Press Releases

July 8, 2019

Statement by American Jewish World Service on The Commission on Unalienable Rights

“As a faith-based organization fully committed to the human rights and dignity of every person, we are deeply concerned that the Commission on Unalienable Rights may be yet another method by which the Trump administration aims to inject dangerous religious beliefs into American foreign policy. This is a way to further undermine the human rights of vulnerable individuals and communities around the world, including women and girls, LGBTQI people, indigenous people and ethnic minorities.

June 11, 2019

AJWS calls on U.S. House to pass new bill authorizing humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees and imposing sanctions on Burmese military officials

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Director of Government Affairs Rori Kramer issued the following statement on the introduction of the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2019 (HR 3190) in the U.S. House: “We applaud Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) for introducing legislation that would advance justice for the Rohingya …

May 7, 2019

AJWS Celebrates the Release of Two Journalists in Burma and Calls for Justice and Accountability on Rohingya Genocide

Leading Global Jewish Human Rights organization declares “silence in the face of genocide is not an option.” Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), issued this statement: “Today, we celebrate the release of the two brave journalists in Burma who had been wrongly imprisoned for over 500 days for reporting on …

April 27, 2019

AJWS Responds to the California Synagogue Shooting

American Jewish World Service is “more committed than ever to fighting violence motivated by anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry.” Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), issued this statement: “We are shocked and saddened by news of another horrific attack on an American synagogue, this time in California as worshippers celebrated the …

April 17, 2019

Jewish Rohingya Justice Network Supports Bipartisan Legislation on Burma

The American Jewish community applauds the United States Congress for defending the rights and dignity of the Rohingya people. The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network (JRJN)* issued this statement following the introduction of the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019 (S. 1186) in the U.S. Senate: “The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network applauds the bipartisan …

April 11, 2019

American Jewish World Service Calls on U.S. Congress to Pass Burma Legislation

Senate bill would authorize humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees and impose sanctions on Burmese military officials American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Director of Government Affairs Rori Kramer issued the following statement on the introduction of the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019 (S.1186) in the U.S. Senate: “As the leading global Jewish organization supporting …

March 22, 2019

American Jewish World Service Denounces Abuse and Harassment of Women in the Organized Jewish Community

Leading Global Human Rights Organization Supports Advocates for Gender Equity Worldwide In response to a detailed report in the New York Times about philanthropist Michael Steinhardt’s abuse and harassment of women professionals working in the organized Jewish community, Robert Bank, the President and CEO of American Jewish World Service and a member of the Executive …

March 20, 2019

26 Rabbis Call on U.S. State Department to Defend Human Rights in Guatemala

Rabbis ask Secretary Mike Pompeo to denounce Guatemalan bill offering impunity to war crimes and other atrocities Twenty-six rabbis from 19 states, who lobbied this month in Washington,D.C. with American Jewish World Service (AJWS) for human rights, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an effort to defend the rule of law …

March 14, 2019

Rabbis from Across the Country Go to Washington, D.C. to Urge Support for Human Rights

Social justice advocates meet with leaders of Congress and the State Department to lobby for human rights in the developing world WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twenty-six rabbis from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. this week as part of a human rights lobbying effort organized by American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish organization supporting advocates for human …

March 11, 2019

Trump’s Latest Budget Cuts Would Harm the World’s Most Vulnerable People

American Jewish World Service decries new proposed curbs on foreign aid and State Department human rights programs American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Director of Government Affairs Rori Kramer issued this statement following the introduction of the President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget: “As the leading global Jewish organization that supports advocates for human rights and …