ADL in 2000: Standing on Principle

In the year 2000, the Anti-Defamation League remained true to our original mission: to fight anti-Semitism and bigotry, and promote respect among diverse groups in America and the world. Whether in cyberspace, international affairs, civil rights, national policy, educational programs, community outreach or informational materials, our voice was heard. From small-town schools to the halls of Congress, the Vatican to the Middle East, ADL acted on principle to help change the world.

We continued to fight for the principle of church-state separation, which has protected religious freedom ­ and religious minorities, such as Jews ­ throughout America's history. Our efforts were validated when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with ADL in a major ruling on prayer in public schools.

As the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict ­ which had seemed so close to the beginnings of real peace ­ flared into a new outbreak of bloodshed, ADL unwaveringly supported the government of Israel, and worked to strengthen that support among both Jews and non-Jews. And when anti-Israeli sentiment emanating from the Mideast flared up in attacks on Jewish communities in the United States and Europe, we spoke out to condemn these incidents for what they were ­ expressions of blatant anti-Semitism, not "policy disagreement."

As sharp divisions continued to exist in American society, ADL worked tirelessly to emphasize democratic values and inclusiveness. Our efforts culminated in a new nationwide campaign, undertaken with Barnes & Noble, which produced an anti-hate campaign in the bookseller's stores.

In the year ahead, we will continue to stand firm and fight hard for our ideals, with the help of our skilled professional staff and dedicated volunteers across the United States and abroad. And we will continue to pursue multiple approaches ­ through the key areas of Civil Rights, Community Service, Education, Government and National Affairs, International Affairs and Marketing and Communications ­ to the goal of our 1913 founding mission: "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike." 

From the National Chair & National Director

This has been a year of great contrasts for those things that matter to ADL. The nomination of Joseph Lieberman as Democratic vice-presidential candidate and the way the American people received him were very heartening. It was a confirmation of how far America has come in its attitudes toward Jews.

On the other hand, the campaign saw a proliferation of religious appeals by all the candidates. At times, the campaign seemed to be a competition for who is the most religious individual and how much religion would influence the government of the nation. In our belief that both government and religion benefit from keeping the two separate in our society, ADL spoke out whenever comments on religion went over the edge.

It was also a year that state hate crimes legislation, the model for which was developed by ADL, reached another milestone when New York joined 42 other states in passing strong legislation. But the struggle for federal legislation, which is vital to close gaps and provide a national impetus to work against this social evil, was stalled in Congress and now faces an uphill struggle.

In the area of education, ADL continued to expand its efforts both here and abroad to strengthen learning against bias, most particularly through ADL's partnership with Barnes & Noble in our "Close the Book on Hate" campaign. New challenges appeared, however, as voucher programs ­ the use of federal money provided to parents to pay for parochial education ­ became a more prominent part of the national dialogue. ADL clearly put forth its position that vouchers are bad both because they violate church-state separation and because they would significantly weaken the public school system, the vital institution in uniting a pluralistic society.

A year of contrast was also manifested in the interfaith arena. In an historic visit to Israel, Pope John Paul II culminated years of reaching out to the Jewish people on the subject of anti-Semitism, the State of Israel, and the legitimacy of Judaism in the eyes of the Church. ADL's Jerusalem Office worked overtime to educate the people of Israel, as well as the world media, as to the significance and meaning of the changes in the Church.

At the same time, a number of issues continued to divide the Church and the Jewish community. ADL spoke out, through Interfaith Affairs, about the failure of the Vatican to come to grips with the conduct of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust; the Church's effort to beatify Pius IX, who was involved in the seizing and forcible conversion of a Jewish child in the 19th Century; and a new Church document which raised questions about the legitimacy of Judaism, among other non-Catholic religions.

Finally, regarding the conflict in the Middle East, there were visual images of Israel which were seen by many as distorting the nature of the situation. In particular, the TV shots of Israelis apparently shooting at young Palestinians too often failed to take into account that Palestinians with weapons were frequently shooting at Israelis from behind the children. Others wondered why Palestinian leaders were placing children in danger ­ and why the media were not asking the same questions.

On the other hand, ADL found that many in the media understood what this latest conflict was about. In a survey of major newspaper editorials in this country, ADL revealed that the majority understood Israel's position; as The Washington Post noted, Israel had made a generous offer to the Palestinians for peace and a Palestinian state, only to be met with Palestinian rejection and violence. We noted polls of the American people showed a 4-1 level of greater sympathy with the Israelis than with the Palestinians.

These contrasting developments throughout the year have reinforced ADL in its mission. The progress that has been made was satisfying in telling us that our work to make America a better society is paying dividends. The unique combination of ADL's short-term activity to expose and combat hatred, together with our long-term programs to change the hearts and minds of people, young and old, is finding a resonance in our country and beyond. Yet the issues that still bedevil us are reminders there is much work to be done.

