Intergroup Relations

AJC builds bridges across religious, ethnic and racial lines. AJC believes that fostering democratic pluralism is the best insurance for Jewish security in a diverse society. The Washington Regional Office has been at the forefront in creating new and important coalitions with the Asian American, Latino, Indian American, and African American communities, as well as reaching out to key non-Jewish religious leaders in the community.

This past year, AJC hosted several events to further our relationships with our intergroup partners. Some highlights inlcuded:

AJC Washington and the JCRC of Greater Washington co-sponsored a private briefing at the Embassy of Israel for Christian and Muslim community partners at the Embassy of Israel to discuss the Gaza flotilla incident and its implications.

AJC joined with the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), the Maryland Muslim Council, and Washington Hebrew Congregation to donate 13,340 meals to Pakistani flood victims affected by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history. The Kosher/Halal meals were collected by Washington Hebrew Congregation through the proect Elijah Foundation. Pakistan International Airlines donated the shipment of the meals to Pakistan, and the APPNA members and partners on the ground oversaw the distribution of the meals.

AJC convened a group of 15 local Presbyterian pastors and 15 local rabbis and Jewish communal leaders for a briefing and dialogue with Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs, on peacemaking and interfaith efforts in Israel and on Jewish-Presbyterian relations. In addition, the aJC Washington Board was briefed by Rev. John Wimberly of Western Presbyterian Church on current Presbyterian-Jewish relations. AJC Washington Director Melanie Maron Pell spoke about Jewish-Presbyterian relations at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, MD. 

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