Adl

In response to "Respect Free Speech, but Note the Words," Commentary, March 12: David Lehrer's logic and reasoning leave a lot to be desired. His attempt to label Anti-Defamation League's spying operations as a public service is atrocious. He just added insult to injury to all intelligent free Americans. We are further insulted by his comparison of the ADL's understanding of free speech to that of our Founding Fathers. The ADL's systematic gathering of data on law-abiding American citizens for the purpose of selling it to racist regimes in Israel and South Africa is spying, and as such it is an illegal act that must be punished.

It often seems these days as if the United States is reliving many of its most wrenching 19th century controversies. Take, for example, the increasing antipathy to Islam and to American Muslims. Those sentiments mirror the nativist contagion that surged like a recurrent fever through the United States for most of the 1800s. From lower Manhattan to Wisconsin to Tennessee to Temecula, Islamic congregations seeking to build new mosques have encountered hostile opposition. A growing number of organizations — some of them overlapping with the "tea party" movement — promote animosity to Islam as a creed.

It often seems these days as if the United States is reliving many of its most wrenching 19th century controversies. Take, for example, the increasing antipathy to Islam and to American Muslims. Those sentiments mirror the nativist contagion that surged like a recurrent fever through the United States for most of the 1800s. From lower Manhattan to Wisconsin to Tennessee to Temecula, Islamic congregations seeking to build new mosques have encountered hostile opposition. A growing number of organizations — some of them overlapping with the "tea party" movement — promote animosity to Islam as a creed.

Colin Powell, Ronald Reagan, Walter Annenberg, Henry Kissinger and John F. Kennedy. Steven Spielberg joined that list Wednesday when the Anti-Defamation League awarded him its highest honor, the America's Democratic Legacy Award, at a gala at the Beverly Hilton. "We picked him a long time ago, and waited with patience," said ADL's national director Abraham Foxman, at the cocktail reception. Guests included dinner Co-Chairmen Sid Sheinberg, Bruce Ramer, Harold Brown and Jeffrey Katzenberg; DreamWorks partner Stacey Snider and President Jeff Small; ADL national Chairman Robert Sugarman, and ADL's regional board Chairwoman Nicole Mutchnik, director Amanda Susskind, and Vice-Chairman Steven Nichols; plus Richard Dreyfuss, Noa Dori and Adam Lambert.

The Anti-Defamation League defended its record as a civil rights group Friday and said it will cooperate with authorities who are investigating whether the organization collected confidential police information on citizens and groups. But San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith said that Anti-Defamation League employees involved in intelligence gathering could face many felony counts of receiving confidential files, eavesdropping, tax violations and conspiracy.

Community activists Bea and Ray Gelgur recently received honors from the Anti-Defamation League of Orange County/Long Beach. The league, which held its 16th annual Appeals Brunch on Sunday, honored the Gelgurs for their work in building a stronger and more tolerant society. "It's a very special honor," said Ray Gelgur, who has served on the league's regional board for more than 30 years and was appointed associate national commissioner in 1997.

When I heard about the spy operations of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL), I didn't think much of it at first. That is until I received a letter earlier this month from the San Francisco Police Department informing me that files under my name were confiscated from the home of a police officer recruited by the ADL. In targeting Arabs and Muslims indiscriminately and without any reasonable cause, the ADL has shown itself to be...

Contrary to your assertion ("Blacks, Jews Take New Steps to Heal Divisions," June 10), the Anti-Defamation League does not and has never opposed affirmative action. The ADL has always supported the original conception of affirmative action as calling for equality of opportunity, not equality of result. As such, we endorse special recruiting and educational efforts to ensure that victims of discrimination can have the training and tools necessary to compete in a merit-based process.

The leader of one of two Jewish organizations that this week condemned Mel Gibson's forthcoming film, "The Passion of the Christ," as an incitement to anti-Semitism said Friday that his organization is preparing an 11th-hour appeal for a cinematic postscript to the movie. Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview that he has all but given up hope Gibson's final cut of the film will omit problematic material from the synoptic Gospels.

Re "Sports Agent Tackles Ex-Protege in Court," Oct. 22: After reading a number of articles about Leigh Steinberg and the unfortunate trial in which he is embroiled, it is important to examine another side of this very unselfish super sports agent. The Anti-Defamation League of Orange County and Long Beach is a vibrant and important agency in our community today because of Steinberg's vision. He saw the need to train and develop vigorous and motivated individuals to pick up the mantle of leadership so the ADL can continue its important work.

From a Times Staff Writer Los Angeles attorney Amanda Susskind has been named director of the Anti-Defamation League's Los Angeles regional office, officials said Thursday. Susskind replaces David Lehrer, who was dismissed Dec. 21 by ADL National Director Abraham Foxman in New York. Susskind is a partner in the law firm of Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish. She is a member of the California Women Lawyers, the Women Lawyers Assn. of Los Angeles and Temple Emanuel.

NEW YORK -- Anti-Semitic sentiment in the United States has risen since the Sept. 11 attacks and the upsurge in Palestinian-Israeli violence, reversing a decade-long decline in anti-Jewish sentiment, a prominent Jewish organization said Tuesday. The Anti-Defamation League said a survey of 1,000 Americans 18 or older conducted early this year showed that 17% of Americans were strongly anti-Semitic, up from the 12% seen in the previous survey four years earlier.

To those who have wondered whatever became of David Lehrer, I bring good news. He's back. I am speaking metaphorically here. Lehrer actually never left town, but was booted unceremoniously from his position as West Coast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. When I say he's back, it is in a somewhat different form, but with the same altruistic aim. He wants us all to get along. The booting was done three months ago by national ADL director Abraham Foxman, or "Abominable Abe," as he is known in certain Southern California circles.

Two Los Angeles officials Tuesday sought to reconsider a $30,000 fee waiver granted to the Nation of Islam for use of the Convention Center, following a challenge by the Anti-Defamation League. City Councilmen Jack Weiss and Eric Garcetti introduced a motion asking for the city attorney to determine whether the event, scheduled for Feb. 14-16, meets the requirements for a waiver. "The allegations raised in the ADL letter are serious," Weiss said.

Outrageous! Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League terminated David Lehrer, the Los Angeles regional director (Jan. 1). Lehrer has been one of the most important voices for multiethnic and religious understanding in this city. Who has been a better leader in establishing ties to the African American, Hispanic and Muslim communities? As non-Jewish administrators in the Los Angeles Unified School District, we have brought two ADL programs created by Lehrer into our schools. The World of Difference program has educated many teachers on multicultural topics, and the Children of the Dream program has given young people a real opportunity to meet and dialogue with others from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The Anti-Defamation League of the Conejo Valley will honor two members of the community Monday at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks. Msgr. Peter O'Reilly of St. Maximilian of Kolbe in Thousand Oaks will be honored with the ADL Distinguished Public Service Award for his efforts in "implementing significant improvement in the relationship between Catholics and Jews." Martin Weisman of Thousand Oaks will be honored with the ADL Distinguished Community Service Award.