The International Center for Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma (ICMGLT) mourns the passing of Abraham H. Foxman — Holocaust survivor, moral witness, educator, and one of the most influential global voices in the fight against antisemitism and hatred.
For decades, Abe Foxman stood at the forefront of humanity’s ongoing struggle against prejudice, dehumanization, historical denial, and violence. As National Director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly thirty years, he helped shape international awareness of antisemitism while advancing education, democratic values, intergroup understanding, and human dignity.
Born in Poland in 1940, Abe survived the Holocaust as a child in hiding in Lithuania with his Catholic nanny. For the rest of his life, he carried the living memory of catastrophe alongside an unwavering belief in moral responsibility. Rather than remaining imprisoned by the question of why the Holocaust happened, he urged generations to ask what might have changed had more people possessed the courage to stand up against hatred and indifference.
This resonates profoundly with ICMGLT’s mission. Abraham Foxman understood that trauma does not end with its survivors, that the legacies of hatred, silence, persecution, displacement, fear, and moral failure reverberate across generations, societies, institutions, and cultures. At the same time, he demonstrated that resilience, ethical leadership, remembrance, and education also become intergenerational legacies.
Throughout his life, Abe tirelessly advocated for Holocaust education as both remembrance and prevention. He recognized that education is among the strongest protections against the normalization of hatred and the erosion of democratic and human values. His leadership helped illuminate the dangers of antisemitism long before its contemporary global resurgence, including the proliferation of hate in emerging digital spaces.
Dr. Yael Danieli, Founder and CEO of ICMGLT, knew him, has held, and will hold as long as she lives, profound gratitude for his steadfast support of her pioneering work on trauma and its multigenerational legacies. Through his leadership and vision, he helped support and fund through the Anti-Defamation Leage (ADL) that he so excellently directed, alongside the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) her international research advancing the understanding of Holocaust survivors, their families, and the enduring psychological and societal consequences of the Holocaust and other massive trauma in succeeding generations. His recognition of the importance of this work reflected his deep commitment not only to remembrance, but also to healing, prevention, and the protection of future generations.
ICMGLT is honored by Abraham Foxman’s support of our research and educational mission. All of us who encountered him experienced not only a towering public figure, but a deeply human presence marked by warmth, conviction, total commitment, courage, wisdom, humor and compassion.
At a time of rising global polarization, extremism, antisemitism, racism, and collective trauma, Abraham Foxman’s moral clarity and lifelong insistence on confronting hatred remain urgently relevant. His life stands as a reminder that memory carries responsibility and that silence in the face of dehumanization has consequences not only for present generations, but for generations yet to come.
We extend our deepest condolences to his beloved wife Golda, his children, grandchildren, colleagues, and all who were touched by his extraordinary life and legacy.
May his memory be a blessing and an enduring call to conscience.
