American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists

American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists The AAJLJ represents the American Jewish legal community, defending Jewish interests and human right and abroad.

The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (IAJLJ) is a democratic organization whose membership is drawn from more than 30 countries. The Association was formed in 1969 in Jerusalem at the First International Congress of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists. That Congress, which named Nobel Prize Laureate and Human Rights Activist René Cassin honorary president and elected former Justice o

f the United States Supreme Court and United Nations Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg president, laid the foundation for a distinguished international legal fellowship dedicated to the precepts of Judaism and the rule of law. The new Association's first official act was to publish a ringing condemnation of the brutal and senseless Baghdad hanging of 15 Jewish men without due process. Later years saw the Association acting as an effective advocate for Soviet Jewry, championing repeal of UN Resolution 3379 (which had equated Zionism with racism), and fighting other injustices perpetrated against Jews. In 1983, the American members of the IAJLJ organized a national affiliate to better pursue the goals of the Association within the United States. The American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and the local chapters across the country play a critical role in fulfilling the aims of the Association. Through the AAJLJ members have ties with the thirty other countries represented by the IAJLJ. The AAJLJ also has a professional relationship with the Israel Bar Association. The AAJLJ represents the American Jewish legal community, defending Jewish interests and human rights in the U.S. To fulfill its mission, the AAJLJ:

works to safeguard the civil and human rights of Jews and others in the U.S. and abroad
sponsors regular programs featuring speakers and discussions on topical legal issues
promotes the study of Jewish law and ethics through law school courses, seminars and publications
assists the IAJLJ in utilizing its official international status as a United Nations Nongovernmental Organization to provide diplomatic and legal assistance to Jews around the world
publishes the AAJLJ Newsletter designed to keep members abreast of the Association's activities and topical legal subjects
organizes law oriented missions to Israel
participates in triennial world Jewish legal congresses in Jerusalem and in annual congresses abroad
conducts special Jewish-content continuing legal education and other programs including programs and events at annual ABA meetings

03/25/2025

Members of AAJLJ's Board just returned from Israel where they met with attorneys, judges, and other leaders to discuss major legal and policy issues. These issues included the rule of law, judicial reform/judicial overhaul, antisemitism, the law of war, and religious freedom. The delegation also bore witness to the devastation in the Gaza Envelope, the scene of the October 7massacre.

Join us to hear about what our delegation discussed, saw, and felt.

Join us!
11/13/2024

Join us!

03/09/2024

American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
U.S. Affiliate of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists

AAJLJ Statement on International Women’s Day 2024

It is International Women's Day. In a normal year, this important commemoration focuses on such pressing legal issues facing women and girls throughout the world as reproductive choice, domestic abuse, child marriage, sexual violence, female ge***al mutilation. They all remain top of mind, as they should. We always applaud progress and encourage leaders to remedy the gaps.

This year, however, we are compelled to demand that International Women's Day focus as well on the sexual violence and ge***al mutilation committed against Israeli women, even as too many purported women's advocates and "allies" have failed these women miserably.

We continue to believe all women, but even more so, we believe our Jewish sisters and Israeli women.

We mourn those who lost their dignity, their right to bodily safety, to Hamas terrorists and their supporters, and who continue to live, fearful and traumatized, while those who claim to "believe all women" violate them over and over again through their own moral failings. We mourn the undoing of years of what so many women saw as progress from the . Instead, Israeli women and their Jewish sisters are left with: .

We are outraged that the UN report on women took 5 months to be released. We are outraged at the deafening silence of purported women's advocates.

We demand that Hamas release the hostages safe and sound. We demand, and will continue to demand, apologies to the female Israeli victims of October 7th, who were disbelieved and treated as if "they had it coming."

This International Women's Day, we demand that the international community right its wrongs against Israeli women.

Robert Garson Richard Foltin
President Executive Director

Rhonda Lees Alyssa Grzesh
Regional Vice President, DC Director of Programming

March 8, 2024

AAJLJ honors Justice Elena Kagan with the Pursuit of Justicd award.
12/23/2013

AAJLJ honors Justice Elena Kagan with the Pursuit of Justicd award.

01/23/2013

Please join the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) for an Israeli Wine-Tasting Reception at the Embassy of Israel, on February 5, 2013, from 6 – 8:30 pm. Joshua London, Wine and Spirits columnist for the Washington Jewish Week, will educate us about the wines we will be sampling and Noam Katz, Minister of Public Diplomacy for the Embassy, will speak on “Israel’s Perspective on the Middle East: Challenges and Opportunities.”You don’t have to be an attorney to join us for this fun-filled, informative evening. Tickets are $45 for AAJLJ members and $60 for non-members. For more information send an email [email protected] or go to the AAJLJ website athttp://www.jewishlawyers.org/content/conferences_list.asp. RSVP by 1/31/2013

To a wonderful 2013. I am looking carefully at the trip to Israel. Cheers, Rhonda

Use the drop down menu above to purchase your wine-tasting reception tickets. Select the type and number of tickets and then click on the "Buy Now" button to pay securely and safely via PayPal.

11/24/2011

omg we have a page.

American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristspresents2011 Pursuit of Justice Award Ceremony honoringJack H. Olender...
11/24/2011

American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
presents

2011 Pursuit of Justice Award Ceremony honoring
Jack H. Olender and Judge Thomas Buergenthal



Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Women's National Democratic Club:
1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC (Dupont Circle)
6:00 p.m. ~ 9:00 pm

Members/Guest/New Member: $150
Nonmember $165
Judge $110
Student $ 95

Please pay via PayPal www.jewishlawyers.org or via check payable to “AAJLJ,” and sent to: Am. Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, 2020 K Street, NW, 7th Fl, Washington, D.C. 20006

Sponsors (list in formation):
Gold: Jack H. Olender and Jack H. Olender and Associates, P.C. www.Olender.com
Bronze: Lewin and Lewin, www.lewinlewin.com
Sheldon H. Klein and Gray Plant Mooty, www.gpmlaw.com
The George Washington University Law School
Steven Greenwald
Michael Melnicke
Robert L. Weinberg
Rhonda Lees

For information on sponsorship, please contact [email protected].


Orthodox Dietary Laws observed


Judge Buergenthal and Mr. Olender join a distinguished panel of previous recipients of the Pursuit of Justice Award, including: Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Hon. Abner Mikva, Hon. Robert Morgenthau, Hon. Seth Waxman, Hon. Stuart Eizenstat, Hon. Aharon Barak, Hon. Irwin Cotler, Hon. Michael Chertoff, Hon. Judith Kaye, Hon. Jonathan Lippman, Kenneth Feinberg, Nathan Lewin, Martin Mendelsohn, Peter J. Neufeld, Barry C. Scheck, Robert Weinberg.

Judge Thomas Buergenthal is a child of the Holocaust who became a world leader in the struggle for justice. He served as the American judge on the International Court of Justice; co-authored the first international human rights law textbook in the United States; as judge and president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, helped end the practice of disappearances in Honduras. Judge Buergenthal was nominated to the Court by the United States and elected by the U.N. General Assembly and the Security Council. He currently serves as the Lobingier Professor Emeritus of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence.

Jack H. Olender is president of the malpractice law firm Jack H. Olender and Associates, PC. He has served as president of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and the Trial Lawyers Association, D.C. He serves on the Executive Committees of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and is a longtime AAJLJ executive committee and Board member. Mr. Olender has been honored for his legal excellence, stalwart advocacy on behalf of the injured, and concern for human and civil rights.

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