these programs was Susan Good, ZOA National Board Member and Founder of ZOA Women. Through her leadership, outreach, and commitment to strengthening support for Israel, Good was instrumental in bringing these events to fruition. Her efforts helped build broad community participation and create meaningful opportunities for both Jewish and Christian supporters of Israel to engage with ZOA’s mission.
“This was an extraordinary weekend for Israel advocacy in Chicago,” said Kobi Erez, Executive Director of ZOA Michigan. “Both events demonstrated that there is a strong appetite for truthful, fact-based discussion about Israel and a desire among both Jewish and Christian supporters to stand together against antisemitism and misinformation. We are especially grateful to Susan Good, whose vision, leadership, and tireless efforts were essential to making these programs possible.”
The Chicago programs were part of ZOA’s broader effort to establish and strengthen a lasting ZOA presence in the region. Community leaders, activists, and supporters from across the Chicago area attended, helping lay the groundwork for future educational, advocacy, and outreach initiatives.
Morton Klein, ZOA National President
Rita and Morton Klein, and Susan Good (center)
Susan Good, ZOA National Board Member and Founder of ZOA Women
‘WhoGetsYourPasswords?’
Most Older Adults Have Planned Their Estates. Few Have Planned Their Digital Estates
Millions of Americans have prepared wills, named beneficiaries, and organized their financial records, but many have overlooked a critical question: What happens to their email accounts, online banking, digital photos, passwords, and other digital assets when they dieł
TheSeniorTechie Founder Paul Wilczynski addresses that growing problem in his new book, “Who Gets Your Passwordsł
TheSeniorTechie Guide To Digital Estate Planning” (ISBN: 979-8995501725), now available on Amazon. As more of daily life moves online, family members are increasingly finding themselves unable to access important accounts, documents, photographs, and records after the death of a loved one. “Many people have spent years preparing traditional estate documents,” said Wilczynski. “But they haven’t prepared their digital estate. Families often discover too late that they don’t know where important information is stored, what accounts exist, or how to
access them.” A digital estate includes far more than Social Media accounts. It can include email, online banking, cloud storage, digital photographs, smartphones, subscription services, shopping accounts, websites, loyalty programs, and other online assets accumulated over a lifetime. The book is intended not only for individuals and families but also as a practical resource that can support conversations between clients and the professionals who help them prepare wills, trusts, and estate plans. Wilczynski believes digital estate planning should become a routine part of the broader estate planning process. Written specifically for non-technical readers, the guide focuses on simple, practical steps for identifying digital assets, organizing account information, protecting privacy, preserving family memories, and creating clear instructions for loved ones. “We spend a lifetime creating digital assets without thinking of them as assets,” said Wilczynski. “Taking a
little time to organize that information today can save loved ones a great deal of frustration tomorrow.” The issue affects people of all ages but may be particularly important for older adults who have accumulated decades of records, photographs, correspondence, and online accounts. “At it’s heart, digital estate planning isn’t really about passwords,” Wilczynski said. “It’s about making life easier for the people you care about.” “Who Gets Your Passwordsł TheSeniorTechie Guide To Digital Estate Planning” is available in paperback and ebook formats through Amazon at: https:// www.amazon.com/dp/B0H7N336SQ.
About Paul Wilczynski:
Paul Wilczynski is the Publisher of TheSeniorTechie, a technology education platform dedicated to helping older adults use technology with confidence. He is the author of “Who Gets Your Passwordsł TheSeniorTechie Guide To Digital Estate Planning” and “Don’t Move To Asheville: A Ruthlessly Honest Guide That Will Ruin Everywhere Else.” He lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Learn more at: https://www.TheSeniorTechie.com/
ZOACondemnsMamdani’sBigotry/Discrimination forExcludingJewsfromJudicialAppointmentsPanel
Mamdani Incites Jew-Hatred With Recent Defamation of Netanyahu, and he Failed to Properly Respond to Ensuing Antisemitic Stabbing by Bigot Shouting “Allahu Akbar” Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani gets worse and worse as he promotes his overt Islamist, anti-American, pro-Hamas, Jew-hating agenda. ZOA strongly condemns bigot Mamdani’s latest antisemitic/discriminatory actions this week, including his excluding Jews from a judicial appointments panel; inciting Jewhatred with his recent defamation of Netanyahu; and failing to promptly and properly respond to the ensuing antisemitic stabbing by an evil, violent bigot shouting “Allahu Akbar.”