We will continue to stand up for Jewish security whenever it is threatened, to expose and condemn extremists promoting hatred, and work to enlighten peoples and societies on the virtues of diversity and the need to reject bigotry. 

Combating Bigotry, Extremism & Violence

Throughout 2000, ADL was once again the first line of defense against bigotry and extremism. The League monitored and exposed groups and individuals that promoted hate, extremism, anti-Semitism and racism, preventing them from gaining a foothold in our society. And it fought against hate crimes and all forms of discrimination through litigation, legislation, coalition-building and educational programs.

In the battle against hate crime, ADL won a major victory ­ thanks in large part to the grass-roots efforts of the League's New York Regional Office ­ when New York, after more than a decade, passed a hate crime statute. Georgia also adopted a new hate crime law, and California added a requirement that elementary and secondary schools must report hate crimes. Forty-three of the 50 states now have hate crime laws on the books ­ most of them based on model legislation drafted by ADL in 1981.

The League made efforts to ensure that these laws were successfully implemented. ADL prepared laminated cards ­ distributed to 7,000 law enforcement officials in more than 185 Massachusetts communities, and other police forces nationwide ­ which listed factors to consider when determining whether a crime under investigation can be classified as a hate crime. ADL's Western States and Washington Area Counsel worked with the American Prosecutors Research Institute on their curriculum for hate crimes training. The Civil Rights Division also provided law enforcement training on hate crimes in various states around the country, and helped obtain substantial funding from the California state legislature's 2000-2001 budget for a "Stop the Hate" program in that state.

Another ADL innovation in 2000 was Hate on Display: Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos, an ADL publication that was later adapted as an interactive page on the League's Web site. Hate on Display is a comprehensive listing and explanation of the signs, logos and other iconography used by extremist hate groups. It is an invaluable tool for law enforcement, educators, and ordinary citizens who encounter hate symbols.

ADL took the struggle against bigotry to rural areas and small towns in America this past year, ensuring that even isolated communities had the materials and "foot soldiers" they needed in the fight. In addition to our activities in Santa Fe, TX, the League helped community leaders when the Atlanta-based Southeast Regional Office brought "Confronting Anti-Semitism" and "Religion in the Public Schools" programs and workshops to the towns of Dalton and Albany in Georgia, and Dothan and Tuscaloosa in Alabama.

Civil Rights produced the 20th annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents ­ a comprehensive account of assaults, vandalism, and other occurrences of anti-Semitism in the United States in the past year ­ as well as the following reports:

WASHINGTON, DC

More than 7,000 law enforcement professionals ­ including all members of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department and new agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ­ toured the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. They learned about the role of the German police in carrying out Nazi policies that denied Jews their rights as German citizens, and ultimately as human beings.

Officers and ADL representatives discussed Holocaust-related issues relevant to police work, such as protection of individual rights, hate crimes and extremism, and the dangers of mutual stereotyping by police and the communities they serve ­ emphasizing that police accountability is one of the most important differences between Nazi Germany and America today. "The program provided an immeasurable lesson for myself and fellow recruits," said one participant, "which will follow us throughout our careers."

ADL's District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia/North Carolina Regional Office developed the program, "Law Enforcement and Society," in partnership with the Holocaust Museum.

ST. LOUIS

After the Ku Klux Klan, as part of Missouri's adopt-a-highway program, sponsored a stretch of Interstate Highway 55 for litter cleanup, ADL's Missouri/Southern Illinois Regional Office led the effort to have the road renamed Rosa Parks Highway, after the legendary civil rights activist. A bill making the name change official was passed by the Missouri state legislature and signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan before his tragic death in a plane crash. ADL joined a gathering of political and religious leaders, including then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, at a dedication ceremony for the highway.

HOUSTON

ADL's Southwest Regional Office, based in Houston, launched a "No Place for Hate" program in Santa Fe, TX. A Jewish middle school student had been threatened and assaulted, allegedly by fellow students, and community tensions were rising in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision banning school-sponsored prayer at local football games. ADL organized the "Santa Fe is No Place for Hate" campaign, with posters signed by local officials and townspeople displayed around the town. ADL also provided hate crimes training for educators and law enforcement officers, and anti-bias programs for city and school officials.  

RUBELLE SCHAFLER ADL CENTER FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Through the newly created Rubelle Schafler ADL Center for Community Outreach, ADL will work to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities in remote areas of the U.S. where ADL does not have permanent regional offices. The Center for Community Outreach will enhance ADL efforts across rural and small-town America where the Jewish community needs ADL expertise in countering anti-Semitism and bigotry, defending religious freedom and civil rights, and implementing educational programs.

