Abraham Foxman. Photo: Justin Hoch.

Abraham Foxman

National director of the Anti-Defamation League

Although he announced that he would step down in early 2015 as the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman will likely remain one of the most sought-after voices on issues ranging from antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. Foxman, a child survivor of the Holocaust, will certainly be a hard act to follow. He started at the ADL in 1965; under his leadership, the agency expanded its reach with 30 regional offices across the United States and an office in Israel. For decades, he has served as a “global arbiter” of what constitutes antisemitism – often taking on powerful opponents – and as a staunch advocate of the Jewish state.