(RNS) — People used to joke that Abraham Foxman, the longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League, was the “Jewish pope” for his frequent comments on any attack on Jews around the world.
A better description might be top cop.
During the late 20th century, Foxman — who died Sunday (May 10) at age 86 — was one of the most recognized American Jewish leaders for his regular pronouncements whenever he perceived antisemitism. As the national director of the ADL for almost three decades, he built up the organization into a formidable agency that tracked antisemitism and other forms of extremism.
His successor, Jonathan Greenblatt, described him as “an iconic Jewish leader who embraced the ideal of an America free from antisemitism and hate and who strongly believed that these scourges could be defeated if good people opposed it,” in a statement mourning his death.
Abraham Foxman. (Photo courtesy of ADL)
The American Jewish Committee in a statement said, “Abe brought moral clarity, courage, and unwavering conviction to generations of advocacy and leadership.”
To New Yorkers and others across the country, he might better be remembered for the punchy indignation with which he spoke.
“He was more quoted than every other Jewish leader put together because he was so good at giving people the quote they needed at that moment,” said Eric Alterman, a journalist, scholar of U.S. Jews and the author of “We Are Not One: A History of America’s Fight Over Israel.”
Foxman was known for admonishing and correcting those caught making anti- …