This week, Mamdani, mayor of a city with the largest Jewish population in America, appointed 18 members – none of whom are Jewish – to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, which selects judges for the NYC criminal courts that try hate crimes. Jews are by far the largest number of victims of hate crimes. Further, one of the new committee members signed a statement affirming support for the antisemitic hate group Students for Justice in Palestine. These appointments are clearly a deliberate attempt to censor and discriminate against Jews, by excluding Jews on both the selection panel and its resulting judicial appointments. Censoring and excluding Jews is particularly dangerous in this Mamdani era when NYC anti-Jewish hate crimes are skyrocketing. Mamdani does not have a mandate for such actions: he became mayor with 50.1% of the small number of people who voted. Mamdani’s most recent anti-Jewish actions, moreover, followed Mamdani excluding Italian, Irish and other European neighborhoods from his map of NYC neighborhoods.
NYC has a very large percentage of Jewish lawyers and law professors. One recent article states that 50% of NYC lawyers are Jewish. ZOA Coalition member Professor Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, Esq. stated: “If you were to pull 18 [lawyers] at random, you would expect there to be several Jewish members. When they [Mamdani’s Muslim chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem] call it [the committee] ‘TRULY REPRESENTATIVE’ that’s ridiculous.”
The committee’s biased composition is unfortunately not surprising. The supervisor of the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary is lawyer-to-terrorist Ramzi Kassem. When Mamdani appointed Kassem as NYC Chief Counsel, ZOA warned that “the NYC Chief Counsel wields immense power and influence over city policy, legislation, ethics, and legal direction, and has oversight of city agencies. Radical Muslim Kassem’s record makes him the wrong person for this role, and a danger to New Yorkers.”
ZOA described Kassem’s representation of murderous Al Qaeda terrorists; and Kassem’s work to prevent the FBI from questioning Muslims and from obtaining Muslim informants; derogation of law enforcement as the “real danger;” false accusations that law enforcement was “demonizing” Muslims at a “new fever pitch;” and consistent treatment of Islamic terror as an imaginary excuse for law enforcement’s efforts to uncover terror activities. See “ZOA Condemns Mamdani’s Ending Exec. Orders Protecting Jews & Appt. of Israel-Bashing, Lawyer-for-Muslim Terrorists, Ramzi Kassem, as NYC Chief Counsel, Endangering Jews and America,” Jan. 2, 2026; and “Terrorist Lawyer Who Condemned Israel, Defended 9/11, Now Sets Biden Immigration Policy,” by Daniel Greenfield, Front Page Mag., July 7, 2023.
We are now seeing the dangerous, frightening results of Mamdani’s disastrous appointment. We are painfully forced to think of the Nazis’ “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service,” promulgated on April 7, 1933, which removed Jewish judges from the bench and removed Jewish lawyers from practice. Mamdani’s and Ramzi Kassem’s recent biased/bigoted appointment excluding Jews appears to be aimed at ending justice for Jews who are attacked in New York.
We urge all Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders, and political, academic, business and other leaders to speak against this and Mamdani’s other discriminatory actions. This bigotry must stop now!
Further, Mamdani’s appointments to damage the judiciary occurred the same week that Mamdani outrageously, recklessly incited anti-Jewish violence by falsely defaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as murdering innocent people and other horrific crimes. The next day, on Tisha B’Av, a man screaming “Allahu Akbar” stabbed a Jewish man and an Asian man. Mamdani took many hours to even mention the attacks, and still hasn’t retracted his incitement against the Jewish people and Jewish state.
