TOLI mourns the passing of Abraham Foxman, the world’s leading voice in the fight against antisemitism.
Mr. Foxman led the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) with integrity and moral clarity for over three decades. Under his leadership, the ADL developed anti-bias and Holocaust education programs and was one of the first organizations dedicated to exposing the proliferation of the virus of antisemitism and hate on the internet.
Abe was a Holocaust survivor who, as a child in Lithuania, was hidden by his Catholic nanny. His speeches over decades had a profound impact on hundreds of thousands of people—from students in classrooms and audiences with Popes, to meetings with heads of states across the globe. He reached hearts and minds by relaying that he stopped asking why the Holocaust happened and, instead, asked “what if more people had stood up to save the six million Jews and millions of others who perished?”
TOLI was honored to have Abe speak at our Yom HaShoah program at Park Avenue Synagogue in 2023 and at our virtual commemoration in 2024. In 2025, he spoke at our TOLI seminar, We Remember: Exploring the Holocaust and Antisemitism, for Catholic school teachers from across the United States. At the conclusion of his session, Abe gave one of his famous hugs to each teacher, with his heartfelt thanks for the work they are doing to educate themselves and the next generation about the consequences of antisemitism and hate.
TOLI Board Chair, Mark Berez, said: “Abe Foxman was an inspiration to so many of us and, over the years, provided us with invaluable advice and support in our work to educate teachers about the Holocaust.” Harry Wall, a member of TOLI’s Board of Directors who previously served as an ADL Israel Director, added: “Abe leaves a great legacy and a huge vacuum at a time when antisemitism has escalated to unprecedented levels since WWII. Abe had courage, conviction, and a moral compass that had the well-being of the Jewish people and the State of Israel as its north star.”
Deborah Lauter, TOLI’s Executive Director who served on Abe’s senior leadership team as ADL’s Civil Rights Director for over a decade, expressed her deep sadness at the loss of her former boss. “Abe was not afraid to speak truth to power. He understood that in order for Jews to be safe in America, democracy had to be sound, and he fully embraced the second half of ADL’s founding mission, to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all. His commitment to Holocaust education was inspiring, and I am grateful that he urged me to continue this work with TOLI.”
We extend condolences to Abe’s beloved wife, Golda, and his children and grandchildren on the loss of this extraordinary man and world leader.
Abe Foxman speaking with teachers at TOLI seminar for Catholic teachers on The Holocaust and Antisemitism, NYC, July 2025.