Defending Civil Rights

Recognizing the central role of religion in American life, ADL works to preserve the wall between church and state, which is enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This goes to the heart of our role as a civil rights organization, dedicated to protecting the rights and security of all citizens, especially religious minorities. ADL believes that church-state separation encourages religious expression by allowing all citizens to practice their faith without government interference. Jews, in particular, have known all too well what can happen when the state gives official approval to one religion and excludes all others.

This emphasis on inclusion was behind ADL's criticism when matters of private faith began to cross the line during the 2000 presidential campaign. Ultimately, the League wrote letters of concern to the Democratic candidate, Vice President Al Gore, for his remark that he often asked himself "What would Jesus do?" when making decisions, and to his Republican opponent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, for naming Jesus as the "political philosopher" who had most influenced him. And while ADL applauded the choice of Sen. Joseph Lieberman as the first Jewish candidate on a national major party ticket, we objected when he made the assertions that "there must and can be a constitutional place for faith in our public life" and that morality cannot "be maintained without religion."

Sen. Lieberman subsequently explained, "I also know people who are not religious who I consider to be extremely moral."

PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN COURT

ADL took our fight for democratic ideals to the courts. The League filed an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief in a major Supreme Court case, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, in support of local parents in Santa Fe, Texas, who objected to school-sponsored prayer at the start of high school football games. The Court decided in favor of the parents.

ADL filed amicus briefs in five other Supreme Court cases during the 1999-2000 term ­ the largest number of cases in one term for the League in recent history. The cases dealt with such issues as government-funded computers for parochial schools, the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act, discrimination by the Boy Scouts on the basis of sexual orientation, and reproductive choice. In addition, the League filed amicus briefs in numerous lower court cases in 2000 on such issues as vouchers, religious accommodation and hate crimes. ADL in the Courts: Litigation Docket 2000 explains ADL's legal efforts in detail.

ADL also organized a coalition to join a brief in a Supreme Court case involving the Constitution's Commerce Clause. The League was concerned because in recent years, the Court had struck down several federal statutes, limiting the power of Congress to rely on the clause when legislating on civil rights issues.

IN THE NATION

In Washington, DC, our Government and National Affairs Office built coalitions in support of church-state separation, and held a public rally for religious freedom across from the Supreme Court as part of ADL's annual National Leadership Conference. ADL leaders met with local school officials in Southern California, Houston, Las Vegas, and rural North Carolina to advise them on church-state issues.

ADL opposed the use of tax money for parochial schools as a violation of church-state separation, and asserted that voucher programs undercut public education by siphoning money and high-achieving students from the public school system, leaving the struggling public schools scrambling for funds to educate the children who remain behind. Reflecting that position, the League worked with federal and state legislators to oppose voucher plans, often structured so that states grant parents vouchers ­ typically valued between $2,500 and $5,000 per school-aged child ­ for use toward private or parochial school education.

ADL also continued to challenge, on the state and federal levels, so-called "charitable choice" initiatives, which would allow churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship to receive tax dollars to provide social services. The League has argued that while religious-affiliated organizations, such as Catholic Charities and Jewish Community Federations, are currently barred from engaging in proselytizing or religious coercion while providing government-funded social services, the new proposals contain no such restrictions.

CHURCH-STATE PUBLICATIONS

As part of ADL's Religious Freedom Action Plan dealing with issues relating to church-state separation, the League published the proceedings of a major conference that we had organized on those issues at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, as well as the following pamphlets:

The 'December Dilemma': Guidelines for Public Schools During the December Holidays ­ addresses potential conflicts arising from Christmas and Chanukah falling during the same time period of the school year

Teaching Science, Not Dogma: The Creationism Controversy ­ explains ADL's opposition to teaching creationism on an equal basis with evolution in schools, on the grounds that creationism represents religious belief, not science

The Ten Commandments Controversy: A First Amendment Perspective ­ argues that the display of the Ten Commandments in schools and other public buildings "is both unconstitutional and bad policy" 

The Middle East

As the Mideast peace process broke down in an explosion of violence and more talk of war than peace, ADL stayed firm in our commitment to the security and well-being of Israel. The League provided context to developments in the region, enhanced U.S.-Israel relations and supported the advancement of the peace process between Israel and her neighbors.

ADL ads in The New York Times expressed solidarity with Israel and questioned Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat's commitment to the peace process. The League also placed ads of support in all of the major Israeli newspapers, conveying the same message, as well as praising the government for opposing, in every way, any violence by Israeli citizens against each other. On our Web site, ADL kept pace with breaking news events by updating information on developments in Israel, details of Palestinian violence, a gallery of photos not seen in the U.S. media, the text of incendiary speeches, and a "media watch" section highlighting ADL's analysis and response to media coverage of Israel. The League also frequently shared informational material with the media and Regional Offices concerning the background and facts of recent events ­ emphasizing that Israel had made an unprecedented offer for peace at Camp David which only resulted in Palestinian rejection and violence.