Hypocritically, Mamdani wrote on X the next day that “This kind of despicable violence is not who we are as a city. Every New Yorker deserves to be safe, regardless of their religion or race. Our administration will always stand against bigotry and do everything in our power to root out antisemitism, racism, and hateful acts of all kinds.” Unfortunately, Mamdani’s biased judicial appointments committee and defamation of Israel and its leader will instead further embolden Islamist attackers of innocent Jews and others.
it starts. That’s not a law firm doing pro bono work. That’s a law firm helping build a better future,” said AJCF Director General Jack Simony. “Real partnership shows up before you ask for it,” said AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson. “McDermott Will & Schulte has stood behind our work quietly and consistently. Their attorneys have approached our mission with the same rigor, professionalism and excellence they bring to their most important clients. Their support for the inaugural RISE Leadership Fellowship reflects something all too rare, an institution investing not only in today’s work, but in tomorrow’s leaders.”
“Pro bono work has always been part of who we are at McDermott Will & Schulte,” said Andrew B. Kratenstein, New York co-lead of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. “Supporting AJCF’s mission, and now the inaugural RISE Leadership Fellowship, is a natural extension of that commitment. We don’t just measure this work by the cases we win. We measure it by the institutions we strengthen and the leaders who will shape them.” The firm’s commitment to public service extends well beyond its work with AJCF, reflecting a longstanding culture of pro bono leadership. That commitment was recently recognized when the D.C. Bar named McDermott Will & Schulte its 2026 Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year after the firm’s Washington office contributed more than 21,000 hours of pro bono service in 2025. The firm’s work with AJCF reflects the same belief that legal excel lence carries a responsibility to strengthen the institutions that serve the public.
The AJCF Institutional Leadership Award recognizes organizations that pair professional excellence with civic responsibility, using their expertise, influence and resources to strengthen the institutions that sustain democratic society, defend vulnerable communities, and invest in future generations through education, advocacy and the rule of law.
The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) transforms Holocaust memory into action through education, leadership development and initiatives that confront antisemitism, hatred and extremism. Headquartered in New York City and Oswiecim, Poland, AJCF educates students, edu cators, military officers, diplomats, elected offi cials and civic leaders to recognize the con sequences of hatred and strengthen democratic institutions. The Foundation maintains the Auschwitz Jewish Center, the last remaining synagogue in Oswiecim, adjacent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, preserving the memory of the town’s Jewish community while addressing the challenges of today. Through flag ship initiatives including Decode Hate, the American Service Academies Program and the RISE Leadership Fellowship, AJCF is preparing the next generation of leaders to build a more resilient, pluralistic and democratic society. For more information, visit: www.ajcfus.org.
Andrew B. Kratenstein
Andrew B. Kratenstein with AJCF leadership, NYC Counsel Speaker Julie Menin, members of the 2026 AJCF ASAP Cadre
TeachersFrom5StatesJoinJewishFoundationForThe RighteousIntensiveEuropeanHolocaustEducationProgram
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) has selected 14 middle and high school teachers and Holocaust center personnel from five U.S. states to participate in the 2026 European Study Program which is being held in Poland. Through lectures and visits to actual Holocaust sites, these educators gain a more profound understanding of the complex and tragic history of the Holocaust.
The program is a high-level, intensive and immersive educational experience that includes visits to concentration camps, ghetto sites and Holocaust memorials. Noted historian Robert Jan van Pelt, one of the world’s leading experts on the Holocaust, served as the accompanying scholar for the program.
The immersive program began in Warsaw, where the group toured the Jewish Historical Institute (Zydowski Instytut Historyczny, ZIH), met with Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Dr. Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, hosted a luncheon with the Polish Society of the Righteous Chairman Emeritus Dr. Anna Bando and Polish Society of the Righteous President Andrzej Mikolaklpw and visited both the Jewish and Catholic cemeteries, including the gravesite of Irena Sendler. They also visited the Footbridge of Memory memorial, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Rapoport Monument and the Zegota and Jan Karski memorials. They walked through the former Warsaw Ghetto, touring Mila 18, the Umschlagplatz.
The group then traveled to Tykocin, home to one of Poland’s
few remaining intact shtetls, before visiting nearby Lopuchowo Forest, the site of the mass grave of Tykocin’s Jewish community and continuing to Treblinka.
