In a Historic Moment in May 2023,the White House Released the First-Ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitismand American Jewish Committee (AJC) was Central to the Outcome.

AJC

AJC had long called for a national antisemitism strategy in America, stressing that a whole-of-government approach was key to the fight. The action plan laid out by the White Housewhich includes dozens of specific AJC recommendationsdemonstrates that our leaders are committed to curbing the rise of antisemitism in this country.

As the timeline below illustrates, AJC has been there every step of the way, providing guidance to the White House as the National Strategy took shape.

It was AJC that first pioneered the concept of a national antisemitism strategy in Europe, where anti-Jewish hate began resurfacing more than two decades ago. It was AJCs teams across the Atlantic that worked closely with European governments to launch their national strategies, and we continue to help refine their plans today.

As antisemitism surged in America, it was AJC that first recommended the U.S. develop its own national strategy. And it was AJCs decades of experience addressing the problem in Europe and around the world that made us an invaluable partner for the U.S. government as they created this new plan.

A Timeline of Key Dates

November 2021

AJC provided the White House with recommendations for countering domestic antisemitism, including the creation of a national antisemitism strategy. We urged this step as part of our ongoing engagement with U.S. officials. AJC advocated this recommendation based on our experience in Europe. There, AJC advised the European Commission as it launched its first antisemitism strategy for the entire European Union, as we'll as advising individual EU member states.

September 2022

AJC issued itsCall to Action Against Antisemitism in America, our society-wide nonpartisan guide for combating anti-Jewish hate in the U.S. It detailed recommendations for various sectors of society, including the executive branch. A key recommendation was for the White House to form an interagency task force to develop a national antisemitism action plan.

December 2022

While at the White House for aroundtable discussionon domestic antisemitism hosted by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, AJC was again asked to formally offer recommendations. AJC CEO Ted Deutch reinforced that a national antisemitism strategy that involves interagency coordination is essential to countering this scourge. One week later, the White House announced it would move forward with such a plan.

February 2023

AJCconvened a meeting at the White Housewith the U.S. interagency task force and antisemitism envoys from Europe and Latin America. The envoys shared best practices from building their own national strategies. It was AJC that led the EU to establish the position of coordinator on combating antisemitism in 2015, and many countries have since appointed coordinators and special envoys in this role. Convening this meeting was just one of the ways AJC assisted the U.S. government in developing its strategy. It also demonstrated AJCs unique ability to leverage lessons learned from our global engagement for U.S.-based efforts at the national, state, and local level.

May 2023

The White House officially released the first-everU.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitisman important win for the Jewish community. It includes 100+ actions for the executive branch, and over 100 more for Congress, state and local government, and civil society to pursue. The plan mirrors AJCs Call to Action Against Antisemitism, and dozens of the action items detailed in the plan we're specific AJC recommendations.

June 2023

Following the release of the National Strategy, AJC CEO Ted Deutch announced the launch of a newAJC Task Forceto help implement the White House plan. AJC has activated our advocacy network to help ensure the actions detailed in the National Strategy are carried out within the stated timelines for the benefit of the Jewish community.

July 2023

AJC formally teamed up with theU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)a federal agencyto help small business owners recognize, respond to, and prevent antisemitism and other forms of hate. As part of the National Strategy, SBA will provide small business owners and their employees with antisemitism training and toolkits. AJC is collaborating with SBA to create these resources. This is just one example of how, through AJCs new Task Force, we are working with governmental and non-governmental partners to enact the National Strategy.

AJC is proud of the essential role we played in making the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism a reality. But the fight is hardly over.

A U.S. National Strategy now exists. It's up to us to help ensure it gets implemented. AJC is leading the charge, but we can't do it without you.