ADL also protested the United Nations' continuous unfair treatment of Israel. When the UN Security Council passed a resolution in October blaming Israel for the outbreak of Middle East violence, the League condemned the action as "outrageous," "biased" and "detrimental." But the League also hailed Israel's admission to the UN's Western European and Others Group (WEOG), as "an historic step in ensuring that Israel is fully accepted by the international community." For decades, Israel had been unable to participate fully in the UN because it had been refused membership in any of the world organization's regional groups. 

An International Voice

ADL goes beyond the United States and Israel in our mission. Through International Affairs, the League has long fought anti-Semitism, bigotry and prejudice and promoted Jewish security throughout the world. The year 2000 was no exception. ADL carried out our work both through activities in the United States ­ to influence the American public and media, with the ultimate goal of generating action by the U.S. Government ­ and overseas.

ADL met with heads of state and other officials of foreign governments, including French President Jacques Chirac; monitored and exposed extremists such as Austrian Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider; and developed educational programs to promote diversity, and interfaith activities to counter religious anti-Semitism and promulgate an understanding of Judaism. The League also sponsored a variety of exchange programs, including ADL overseas missions and speaking engagements by foreign officials at ADL National Headquarters in New York.

RUSSIA

Anti-Semitism in Russia increasingly surfaced on both the political and social levels. ADL, in conjunction with the Russian Jewish Congress, officially opened an office in Moscow to address these issues. During its first year, the Moscow Office issued reports on the extent of extremist activity in Russia, provided regular updates to ADL leadership in the U.S., and alerted the world whenever anti-Semitic incidents or statements occurred. The Office monitored some 50 Russian newspapers that regularly exploit anti-Semitism, ultranationalist and neo-Nazi-styled organizations operating in Russia, and hate-mongering groups and individuals on the Russian Internet. The Office also supported an appeal by Russian Jewish organizations that resulted in a Moscow judge ordering prosecutors to re-open their investigation of Russia's leading publisher of anti-Semitic materials.

ADL also expressed concern that newly elected President Vladimir Putin was engaged in efforts to weaken Russian-Jewish leadership and was not sufficiently committed to standing up against extremists. The League protested when media magnate Vladimir Goussinsky ­ who is also President of the Russian Jewish Congress ­ was the target of anti-Semitic attacks on the state-owned television network, and later arrested on fraud charges.

During the year, the Moscow Office initiated several outreach and educational programs, including ­ in collaboration with ADL's Central Pacific Regional Office in San Francisco ­ a training program for Russian law enforcement officials.

IRAN

ADL was deeply engaged in the effort to free the 10 Jews unjustly imprisoned on espionage charges in Iran. The League advocated a strategy of quiet but forceful diplomacy around the world to convince Iran it had much to lose if it harmed the Jews.

Working with others in the Jewish community, ADL was in contact with foreign leaders, human rights organizations and religious leaders in America and the Vatican. The League provided them with information on the history of Jews in Iran, both before and after the emergence of the Islamic government in 1979, in order to give them a sense of the community's longstanding roots in that country. ADL also urged restraint by Jewish communities in the U.S. and elsewhere, while there was hope of finding a reasonable solution through back-door channels. But as the months passed, the League and our allies became more public, engaging in a series of demonstrations and vigils in support of the 10 Jews. Although the men's original sentences, which ranged from four to 13 years, were reduced by lengths of two to nine years, all of them remain imprisoned.

EUROPE

ADL continued to closely monitor groups and individuals in Europe who tried to stir up anti-Semitic, bigoted or extremist sentiments among their fellow citizens. The League's major focus in this area was the emergence of Joerg Haider's xenophobic and racist Freedom Party as a partner in the Austrian government. This development was strongly criticized by ADL, but the League also reached out to the 73% of Austrians who did not vote for Haider, proposing to Austrian educators that the anti-bias programming of ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute be implemented in Austrian schools.

ADL expressed outrage when a wave of anti-Semitic incidents relating to the Middle East conflict broke out in Europe ­ especially in France, where over 90 incidents were reported, including the fire-bombing of synagogues in Paris and Lyon and attacks on kosher stores and Jewish schools. "These are more than just heat-of-the-moment crimes as a result of tension in the Middle East," said the League. "These are hate crimes that have a devastating impact on entire communities, while re-opening deep wounds for the Jewish people."

LATIN AMERICA

ADL continued to urge the government of Argentina to vigorously investigate the 1992 bombing of the Israel Embassy and the 1994 bomb attack on the headquarters of Argentina's largest Jewish community service organization, Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina, and offered support to the local Jewish community in the upcoming trials of several individuals accused of involvement in the bombings. The League also participated in programs to educate Argentineans about Judaism and the Holocaust, and engaged in preliminary discussions towards the goal of bringing A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute programming to Argentina. 

