American Jewish Committee (AJC)

The American Jewish Committee (AJC), the oldest Jewish defense organization in the United States, was founded in 1906 to safeguard Jewish civil and religious rights worldwide. Its formation was driven by concerns over the persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia, particularly following the Kishinev pogroms.

Initially, the AJC consisted of a small, influential group from the well-established German-Jewish community, which had arrived in large numbers since 1820. The organization deliberately limited its membership, reflecting the exclusivity of this community. Its founders included Jacob Schiff, Mayer Sulzberger, Louis Marshall, Oscar Straus, and Cyrus Adler, who sought to create a central organization representing American Jews. Early efforts focused on maintaining open immigration policies in the U.S. and advocating for American Jews traveling in Russia.

In 1907, the AJC successfully lobbied against literacy test requirements for immigrants. By 1911, it had campaigned for the abrogation of the Russo-American Treaty of 1832, which discriminated against American Jews. During World War I, the AJC organized the American Jewish Relief Committee to aid Jewish war victims. In 1919, responding to public sentiment, it joined the first American Jewish Congress.

Throughout the 1920s, the AJC focused on countering anti-Semitic propaganda, including the “Jew-Communist” charge and the spread of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. In 1927, Louis Marshall negotiated Henry Ford’s retraction of anti-Semitic statements. Two years later, Marshall and Chaim Weizmann helped establish the Jewish Agency for Palestine to support Jewish development and representation in the region.

As Nazism rose in the 1930s, the AJC intensified efforts to assist German Jewry, develop rescue plans, and lobby for intervention. By the 1940s, it combatted American anti-Semitism through education and awareness programs. In 1941, the AJC and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) formed the Joint Defense Appeal, pooling resources for domestic initiatives. During World War II, the Committee organized protests and called for action upon learning of mass murders in Europe.

The AJC expanded its scope and membership following the war. It pursued justice for Holocaust victims by advocating for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals and seeking material restitution from Germany. In 1945, the AJC lobbied at the San Francisco Conference to establish an international human rights framework.

While the AJC initially hesitated to fully embrace Zionism—fearing it might hinder Jewish integration in the U.S.—it supported the Balfour Declaration, affirming the traditional Jewish aspiration for Palestine’s restoration. However, it rejected broader Jewish nationalism. By the 1940s, however, recognizing the urgency of resettling Jewish refugees, the AJC aligned with Zionist efforts, advocating for the partition of Palestine in 1946. After Israel’s establishment in 1948, the AJC worked to secure American diplomatic support while distinguishing between Israel’s interests and those of Diaspora Jewry. In 1950, Jacob Blaustein and David Ben-Gurion reached an agreement affirming the primary political allegiance of American Jews to the United States.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the AJC solidified its pro-Israel stance, engaging in diplomatic efforts and strengthening U.S.-Israel relations. In 1957, President Eisenhower recognized the Committee as “champions of liberty.”

In 1947, the AJC also began supporting African-Americans’ struggle for civil rights through legal, educational, and community initiatives.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the AJC functioned as a network of specialized entities. The 1980s saw a redefinition of its mission, and in 1990, under David Harris’s leadership, it expanded its international activities. In 1991, the AJC joined the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, further emphasizing its global engagement.

Today, AJC advocates for Israel’s security, confronts anti-Semitism, and promotes democratic values. Collaborating with global leaders, the AJC employs strategic communications to counter misinformation and shape public discourse.

As of 2025, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has a worldwide network of 42 offices and representatives in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Israel and the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States. In the U.S. alone, AJC has offices in 25 cities. AJC also works with international partners in 36 countries and regions.

Sources: “A Global Voice for a Global Era,” AJC.
“Who We Are,” AJC.
Naomi W. Cohen, Jerome Chanes, “American Jewish Committee (AJC),” Encyclopedia.com.
“The American Jewish Committee,” My Jewish Learning.
Jerry Kutnick, “American Jewish Committee,” Encyclopedia.com, (May 29, 2018).