The trip also included visits to Chelmno nad Nerem, the Kulmhof extermination camp, Rzuchow Forest, Lodz, the Radegast Station Museum, the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, and Survivor’s Park, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Additional stops included Harmezze, home to Marian Kolodziej’s Labyrinth; Budy, the site where SS female guards massacred French Jewish women; Himmler’s carp ponds; and Krakow, where the group toured the Kazimierz neighborhood, the Galicia Jewish Museum’s and the Podgorze neighborhood, the site of the former ghetto and its chair memorial.
Throughout the program, participants connected and reflected on how to bring their experiences back to their students.
“As we continue to move further away from the Holocaust, it is more important to empower our educators to better teach their students about the Holocaust,” said JFR Executive Vice President Stanlee Stahl. “By visiting the places where these complex events occurred, educators are better able to connect to what they are teaching, making them more effective teachers.”
“The program is designed to help educators learn the Holocaust experientially so they can present it in a more meaningful and insightful way to their students and colleagues when they return to their schools,” she added.
The 2026 European Study Lerner Fellows
include:
• Angie Thompson of Alma Bryant High School in Irvington, Alabama
• Maureen Carter a veteran high school educator who resides in Sanford, FL
• Mary Ellen Richichi of Independence Middle School in Jupiter, Florida
• Krystal Lamb of Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School in Lake Worth, Florida
• Charles Hagy, Jr. of The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida
• Kelly Warsaw of inSIGHT Through Education in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Julie Gates of Logger’s Run Middle School in Boca Raton, Florida
• Sheri Crowley of Polo Park Middle School in Wellington, Florida
• Bradd Weinberg of School District of Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Florida
• Micaela McNiff of School District of Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Florida
• Charles Dickens of The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, FL
• Julie Klein of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois
• Nicole Kepner of Branchburg Central Middle School in Branchburg, New Jersey
• Stacy Steele of York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina
The JFR continues its work of providing monthly financial assistance to aged and needy Righteous Gentiles living in 10 countries. Since its founding, the JFR has provided more than $46.5 Million to aged and needy rescuers. Its Holocaust teacher education program has become a standard for teaching the history of the Holocaust and educating teachers and students about the significance of the Righteous as moral and ethical exemplars. For more information, visit: https://www.jfr.org/.
FIDF,IsraelMinistryOfDefenseToEstablishNewRehabilitation CenterForIDFVeteransWithTraumaticBrainInjuries
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) have signed an agreement to establish a new state-of-the-art rehabilitation center for IDF Veterans living with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), one of the most complex and life-altering wounds sustained in military service. FIDF has committed $10 Million toward the project, which is expected to open by 2030 and will become the only facility in Israel dedicated exclusively to the rehabilitation of IDF veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
The new center comes at a critical time as Israel faces growing long-term rehabilitation needs following the War of Redemption, during which more than 300 soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries, including approximately 100 severe cases requiring intensive, long-term care. While advances in battlefield medicine have enabled more wounded soldiers to survive catastrophic injuries, many now face years of specialized rehabilitation to regain independence, rebuild their lives and successfully reintegrate into their families and communities.
“Our responsibility to Israel’s wounded Veterans does not end when they leave the battlefield,” said FIDF CEO Major General (Reserve) Nadav Padan. “Traumatic brain injuries are often described as invisible wounds because their effects extend far beyond physical symptoms. Veterans living with severe brain injuries frequently face long-term neurological, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges that require sustained, specialized intervention. The new center is being designed to address these complex needs through an integrated rehabilitation model that combines therapeutic, educational, vocational and social services under one roof.”
“Traumatic brain injuries often require years of highly spe-
cialized treatment and support, affecting every aspect of a Veteran’s life, from cognitive functioning and emotional wellbeing to employment, relationships and daily independence. This new center will provide Veterans with the comprehensive care, dignity and long-term support they deserve while ensuring Israel is prepared to meet the rehabilitation challenges of today and the future,” he added.
The facility will replace Beit Marguza, an older rehabilitation center established in Jaffa in 1973 that does not meet the modern standards. After extensive evaluation, renovation of the aging facility was determined to be impractical, leading the IMOD to approve construction of a new purpose-built center designed specifically to meet the evolving needs of wounded veterans.