Education: Prejudice is learned. It can be unlearned.

ADL combats bigotry one person at a time through anti-bias training. Starting in preschool and extending through university and into the workplace and community, ADL programs and materials help people confront their own biases and develop respect for "the other."

Our impact spans ethnic and racial barriers and geographic borders. ADL reaches out to governmental, corporate, community, educational and religious leaders and groups in the United States, Israel, Europe, Japan and the former Soviet Union to counter threats to the just and fair treatment of every individual.

ADL AND BARNES & NOBLE 'CLOSE THE BOOK ON HATE'

ADL partnered with the nation's largest bookseller in a countrywide "Close the Book on Hate" campaign. During September 2000, Barnes & Noble's 542 bookstores each devoted a display table to works for children and adults that underscored the value of diversity. The campaign, with former Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) as spokesperson, focused on combating racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and all other forms of discrimination.

The new book, Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice, co-authored by ADL Education Director Caryl Stern-LaRosa and Training and Resources Director Ellen Hofheimer Bettmann and published by Scholastic Inc., formed the core of the campaign.

Hate Hurts provides answers to difficult questions posed by young people, helps caregivers in comforting child victims of hate and guides children in dealing with perpetrators of hate.

The bookstores, in conjunction with ADL's Regional Offices, conducted in-store educational programs for parents, children, community leaders and teachers. The authors of Hate Hurts appeared at stores in ten states and the District of Columbia, offering insights on positive communication with children about preventing and/or responding to hatred.

Hate Hurts was also turned into an e-learning course offered by notHarvard.com. Over five hundred people completed the four-lesson course.

ANSWERING HATE ON CAMPUS

For more than a decade, Holocaust deniers have been exploiting college newspapers in their efforts to distort the truth. They have placed paid advertisements and submitted Op-Ed pieces and letters, which have often been printed by inexperienced editors who felt obligated to provide an open forum. Last year, for example, Holocaust denier Bradley Smith placed ads in campus papers, including those of Bucknell and Temple Universities, claiming there was no evidence that Jews were killed in Nazi gas chambers.

ADL enlisted the help of The New York Times for a joint colloquium to educate campus journalists on journalistic responsibility and ethical standards on issues related to free speech, the tactics of hate groups and ways for combating them. Entitled "Extremism Targets the Campus Press: Balancing Freedom and Responsibility," the gathering was attended by student journalists and administrators from 32 institutions from across the country, including Harvard, Columbia and New York Universities and the University of Pennsylvania. ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman and representatives of The Times ­ publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr., columnist Bob Herbert and Director of Advertising and Acceptability Steph Jesperson ­ listened to the positions of campus editors and raised questions about material that contains obvious lies and hate language. They also armed the editors with strategies for balancing freedom of speech with professional standards of journalism.

'FROM SWASTIKA TO JIM CROW': IMPROVING BLACK-JEWISH RELATIONS

To enhance Black-Jewish relations, ADL and the Hillel Foundation launched a new initiative on college campuses in 2000. Student groups screen the new documentary "From Swastika to Jim Crow," about European Jewish refugee scholars who taught at Black colleges in the segregated South, starting in the 1930s. ADL assembles panels to discuss issues raised by the film and helps develop action plans to improve relations and develop collaboration between Black and Jewish students. The documentary was scheduled to run on PBS in 2001.

CAMPUS EDITORS' TRIP

Twenty-one campus newspaper editors went to Poland and Israel on the Albert Finkelstein Memorial Study Mission. Representing Columbia, Cornell, Syracuse, Brown and Stanford Universities, the editors visited Auschwitz and the former Warsaw and Krakow ghettos. In Israel, they met with political leaders, local students and American journalists. The mission ­ which is designed to impart an understanding of the Holocaust, the events that led to the establishment of Israel, and other issues relating to the Jewish State ­ is sponsored in memory of her late husband, Albert. Finkelstein, 

BESS MYERSON AWARDS

Student journalists again competed for the annual ADL/Bess Myerson Campus Journalism Awards. Ms. Myerson, who was a target of anti-Semitism as the first Jewish Miss America in 1945, endowed the awards to recognize student journalists whose reporting encourages intergroup dialogue, tolerance and understanding on campus.

ADL'S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® INSTITUTE

Long the cornerstone of ADL's anti-bias training, the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute last year continued to expand its reach. ADL has taught more than 360,000 elementary and secondary school teachers anti-bias techniques. They, in turn, relayed the message to more than 15 million students. The Institute's A CAMPUS OF DIFFERENCE^™ program provided anti-bias training at more than 135 universities and colleges and materials to hundreds of other institutions of higher learning. The Institute's A WORKPLACE OF DIFFERENCE^™ program reached more than 135,000 people in government and private industry. The Institute's programs have already been exported to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands, Israel, Japan and the former Soviet Union.

