AJC and Jewish Community of Japan Sign Historic Agreement to Formalize Partnership

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Jewish Community of Japan (JCJ), strengthening ties between Jewish communities in the United States and Japan, and underscoring AJC's commitment to building global Jewish solidarity.

The agreement formalizes long-standing and ongoing collaboration between AJC and JCJ, namely through AJC's Asia Pacific Institute (API) and William Petschek Global Jewish Communities Department, and will open new avenues for exchange, joint programming, and advocacy. This agreement expands AJC's global partnership network to 41 Jewish communities-and is the organization's inaugural partnership in Asia.

"This agreement reflects both the vitality and the diversity of Jewish life in Japan and around the globe," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "This formalized partnership between AJC and JCJ will help us to deepen bonds across continents and ensure that the voices of smaller Jewish communities are heard on the global stage."

The Jewish Community of Japan, founded in Tokyo in 1953, serves as a spiritual, cultural, and educational center for Jewish life in Japan, welcoming members from diverse backgrounds. Through this partnership, AJC and JCJ will work together to highlight the experiences of Japan's Jewish community, share resources and educational materials, and confront the challenges of antisemitism and intolerance.

"This agreement marks a milestone for our community," said Jonathan Tischler, JCJ President. "We are proud to join AJC's global network and to bring the unique perspective of Jews in Japan to the wider Jewish world. With so many of our younger members studying in the United States, and given our community's historic ties to American Jewry, formalizing our longstanding partnership with AJC adds tremendous value and further strengthens the bridges between our communities."

The new agreement builds on AJC's long history of international engagement and its mission to advance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, while promoting democratic values worldwide.

About American Jewish Committee (AJC):

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 41 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

About the Jewish Community of Japan (JCJ):
The Jewish Community of Japan (JCJ) is a welcoming congregation that supports the religious, educational, and social needs of its members and visitors. Jews have resided in Japan since at least the 1860s, and the JCJ was formally chartered in Tokyo in 1953. Today, the community is comprised of nearly 150 member families, many of whom are long-term residents of Japan.

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