Centrally located on Yitzhak Sadeh Street in Tel Aviv, the new 2,560-square-meter facility will accommodate approximately 60 Veterans at any given time and provide comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatments and services. The center will offer occupational therapy, social work, cognitive rehabilitation, emotional and behavioral treatment, physical rehabilitation and a range of creative and vocational therapies designed to support long-term recovery.
The facility will feature three dedicated rehabilitation floors, secure protected spaces, accessible parking, therapeutic outdoor areas, balconies on each level and a rooftop terrace designed to support rehabilitation activities and community programming. Built to meet all modern accessibility standards, the center will provide a dignified and therapeutic environment while maintaining the flexibility to address future rehabilitation needs.
The project is expected to cost approximately $24 Million, with FIDF’s $10 Million commitment supporting construction
and completion of the facility alongside funding provided by the IMOD. Planning approvals and municipal permits have already been secured, and the project is expected to advance toward construction following completion of the tender process and final project preparations.
“The new rehabilitation center marks a milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded Veterans. Head injuries present complex challenges affecting patients and their families alike,” said Ronit Senderovitch, Head of the Clinical Social Services Division at the IMOD’s Rehabilitation Department.
“The center will unite world-leading treatments and technologies under one roof, in a modern, accessible, and dignified setting. We thank our partners at FIDF for their steadfast commitment to the welfare of IDF wounded veterans. Ensuring these individuals receive the finest possible care on their path back to life and community is both a national and moral obligation,” she added.
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a 501(c)(3)
Not-For-Profit Organization dedicated to honoring and supporting the brave men and women of the IDF who risk everything to protect the State of Israel and the Jewish people. While the mission of the IDF’s heroes is to look after Israel, defending its people, borders and freedom, FIDF’s mission is to look after them.
FIDF provides life-changing support through education, financial aid, bereavement programs, mental health services and more, ensuring that every soldier, Veteran and bereaved family knows they are not alone. Through global partnerships and unwavering commitment, FIDF stands as a pillar of strength for those who sacrifice so much in service to the Jewish homeland. For more information, visit: https://www.fidf.org/.
The new rehabilitation center marks a milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded Veterans.
FirstCohortOfWoundedIDFVeteransWithPTSDCompletes PracticalElectronicsEngineersTraining,ImmediatelyHiredByIAI
Israel Sci-Tech Schools (ISTS) Rehovot College recently marked a significant milestone: the completion of the first cohort of a unique program training wounded IDF and security forces veterans - the majority of whom live with PTSD - as electronics engineers, in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Atidim.
18 graduates of the program - all wounded IDF and security forces veterans, the majority of whom also carry the invisible wounds of PTSD - completed a 17-month professional training course and will now join the workforce at Israel Aerospace Industries. Their academic achievements rank among the highest recorded at the college in recent years.
The program was born out of a deep understanding shared by ISTS Rehovot College, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Atidim: there is a moral obligation to offer a new path forward in life to those who gave everything for their country.
What began as an employment initiative became, for the staff who accompanied the students, an undertaking rooted in giving, mutual responsibility, and care. Behind every student in the class was a story of heroism, profound loss, and the invisible, ongoing struggle of living with PTSD. The college quickly understood that
this was a unique class, requiring extraordinary investment and sensitivity.
Beyond its employment dimension, the coursework served as a critical pillar in each student’s personal rehabilitation. Israel Aerospace Industries, in turn, gained skilled, high-quality personnel, while the graduates gained a genuine opportunity to build a stable professional future.
Following the tremendous success of the first cohort, ISTS Rehovot College has begun recruiting a second cohort in the same format. Those involved see this as proof that combining social sensitivity with technological excellence is the key to genuine rehabilitation and national growth.
“At Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network, we believe that education is the driving force leading the society of tomorrow. This means not only imparting knowledge and skills, but enabling every individual to build their own future, rehabilitate, develop, and find their place in Israeli society,” said Raz Frohlich, CEO of Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network. “This program perfectly embodies our vision: bridging advanced technological education, social responsibility, and a deep belief in the human capacity to grow even out of crisis. The students who took part in it chose to
press forward, acquire a profession, and build their future. In doing so, they are not only changing their own life stories - but they are also partners in building tomorrow’s society.”