STARTING YOUNG

Research shows that infants as young as eight months can already detect differences in people. Therefore, ADL is working to channel that ability to differentiate into positive directions. Innovative programs are helping preschool educators teach two- to four-year-olds to appreciate diversity before they are old enough to learn to hate.

ADL's Miller Early Childhood Initiative is developing new anti-bias training and curriculum resources, including workbooks for parents and teachers, a study and activity guide and a training video produced especially for three- to five-year-olds. Over the next three years, the Miller Initiative will be implemented in Chicago, Detroit and Greater New York/Long Island.

ADL also has a two-year pilot called the Preschool Anti-Bias Initiative funded by the Pritzker Cousins Foundation. It is providing 800 teachers in the Chicago, Miami, Long Island, Orange County and Seattle areas with stimulating age-appropriate resources and activities kits designed to turn a preschool into a community that appreciates diversity.

In addition, the Institute completed its third year of anti-bias training for 3,000 youths and youth service professionals from 400 Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The lessons learned from the BGCA program have inspired the creation of a Peer Leadership Program, now being offered to schools and youth organizations across the country. It prepares young people to become leaders and role models in the fight against prejudice in their schools and communities.

STUDENTS NATIONWIDE LEARN LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST

Now in its third year, ADL's National Youth Leadership Mission drew more than 100 students from nine cities. They visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to learn the lessons of the Holocaust and their applications to today's issues of bigotry and discrimination. They were addressed by civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Holocaust survivors including ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman, and Jan Karski, the Polish underground fighter who warned President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the imminent genocide in Europe, in one of his last public appearances before his death.

Back home ­ in Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Orange County and San Diego ­ the students are working with ADL staff to become agents for positive change in their schools and communities.

Since the program's inception, travel to and from Washington for the hundreds of student delegates and adult chaperones has been generously provided by USAirways.

WHERE CITIZENSHIP AND TORAH STUDY MEET

ADL worked with the Orthodox Caucus in New York City last year to develop special programs for religious Jewish students.

The program, entitled "How Being a Better Citizen Makes You a Better Jew," was initiated at the Manhattan Talmudic Academy. Following a successful first year, the program has been expanded for the 2000-2001 school year and is now being offered at yeshivas on Long Island and in Toronto.

The two issues now being addressed are drug and alcohol abuse and the impact of virtuous behavior on the world's perception of religious Jews.

EXPORTING UNDERSTANDING

Austria and Japan were among the foreign destinations reached by A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute anti-bias training. Teachers, community leaders, volunteers and human rights activists in a number of countries participated in Institute lectures, workshops and training sessions.

Two ADL training specialists visited Japan, as part of ongoing collaboration between ADL and Japanese human rights groups in the development of a diversity network that will address all forms of bias and discrimination.

In Austria, ADL is focusing on countering extremism. ADL brought eight Austrian trainers to the United States for a five-day Train-the-Trainer program held in Chicago. During the visit, long-term plans for introducing A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute training into Austrian schools were also discussed.

MORAL LESSONS ­ FROM JAPAN TO BOSTON

To encourage students to reflect on issues of moral courage, ADL sponsored a number of competitions, one of which was the Sugihara "Do the Right Thing" Essay Contest. Public high school students in New York City, Boston and San Francisco wrote essays about moral or ethical choices they made and how they affected others.

The contest is a tribute to Chiune Sugihara, the World War II Japanese Ambassador to Lithuania, who defied his government's orders and issued visas that ensured the safe passage and survival of thousands of European Jews.

Some of the award winners traveled to Japan, where they spoke at the Centennial Celebration Ceremony to honor Chiune Sugihara. The Braun Holocaust Institute is coordinating the program, and All Nippon Airways is among the sponsors.

OTHER INITIATIVES

Over the past year, ADL has launched a number of groundbreaking educational initiatives and has earned recognition for some of its ongoing anti-bias programs.

* The Bearing Witness program on the Holocaust was offered to Catholic and Jewish educators across the United States. It was recognized by the National Catholic Educators Association as a Selected Program for Improving Catholic Education.

* The CHILDREN OF THE DREAM^® program for improving relations between African-American and Jewish high school students was selected by the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles as a "best practice" in effectively addressing issues of race and diversity.

* 35 ADL staffers participated in Combating Homophobia, a two-day training program designed for the Jewish community. It is now being offered to other groups. 

PALM BEACH COUNTY

As the new year dawned, the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute embarked on a new program to provide anti-bias and diversity training to schools, parents and community leaders in Palm Beach County, Florida. Underwritten by a one-million-dollar, three-year grant from the Quantum Foundation ­ a philanthropic agency that specializes in behavioral issues ­ the effort is in partnership with the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative, which works to promote healthy behaviors in children and teens. 

