Abraham 'Abe' Foxman, the longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a leading voice against antisemitism in the United States, has died at the age of 86. He led the organization from 1987 to 2015, after joining in 1965, and later served as national director emeritus.

Born in 1940 in Baranovichi, in present-day Belarus, to Polish Jewish parents, Foxman survived the Holocaust as a child after being hidden by his Catholic nanny. Baptized and raised as a Catholic for several years, he was reunited with his parents in 1944, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1950.

Over nearly three decades at the helm of the Anti-Defamation League, Foxman became a prominent advocate against antisemitism, racism, and discrimination. He also served on the council of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum under multiple presidents and held a leadership role at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.

Foxman received numerous honors during his career, including France’s Legion of Honor. Israeli leaders and others paid tribute to his lifelong dedication to defending the Jewish people and strengthening ties between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. He is survived by his wife, Golda, and their two children.