See the photo below of the graduates (shown from behind for security reasons) with the program leadership. Credit: Courtesy of Israel Sci-Tech Schools (ISTS).
About Israel Sci-Tech Schools:
Founded in 1949, Israel Sci-Tech Schools is Israel’s largest independent charter school network, educating 100,000 students across 264 middle and high schools, vocational training centers, and colleges of practical engineering in 54 municipalities. The network delivers inclusive, life-changing iSTEAM education (innovation, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) to students from all backgrounds—Jewish (secular to Haredi), Muslim, Christian, Bedouin, and Druze—regardless of gender, religion, or socio-economic status. Through academic excellence and values-driven leadership, the network empowers students to succeed in high-demand 21st-century careers and helps close social and economic gaps in Israeli society.
(L–R) David Peretz, IAI; Yair Katz, Head of the IAI Employees Union; Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI; Raz Frohlich, CEO of the Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network; and Nir Reiss, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of IAI.
FaithThroughTheLensOfScience
American Researcher Shares Simple Formula He Says Proves God’s Existence
Award-winning scientist Nathanael-Israel Israel, Ph.D., was examining facts and figures on the origins of the universe when he uncovered “a gold mine of scientific data collected over centuries that hadn’t been properly analyzed.” His interest piqued, he dove deep into scientific literature, philosophical texts and religious writings, and became increasingly convinced that a mathematical bridge between science and faith was possible.
“For as long as human beings have looked to the stars and down at the words of scripture, two questions have circled each other like restless planets: Where did all of this come from, and does the answer leave room for Godł” Dr. Israel said.
His latest book, Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation, attempts to answer those questions through a simple mathematical formula that he says:
• Cracks the universe’s origin at the crossroads of science and faith
• Can scientifically demonstrate God’s existence
• Proves that the Earth was formed in 2.82 days, the moon in 3.32 days and the sun in 3.69 days
• Neutralizes the oil-and-water relationship between faith and science
• Reveals a reconciliation of rationality and belief that will change lives forever
• Equips children and their parents, whether scientists or nonscientists, with an easy-to-understand story of the universe’s origin.
“The war between reason and religion was never necessary,” Dr. Israel added. “If you are looking for a scientifically verifiable cosmological theory that you can trust to prove the existence of God, then get Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation and see if it is not the scientific proof both scientists and nonscientists have been seeking.”
Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation: Live Better by Quickly Mastering the Only Scientific Theory That Evolution, Big Bang, AI, and Some Religions Desperately Ache You Ignore
Release date: April 24, 2026
ISBN-13: 978-1969961014
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Boldest-ScientificFormula-God-Creation/dp/1969961015
About The Author
Nathanael-Israel Israel, Ph.D., is the Founder of Science180, where he helps people navigate difficult questions at the intersection of science and faith. Originally from Benin Republic, a French-speaking country on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Israel completed his undergraduate degrees there before relocating to the United States, where he earned his Ph.D. in Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences. He claims to be the first person in history to scientifically demonstrate the perfect match between science and the Genesis narrative of creation and says he has the math to prove it without taking sides between science and religion.
He is the author of more than 10 books, including Turbulent Origin of the Universe, Reconciling Science and Creation
Accurately, From Science to Bible’s Conclusions, Turbulent Origin of Life, Turbulent Origin of Chemical Particles, and Mathematical Proof of God’s Existence at the Intersection of Science and Faith, among others. He maintains active memberships in multiple scientific associations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, the American Mathematical Society, and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
For more information, please visit: https://science180.com/
JCSOpensApplicationsforInterest-FreeHigher EducationLoansThroughJELFPartnership
Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) has announced that applications are now open for the 2026-2027 academic year through its partnership with the Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF), offering eligible Jewish students access to interest-free loans to help finance higher education.
The application period opened Aug. 1 and will remain avail able through Sept. 30, 2026. JCS serves as JELF’s partner organization for Miami-Dade County, connecting local students and families with financial assistance designed to reduce the bur den of educational expenses.
