Summary: June 13, 2011 – New York – AJC Executive Director David Harris, in his national radio commentary, speaks about the close relations between AJC and Germany that began shortly after World War II, and expanded significantly over the decades. The AJC weekly radio messages are broadcast on the CBS radio network, before The Osgood File. All AJC radio commentaries since 2001 are available at www.ajc.org/radiocommentary. LISTEN. In recent days, we received two groups of German officials at AJC. What’s important is that such a program would have been unthinkable not that long ago. The ravages of the Second World War -- and the Nazi attempt to eliminate the Jewish people -- left long shadows and searing pain. AJC was the first Jewish organization to try to write a new chapter in German-Jewish relations. It began tentatively decades ago. It’s evolved and grown. It’s touched more and more young people on both sides. Needless to say, essential discussions about history are never easy. Yet the conversations have also focused on the present and the future. A common agenda has emerged – to defend democracy, protect human dignity, combat anti-Semitism, and guard against historical denial. At AJC, we’re proud of this new chapter. It tells us to never stop dreaming about what can be – and to never, never, stop working for a more hopeful world. Visit ajc.org. This is David Harris of AJC
