American Jewish Committee Establishes Partnership With Bulgarian Jewish Community

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 9 August 2000

The American Jewish Committee and the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria, "Shalom," have established a cooperative association to advance the interests of the Bulgarian and American Jewish communities.

"Tied together by history and tradition, formalizing our relationship with the Bulgarian Jewish community is a natural extension of AJC's unique international work," said Bruce M. Ramer, president of the American Jewish Committee. "We look forward to deepening ties between American and Bulgarian Jews for the benefit of both of our communities."

This is the American Jewish Committee's seventh international partnership. The others are with Jewish communal organizations in Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Mexico and Slovakia. In addition, the AJC maintains offices in Berlin, Geneva, Jerusalem and Warsaw.

AJC and the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria will jointly advocate on behalf of Jewish concerns in Southeastern Europe; enhance Israel's security, peace and diplomatic normalization; combat anti-Semitic and other hate groups and strengthen the forces of democratic pluralism; promote education and memory of the Holocaust and counteract the dissemination of Holocaust revisionism; counter the influence of Islamic extremism and other movements inimical to the security and welfare of the Jewish people; and encourage greater dialogue and understanding within the Diaspora and between Israelis and Jews in other lands.

Both organizations strongly believe that these complex and critical issues can be adequately addressed only through a carefully honed strategy based on sophisticated research and analysis, a well-calibrated balance between private diplomacy and public advocacy, the fullest possible international cooperation among Jewish institutions and communities, and a commitment to the long term.

The association may include joint sponsorship of research, publications, conferences, exchange programs and special projects, and linkage of web sites.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org