The program provides interest-free loans to qualified students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and vocational education. Unlike many traditional student loans, JELF financing is offered at zero percent interest, helping borrowers avoid the long-term costs associated with accumulating interest while completing their education.
The loans are intended to supplement, rather than replace, traditional financial aid. They can be used to cover a range of education-related expenses that often remain after scholarships, grants, and federal student aid have been applied.
In addition to tuition, eligible borrowers may use loan funds for living expenses such as housing, food, books, transportation, and travel costs associated with attending school. These are expenses that are frequently not fully covered through conven tional financial aid packages but can have a significant impact on a student’s ability to complete a degree.
According to JELF, the organization was established to make higher education more accessible while helping students gradu ate with less debt. By offering loans without interest, the non profit enables borrowers to save thousands of dollars over the life of their repayment compared with traditional private student loans. The organization also points to the broader national stu dent debt crisis, which affects approximately 45 million Americans, as a driving force behind its mission to provide afford able financing options.
To qualify for a JELF loan, applicants must meet several eli gibility requirements. Students must be permanent residents of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, or Virginia, excluding the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. They must also be enrolled full time in a degree- or certificate-granting pro gram and remain in good academic standing.
Applicants are expected to accept available federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans before seeking assistance through JELF. In addition, applicants must be U.S. citizens or have lawful immigration status and be able to provide a U.S.based co-signer.
The partnership between JCS and JELF allows Jewish stu dents in Miami-Dade County to receive local guidance through out the application process while benefiting from JELF’s longstanding educational lending program. By working together, the organizations aim to remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from pursuing or completing higher education.
As college costs continue to rise nationwide, nonprofit organizations have increasingly sought innovative ways to support students beyond traditional scholarship programs. Interest-free lending programs offer an alternative for families who may not qualify for enough financial aid but still face significant out-of-
pocket costs associated with attending college or graduate school. JCS encourages eligible students planning to attend college, graduate school, or vocational training during the 20262027 academic year to begin the application process as early as possible before the Sept. 30 deadline.
JCS officials said the annual application period represents an important opportunity for Jewish students to access affordable financial assistance that can help bridge funding gaps and reduce reliance on high-interest borrowing. By covering both edu-
cational and essential living expenses, the program seeks to provide students with greater financial stability while allowing them to focus on achieving their academic and career goals.
Students seeking information about local applications in Miami-Dade County can contact Gareth Fink at: gfink@jcsfl.org for assistance. Additional information about the Jewish Educational Loan Fund, including eligibility requirements and application details, are available by visiting: jelf.org, via email: info@jelf.org, or calling: (770) 396-3080.
AmericanAirlinesReceivesAJCFMedalofValorAwardforExtraordinary Compassion&MoralLeadershipFollowingAntisemiticTerrorAttack
AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson, AA SVP & Global Head of Govt. Affairs Stephen Neuman, AA LAX Customer Care Manager Zak Rakrouki, AA LAX Control Center Manager Mohamad Najjar,
AJCF DG Jack Simony
At its 2026 Annual Gala, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) presented American Airlines with its Medal of Valor Award in recognition of an extraordinary act of compassion and moral leadership following the December 2025 terrorist attack targeting a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia, which killed 15 people and injured approximately 40 others. Among those murdered was Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a husband, father of five and beloved Chabad emissary.
The award honors American Airlines employees who worked across departments and continents to ensure that one of Rabbi Schlanger’s childhood friends could travel from the United States to Sydney in time to attend the rab bi’s funeral, overcoming significant logistical obstacles and demonstrat ing extraordinary compassion dur ing a moment of profound grief.
In the day following the attack, Rabbi Schlanger’s childhood friend departed Miami on American Airlines for Los Angeles, where he was scheduled to connect to Sydney on another carrier. When delays caused him to miss that flight, it appeared he would be unable to reach Sydney in time for the funeral.
