The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), originally known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith ("B'nai B'rith" meaning "Order of the Covenant" or "Order of the Cut", referring to circumcision) is a left-wing Jewish organization founded in 1913 that seeks to fight anti-Semitism and defend the state of Israel. Its stated mission is described as:
“ | The immediate object of the League is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizen.[1] | ” |
It also claims to fight against many other forms of discrimination, while monitoring extremist groups and their rhetoric with regard to the immigration debate. In addition, it has been known to attack mainstream conservatives.
Its general stance on prayer in secular schools is that it is "unconstitutional."[2] The ADL also has a record of supporting gay rights, the separation of church and state,[3] hate crimes legislation, abortion and partial-birth abortion.[4] There is also evidence to suggest that the founders may have been Fabian socialists.[5]
The League has been criticized for attacking politically conservative Jews such as Dr. Laura Schlessinger.[6] The Jewish World Review stated that the League was "demonizing exponents of Jewish values",[7] while the National Prayer Network held that the ADL's past legislative involvement "empowered synagogue to mix with state by authorizing itself to teach the US Justice Department, FBI and all local police about hate crimes."[8]
In addition, it, or at least the former head Abraham Foxman, was also accused of being heavily biased regarding Judaism, especially when they failed to call out controversy for the anti-Catholic film 40 Days and 40 Nights, yet were willing to call out controversy regarding Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ for alleged anti-Semitism.[9] In spite of claiming it is against anti-Semitism, the ADL under Foxman allows Muslims to spread anti-Semitic rhetoric as well as allowing inter-faith audiences with Muslim groups (to the extent of demanding that "Sharia myth makers" be silenced), and not only covered up the Armenian Genocide, but Foxman even fired Andrew Tarsy for breaking ranks on this issue, and has even condemned Pope Benedict XVI for siding with Israel against Radical Islam.[10][11] In one case, he even awarded a known anti-Semite, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the "Courage to Care Award."[12] In addition, the ADL under Foxman was responsible for getting Marc Rich pardoned by Bill Clinton in the latter's infamous last minute pardons due to being paid by Rich $250,000 beforehand.[13] The ADL under Foxman also promoted Obama's pro-Palestinian policies since 2011,[14] even demanding that congressmen who were expressing concerns about Islamic lobbying stop engaging in "anti-Islamic conspiracy theories",[15] and even advocated for J Street to be included among major Jewish organizations despite their siding with John Kerry's reference to Israel as Apartheid.[16]