STEINBERG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

At the 22nd Annual National Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, sports agent and author Leigh Steinberg announced the expansion of the Steinberg Leadership Institute, which engages future ADL leaders in a yearlong series of training workshops and sessions to enhance their familiarity with ADL's agenda, from nine to 20 regions. The Institute, through its programs, is helping to ensure the growth of ADL in the years to come. Mr. Steinberg, center, is seen here with a group of last year's participants. 

CONNECTICUT

After a high school in Milford, CT, was the site of anti-Semitic and racist graffiti, ADL introduced its "Names Can Really Hurt Us" program ­ which trains student leaders to work with their peers on diversity issues ­ to the school.

OMAHA

More than 300 students from 25 Omaha metro area high schools participated in ADL's Plains States Regional Office's 14th Annual Prejudice Elimination Workshop, involving business, civic and educational associations.

Bridges Between Faiths

ADL worked internationally and locally to help people discover their common bonds and respect their differing faiths. We cooperated with the Vatican to expose and eradicate age-old causes of anti-Semitism, and organized local gatherings that allowed Jews, Muslims and Christians to express their views in a spirit of open inter-religious dialogue.

VATICAN-JEWISH RELATIONS

In keeping with ADL's ongoing relationship with the Vatican, the League joined in Pope John Paul II's effort to reconcile the Catholic Church with the Jewish people. To salute the Pope's March 2000 Great Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which ADL's Israel Office in Jerusalem helped coordinate, ADL placed ads in American and Israeli newspapers citing the unprecedented initiatives in Catholic-Jewish relations.

On the eve of that pilgrimage, the Vatican issued two landmark documents related to what the Holy See called its "tormented history" with the Jews. ADL praised Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past, which reviewed Catholic wrongdoings dating back centuries, including the Crusades, the Inquisition and the Holocaust. A week later, when the Vatican issued its Liturgy of Forgiveness, calling on the world to forgive Catholics for sins committed over the past 2,000 years, ADL expressed grave disappointment that the document made no specific reference to the Holocaust.

In September, ADL again spoke out against injustices by the Church when the Vatican beatified Pope Pius IX, who was responsible for the 1858 abduction of a six-year-old Jewish child and later blamed Rome's Jews for what he believed was a Protestant conspiracy to defeat the papacy. ADL called the Vatican's action "troubling."

OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY

Passion plays, based on New Testament narratives of the Passion of Jesus, have historically been used to justify theological anti-Semitism. One of the most notorious passion plays, performed annually since 1634 in Oberammergau, Germany, was praised three centuries later by Adolf Hitler as a "precious tool" in the fight against Jews and Judaism.

Since the late 1970s, ADL has been working with authorities in Oberammergau to reduce the strongly anti-Jewish tone of its Passion Play. Though some progress has been made, ADL has still recommended that tour groups visiting Oberammergau be informed about the problems related to the presentation of Jews and Judaism in the Play.

MOURNING CARDINAL O'CONNOR

ADL mourned the passing of an ally in the battle against anti-Semitism, John Cardinal O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York. At a memorial prayer vigil at St. Patrick's Cathedral, ADL Interfaith Affairs Director Rabbi Leon Klenicki spoke movingly of his friendship with the Cardinal and their joint efforts to improve Catholic-Jewish relations. National Director Abraham H. Foxman noted that the Cardinal "denounced anti-Semitism in all forms, declaring the hatred of the Jewish people a sin, and expressed unequivocal support for the State of Israel."

MESSAGE OF FREEDOM RESOUNDS

Interfaith Seders sponsored by ADL continued to unite racial and religious groups, as they shared Passover's message of freedom.

Chicago's fourth annual African American-Jewish Seder hosted guest-of-honor Sherialyn Byrdsong, widow of Ricky Byrdsong, a victim of the shooting rampage by racist gunman Benjamin Smith, who killed two people and wounded eight others in July 1999. She led the nearly 600 participants in reading the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the Jewish philosopher and theologian who marched with Dr. King in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

In Boston, ADL's African American-Jewish and Catholic-Jewish Seders were attended by more than 1,500 people. At the African American-Jewish Seder, the second annual Eyes on the Prize award was presented to the late New England Regional Director Leonard Zakim's widow, Joyce. The award recognizes her husband's achievements, including the vital role he played in organizing the first African American-Jewish Seder nearly 20 years ago and making it a continuing Boston tradition.