After learning of the passen ger’s circumstances, American Airlines employees took extraor dinary action. According to infor mation confirmed by American Airlines, American Airlines crew coordinated with the passenger mid-flight via the Captain and confirmed the passenger would switch to American Airlines’ flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. They then coordinated a change in arrival gates at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for the flight from Miami and before landing the crew on the plane moved him to a seat at the front of the aircraft. They held American Airlines’ flight to Sydney while coordinating a seamless transfer including having him disembark the plane first, and American Airlines ground personnel at LAX met him at the jetway and brought him to the awaiting Sydney flight which was now only two gates over. In the end, American Airlines opted to provide a complimentary ticket to the friend, while ensuring that Rabbi Schlanger’s childhood friend arrived in Sydney in time to stand beside his lifelong friend’s family and say a final goodbye.
involving incidents of antisemitism and religious discrimination affecting airline passengers around the world. Those incidents have included discriminatory treatment directed at Jewish travelers, as well as reported instances involving the tampering of kosher meals and other forms of antisemitic conduct. Against that backdrop, American Airlines’ actions stood out as an example of exceptional compassion, professionalism and leadership.
“At a moment when the Jewish community was mourning one of the most devastating antisemitic terrorist attacks in recent memory, American Airlines demonstrated what genuine humanity looks like,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation
humanity over indifference and stand with the Jewish people.”
Rabbi Schlanger, a Chabad emissary, husband and father of five, was among the 15 people murdered in the attack. His death sent shockwaves through Jewish communities around the world and transformed an evening intended to celebrate Jewish life into one of the darkest days in the history of Australia’s Jewish community.
American Airlines employees in Los Angeles, Sydney and the airline’s Integrated Operations Center worked together to make what many believed was impossible happen. Their flight to Sydney was held, gates were reassigned to shorten transfer times, and personnel were positioned to escort the passenger through the airport so he could continue his journey.
Director General Jack Simony. “The employees who coordinated this effort, including Zak Rakrouki and Mohamad Najjar, showed extraordinary empathy and compassion during a moment of profound grief. Holding a flight to Sydney so a grieving friend could attend the funeral of his childhood friend was far more than exceptional customer service. It was an act of moral leadership that reflected a culture where operational excellence and human compassion go hand in hand.
The recognition carries particular significance for AJCF, which has become a leading advocate for Jewish travelers facing antisemitic discrimination in commercial aviation. Over the past three years, the Foundation has filed numerous complaints
“We also recognize Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom, the leadership team and the more than 130,000 members of the American Airlines family. Acts like these begin with extraordinary individuals, but they are only possible in an organization that empowers people to do what is right when it matters most. At a time when many Jews feel compelled to conceal visible expressions of their identity while traveling because of rising antisemitism, this act of compassion resonates far beyond a single journey. It reminds Jewish communities around the world that, beyond the noise of social media and the rhetoric of hate, there remain friends, allies and people of conscience who choose
“I’m so proud of our team,” said Robert Isom, American Airlines CEO. “Caring for people on life’s journey isn’t just a motto, it’s about what we come to work to do, every day. Zak and Mo embodied exactly what caring for people on life’s journey means. They were there, and ready, and able to help, at a time of greatest need.”
“Institutions are ultimately judged by the choices their people make,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Chairman Simon Bergson. “When confronted with a grieving friend racing to attend the funeral of a victim of terror, American Airlines employees chose empathy over indifference and action over bureaucracy. Their decisions changed the outcome of a profoundly human moment.”
In honoring American Airlines, AJCF recognized not simply an extraordinary act of customer service, but a profound demonstration of moral leadership. At a moment of immense grief, ordinary employees made extraordinary choices, reminding us that compassion, courage and human dignity remain among the most powerful forces in public life.
The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF), headquartered in New York City, is dedicated to harnessing the lessons of the Holocaust to combat antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry while building a better future. In addition to its education and leadership programs in New York, including Decode Hate, developed in partnership with the New York City Council and New York City Public Schools, as well as the American Service Academies Program and the RISE Leadership Program, AJCF maintains the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oswiecim, Poland, including the city’s last remaining synagogue, a museum and educational center, and other preserved Jewish properties that serve as living reminders of a once-thriving Jewish community. Through its work with students, educators, civic leaders, clergy and law enforcement, AJCF equips current and future leaders with the tools to recognize and confront antisemitism, extremism, and hate in all its form. For more information, visit: www.ajcfus.org.
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