Pt I: A tale of two cities: Is Abe Foxman ruining the ADL?
By Joel Sprayregen (03/16/2007)
While it is the best of times for the Anti-Defamation League in Chicago, it is the worst of times for ADL at its national headquarters in New York. In Chicago - where ADL was founded in 1913 in the office of a predecessor of the Mayer Brown law firm - the regional office, with a brilliant young staff headed by Lonnie Nasatir, seems to be everywhere, fulfilling its mission of combating anti-Semitism and bigotry. In New York, it is a different story. As the credibility of Abe Foxman, longtime national director, comes under increasing attack, the dictatorial nature of Foxman's rule became a subject for national media.
ADL's success in Chicago, including record-setting fundraising, need not be detailed here. It is covered in the media, known in the community and confirmed on the website. In contrast, ADL headquarters is facing a malaise brought to a simmering point by a New York Times Magazine article which dared question whether Foxman had become a liability in the struggle against anti-Semitism. Author James Traub concluded that Foxman had reduced ADL to "a one-man Sanhedrin" and that Foxman himself had become an "anachronism." The accuracy of Traub's incisive profile can not be doubted by anyone who knows Foxman, e.g., Traub reports that during a lunchtime interview, Foxman twice erupted in "shouting" and began to "choke on his gratin" when closely questioned.
Until the Times published its lengthy profile in January, ADL could try to hide Foxman's eroding credibility. His pronouncements, once considered near-infallible in Jewish and human rights circles, are now denounced and frequently ridiculed by people whom one might expect to admire him. Foxman's detractors include Holocaust survivors, pro-Israel professors, observant and secular Jews, liberals and conservatives, African-American leaders, as well as columnists for publications diverse as the Jerusalem Post, New Republic, The Jewish Press, Chicago Jewish News, Wall Street Journal and the Forward.
The inspiration for Traub's article was controversy over who caused cancellation of a lecture by anti-Israel Professor Tony Judt. The Jewish Press reported: "After initially denying he even called the [Polish] Consulate urging a cancellation, Foxman now freely acknowledges that he indeed did call . . ." Foxman managed to insult 113 eminent intellectuals - including staunch supporters of Israel - who rejected his invitation to a private meeting and instead called for debate. Unable to countenance disagreement, Foxman launched into attack mode. He accused the professors of using "techniques which completely debase the values" of free expression, confirming the observation in Jewish Week that the professors "have clearly rattled the ADL." Did it advance ADL's mission to accuse 113 intellectuals of "debasing" democratic society by seeking debate?
Last year, Foxman urged Jewish organizations to join his campaign against Evangelicals, who, he claimed, were conspiring to "Christianize" America. The breadth of acerbic reaction was striking. Daniel Klinghoffer, fellow at a conservative think tank, in a column in the liberal Forward called Foxman's proposal "ludicrous," suggesting it was motivated by pressures to pay Foxman's then $400,000 per year salary. Joseph Aaron, editor of Chicago Jewish News, religiously observant and politically liberal, called it "wacko." Jason Maoz, senior editor of the Orthodox Jewish Press, added: "The national director of the ADL can barely open his mouth without inviting incredulity and ridicule from anyone not on ADL's payroll (and probably many who are)." Columnist Don Feder, participant in an ADL mission, wrote: "Abe Foxman has gone from nuisance to embarrassment to self-parody." Jewish organizations conspicuously declined to join Foxman's campaign , about which little has been heard subsequent to the initial barrage of ADL publicity.
Israeli writers have been critical of Foxman. Jerusalem Post columnist Larry Derfner charged that Foxman spoke "recklessly" in accusing Amnesty International of anti-Semitism. Renowned author Hillel Halkin accused Foxman in the Post of "hypocrisy" for attacks on Evangelicals. These controversies are debatable. But persistent criticism of Foxman in forums not indifferent to anti-Semitism evidences Foxman's waning credibility. ADL expressed "concern" that audiences were not "sophisticated" enough to understand "Borat." Mel Gibson had played Foxman for a fool in promoting "The Passion of the Christ." Foxman's shrill attacks - and Gibson's counter-publicity - gave the movie undeserved success. Forward columnist Klinghoffer observed that Foxman's attacks were not "the least bit positive for anyone-other than ADL's fundraising efforts." The New Republic - foe of bigotry - explained the dangers of judging art by audience reaction and ridiculed Foxman: "Here's hoping the ADL's plea to keep audiences away from Borat's film works as well as it did for 'The Passion of the Christ.'"
The Mother of Foxman blunders was exploiting ADL 's reputation to wangle a midnight Clinton pardon for fugitive felon Marc Rich. Rich showed gratitude by immediately embedding himself in Iraq oil corruption, i.e., he abetted Saddam's paying Hamas suicide bombers. Only after congressional investigators revealed Foxman's role did he apologize for accepting contributions from Rich. Many supporters left ADL and never returned. William Safire's 2001 New York Times column on this scandal is instructive: "'You never made a mistake in your life?' an angry Abe Foxman shouted over the phone 'What about when you worked for that anti-Semite Nixon?'" Note that Foxman - infuriated at justified criticism - is shouting at an eminent journalist who was sympathetic to every aspect of ADL's work. Safire's rebuke concluded: "It's time [for the ADL and other do-good organizations] to set out written policies to resist manipulation by rich sleazebags and to reprimand or fire staff members who did not get with the ethical program."
A common thread in this litany of embarrassments - there are many others - is Foxman's relish in demonizing people who disagree with him. The President of the Zionist Organization of America sent Foxman a private letter objecting to an ADL speaker; Foxman leaked the letter to the Forward and stooped to calling its author "the attack dog of the Jewish thought police." Congressman Rangel said: "Abe Foxman has made a living attacking Black leaders on charges of anti-Semitism. His statements are usually libelous, divisive and serve to pit Blacks and Jews against each other while keeping Foxman's name in the newspapers." Rangel is no bigot; he exemplifies decades of co-operation between Black and Jewish congressmen.
See Part II for rest of article
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