In New Jersey, the Statewide Solidarity Seder was conducted in the wake of 1999 bias attacks on the First Baptist Church and desecration of Jewish cemeteries, as well as the controversy over racial profiling by the State Police. Numerous Protestant and Catholic religious leaders attended the Seder, which was preceded by a commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In Ufa, the capital of Bashkiria, a Russian republic 1,000 miles east of Moscow, ADL and the Russian Jewish Congress co-sponsored the Interfaith Passover Celebration. Organized with the help of Hillel students from a local university, this first interfaith Seder in the former Soviet Union was attended by more than 400 Muslim and Christian students and clergy. With the goal of lessening the ignorance that still contributes to anti-Semitism in Russia, the Seder explained the themes of the Haggadah with presentations in a variety of media. The ADL Moscow Office gave each Seder participant a text emphasizing the Seder's universality and the historical bond between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

OTHER INTERFAITH PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

ADL groups across the United States and as far away as Peru have set up interfaith programs.

* In Peru, the ADL and the Interfaith Committee of Peru jointly presented a course on Jews and Judaism and Interfaith Dialogue to a group of Catholics and Protestants from Peru.

* In Dallas, Rabbi David Rosen, ADL's Israel Office Director, and Yahya Abdullah, Imam of the Masjid of al-Islam Mosque, shared passages from the Torah and the Koran with a large group of Muslims and Jews. 

NEW ENGLAND

Twenty-five Jewish, Christian and Muslim high school students from the ADL New England Region's Interfaith Youth Leadership Program attended a two-day Interfaith Youth Forum at the United Nations. World religious leaders spoke to them about visions for world peace, and the students made proposals for the Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the UN. At the completion of the Youth Forum, the students attended the Summit's opening ceremonies at the UN General Assembly, where they witnessed religious leaders in unified prayer. 

HOUSTON

Houston's Mayor Lee P. Brown proclaimed Fall 2000 as "Community of Respect" season in recognition of ADL's Coalition for Mutual Respect program. The six-year-old coalition sponsors pulpit exchanges and student training to promote understanding between diverse religious, ethnic and cultural groups in the Houston area.

Looking to the Future

Although humanity has entered a new millennium, many age-old problems remain ­ often in new guises, but as disturbing, and potentially destructive, as ever.

Anti-Semites and other haters are still among us, and have embraced 21st century technologies for disseminating their venom. It takes constant vigilance to maintain the separation of church and state in America ­ as we have recently been reminded by the new prominence of school vouchers and federally funded faith-based social services on the national agenda.

ADL is staying true to its role as a leader in civil rights and human relations by continually adapting to meet these new challenges:

* developing new methods of neutralizing the growing availability of anti-Semitic, racist and extremist material that is spread so easily via the Internet

* defending church-state separation through careful monitoring, legal action, training and the publication of educational materials

* working to ensure that Jews and non-Jews understand the complexities of the Middle East situation and the need to support the democratically elected Government of Israel

* spreading our message of inclusion and mutual respect, and against bigotry and discrimination, in every available venue ­ the media, the legislatures, the courts and the schools

As we have throughout our 87-year history ­ and as long as anti-Semitism, bigotry and prejudice exist ­ ADL will remain vigilant, and continue to build on our firm foundation of principles in the future.

Honoring Abe Foxman

ADL paid tribute to Abraham H. Foxman in March 2000 to mark his 13th year as ADL National Director and his three-and-a-half decades of service to ADL at a dinner attended by more than 1,200 guests from around the world. Speakers described Mr. Foxman as ­ in the words of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the master of ceremonies ­ "a foe of discrimination wherever it appeared, against whomever it might be directed."

"It is said in the Book of Isaiah, 'ohr la'goyim,' 'I will make you a light unto all nations.' Abe, throughout your life you've been a guiding light ­ to the people of our nation, to the citizens of Israel, and to those fighting for peace and justice around the world."

­ Then-President Bill Clinton

"I searched for a Greek word that best captures the way I feel, and it suddenly came to me...The word, from ancient Greek, is 'rabbi.' According to the wonderful writer Leo Rosten, 'rabbi' means 'my teacher,' not just 'teacher,' but 'my teacher.' And Abe, that is what you have been to me and to so many others in this room. You have...educated me about anti-Semitism and made me understand it far better than I ever did before, and like the greatest of rabbis, you just don't teach the ethical precepts of the Torah, you live them."

­ George Tenet, Director, CIA

"I thank Abe for the people of the City of New York, and personally, for all that he's done to reduce fear in the hearts of all Americans and to allow us to move forward in the quest for finding the things that unite us rather than focusing on the things that divide us."

­ Mayor Rudolph Giuliani

"Abe's contributions not just to ADL, but to America as a whole are formidable. It has been said that 'one man can make a difference.' Those of us who know Abe Foxman certainly know this to be true."

­Former President George Bush

"Throughout the years, you have prodded the conscience of the world, calling for greater respect for the dignity and worth of all individuals and promoting the ideals of freedom that have made our nation great."

­ Then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush