ADL Mourns Loss Of Longtime National Director Michael Foxman Without Revealing Details
- Foxman, the former national director of the Anti-Defamation League who spent decades holding global leaders and cultural figures accountable for antisemitism, has died at the age of 86.
- The ADL announced the passing of Foxman on May 10, 2026, stating that the organization deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director.
- Throughout his tenure, Foxman established himself as a prominent moral authority, often intersecting with the entertainment and business worlds.
Abraham H. Foxman, the former national director of the Anti-Defamation League who spent decades holding global leaders and cultural figures accountable for antisemitism, has died at the age of 86.
The ADL announced the passing of Foxman on May 10, 2026, stating that the organization deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director
. The organization did not provide specific details regarding the time or location of his death.
Throughout his tenure, Foxman established himself as a prominent moral authority, often intersecting with the entertainment and business worlds. During his 28 years as the head of the ADL before retiring in 2015, he counseled a wide array of influential figures, including CEOs, diplomats, presidents, and celebrities.
Foxman was known for his willingness to confront prominent public figures over antisemitic representations or remarks. He frequently acted as a representative for the Jewish community, accepting apologies from high-profile individuals after challenging their public statements or creative outputs.
His career at the ADL spanned 50 years. He first joined the organization as a staff lawyer after earning a law degree and eventually rose to the position of national director in 1987.
Foxman’s dedication to fighting hate was rooted in his personal history as a survivor of the Holocaust. Born in 1940 to Polish Jews in what is now Belarus, Foxman survived the war after a nanny had him baptized as a Catholic to hide his Jewish identity. Following the war, he was reunited with his parents, and the family relocated to New York.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the current director of the ADL, highlighted Foxman’s global impact and his commitment to human rights.
Abe’s voice was heard –– and listened to–– by popes, presidents, and prime ministers, a voice he used wherever Jews were at risk. Abe Foxman spoke on the global stage with moral authority and clarity and was relentlessly dedicated to his pursuit of a world without hate.
Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL Director
The ADL, founded in 1913, continues to operate as an anti-hate organization focused on stopping the defamation of the Jewish people and securing fair treatment and justice for all.