Press Releases

This week Texas and Hawaii become the sixteenth and seventeenth states, respectively, to pass legislation ensuring that state pension fund investments are withdrawn from corporations that support the Sudanese government and fund its genocidal campaign in Darfur.

NEW YORK, June 15, 2007 — Over 1,000 people gathered in New York City on Wednesday, June 13, to honor American Jewish World Service and former President Bill Clinton. The inspiring event, “Partners in Global Justice: An Evening with Former President William Jefferson Clinton,” was an opportunity to celebrate AJWS’ commitment to pursuing global justice …

NEW YORK, June 11, 2007 – Statement from Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, in support of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s announcement that New York State will participate in targeted divestment from companies invested in Sudan:“Today New York State took a critical step to ensure that the public sector’s pension funds, one of the …

NEW YORK, June 10, 2007 – This summer, 60 Jewish high school and college students will travel to the developing world for seven incredible weeks of volunteer service, Jewish learning and social justice.AJWS Volunteer Summer is a unique opportunity for young adults who are interested in bringing tikkun olam (repairing the world) to life by …

NEW YORK, June 1, 2007 – Zipporah Sein, the director of AJWS grantee Karen Women’s Organization in Burma, has won the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award in recognition of her leadership in helping the oppressed women of Burma achieve equality, education and other basic human rights. This prestigious award recognizes the life and work of …

NEW YORK, May 29, 2007 – A response from Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, in reaction to President Bush’s statement today on sanctions against the government of Sudan:President Bush today acknowledged the horrendous ongoing genocide in Darfur, focused a spotlight on President Bashir as the perpetrator of this evil against his own …

NEW YORK, March 28, 2007 – American Jewish World Service, one of the fastest growing Jewish organizations in the United States, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rabbi Lee T. Bycel as Executive Director of the AJWS Western Region. This is a newly created position and reflects the growth of AJWS on the West …

NEW YORK, March 5, 2007 – In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, a number of American Jewish World Service grantees from around the world are in New York City to speak on women’s issues at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Representing a diverse spectrum of approaches and …

First National Jewish Organization to Promote Targeted Divestment NEW YORK, February 21, 2007—American Jewish World Service announces the launch of a targeted divestment initiative as part of its ongoing advocacy campaign to end the genocide in Darfur. This initiative will promote individual, institutional, and government divestment from companies that help finance the Sudanese government’s brutal …

NEW YORK, February 4, 2007 — Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), strongly supports the resolution to divest New York City’s pension funds from companies doing business in Sudan. Her statement is below. “It is truly heartening—as a former Manhattan borough president and now as president of American Jewish World Service, an …