American Jewish Congress

Collection

Identifier: Org-0007-001-006b

Scope and Contents

The material in this collection dates from the late 1940s-1980s. During the 1940s Israel was founded, the Civil Rights movement began, and American Jews began to react to the legacy of the Holocaust. Later materials deal with the continuing Arab- Israeli conflict, issues of separation of church and state in the United States, and the emergence of hate groups and cults.

Dates

Creation: 1940-1999

Biographical / Historical

The American Jewish Congress was founded in 1918 in response to Jewish concerns arising at the time of World War I. The AJC has remained an advocate for Zionism as well as developing programs to fight racism and all forms discrimination. The Hartford chapter and its Women's Division were formed in the 1930s; they merged in 1982.

When the Hartford Chapter formed, they saw themselves as "a permanent body of Jewish organizations, to carry out the work of the [C]ongress in this city...", and they solicited the membership of and delegates from each of the other extant Jewish groups in town. The Hartford Chapter was particularly active during the turbulent 1960s and 70s.

Although the Hartford Chapter is no longer active, the national organization continues to advocate for continuity of American Jewish culture, the survival of Israel, women’s rights, and civil rights for all citizens.