American Jewish Committee Hosts Annual Meeting

The Westminster Schools, educational home base for the Selig family, was the venue for the 81st annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee with the election and installation of new leadership.

On Wednesday, May 14, Mindy Selig Shoulberg took the presidential torch from Belinda Morris as her two-year term came to an end. Keynote speaker, Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, delivered observations about unfolding hot topics headlining the news.

Morris welcomed the group, especially the “newer faces” as she focused on future generational leadership. She then proceeded to list many accomplishments of those [relatives] who had just graduated college or professional school, and said, “And I married off my last daughter.”

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Belinda Morris received a standing ovation for her accomplishments // Photo Credit: Ben Leschins

The Temple Rabbi Loren Lapidus gave the D’var Torah, Pirkei Avot, inspiring us to “run to do mitzvahs, even if it means running into adversity, standing up when under attack in unprecedented times … and joining hands.” She also spoke of The Temple’s longstanding relationship with the AJC.

Access (AJC’s younger group) board member and Emory University medical student David Culp spoke about antisemitism on campus and that he met with the school’s dean with Dov Wilker, AJC Regional Director, along for support. Culp joked that he got involved after Oct. 7 “because his parents wanted him to find a Jewish husband.”

Gabby and Mark Spatt presented Wilker with an Omega Speedmaster watch in tandem with his recent recognition with the Distinguished Advocate Award. Incoming Vice President Shauna Grosswald shared how she uses the AJC dashboard as an important tool. Having returned from a conference in Washington, D.C., she related how students universally raised their hands when queried about antisemitism.

Morris delivered her outgoing presidential review before receiving a standing ovation, as she asked, “Who could have ever predicted that Oct. 7 would change the world?”

American Jewish Committee Policy Chief Jason Isaacson is joined by AJC Regional Director Dov Wilker to close the event.

She touted that more than $2 million has been raised this year. Some of the impact events under Morris’ term include: 426 new individuals in the Access Data Base; 160 actions taken by elected officials after engagement; 151 media hits inside Atlanta, 61 outside; and 1,004 first-time AJC attendees who do not identify as Jewish.

Morris introduced a video of Gov. Brian Kemp and wife, Marty, where he complimented the AJC for helping to make the city and state great. Craig Kaufman, nominating committee chair, presented Morris with a delicate glass gavel and installed the new officers.

Shoulberg, a graduate of Westminster, accepted the top lay leadership role explaining her own journey having an adult bat mitzvah and “carrying her family’s generational gift of history and role modeling.”

She commended her father, Steve Selig, for leading with purpose and mother, Janet, for leading with heart and her own intentionality in raising her daughters “knowing who they are.”

She alluded to the progress at her alma mater, Westminster, a “Christian school” whose president was on hand, as she explained her future priorities for AJC.

Mindy Selig Shoulberg (center) is flanked by her aunt, Kathy Selig, and father, Steve Selig.

Isaacson, a longtime analyst of U.S. strategic affairs and an advocate for Israel-Arab peace, ranged from cautious to optimistic in his comments based on the perceived unpredictability of President Donald Trump, whom he rarely mentioned by name. Isaacson connected many dots about news in Syria, Qatar, and U.S.-Israel relations, the latter he felt is on new ground with Trump having met with potential partners not necessarily including Israel.

He said, “The AJC position has been to support Ukraine. I hope they are not disadvantaged by Trump’s relationship with Putin.” He felt the only hope for change among the Palestinians lies with their “thought leaders” educating children not to hate. On a positive note, he saw a glimmer that maybe … Syria and Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.

“It could be huge. Maybe even opening relations with Iran.”

Isaacson closed by admiring Atlanta, “Every time I leave here, I get inspired. Especially with your example of the Access program with 700 young people that started 25 years ago from basically nothing.”