Abraham Henry Foxman (born May 1, 1940, in Baranowicz, Poland, now Baranovichi, Belarus) is a Polish-born American lawyer, author, and prominent Jewish leader and activist against antisemitism, extremism, and hate groups. He served as the long-time national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 1987 to 2015, focusing on combating antisemitism, hate crimes, and extremism while advocating for civil rights and defending Israel. His early life was profoundly shaped by the Holocaust; during World War II, his parents sent him to live with a Polish Catholic nurse who hid him and raised him as a Christian. After reunification with his parents in 1946, the family emigrated to the United States in 1950, settling in Brooklyn, New York. Foxman earned a bachelor's degree from the City College of New York, a law degree from New York University School of Law, and pursued graduate studies in Jewish studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as well as international economics at The New School. Joining the ADL in 1965 in international affairs, he rose through the ranks to lead the organization for nearly three decades before retiring in 2015 after nearly 50 years of service. Post-retirement, he holds the title of National Director Emeritus and served as vice chair of the Museum of Jewish Heritage's board of trustees from 2016 to 2021, focusing on antisemitism initiatives. Foxman is married to Golda Foxman and remains an influential voice in Jewish and civil rights communities, though his leadership has sometimes involved controversies, including adversarial relations with figures like John Hagee over perceived smears. He has authored several books, including his memoir, Narrative of a Survivor (2021).