Anti-Defamation League leader says Mormons and Jews have a lot in common

Excerpts of Anti-Defamation League leader says Mormons and Jews have a lot in common by Lynn Arave, Deseret News

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Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the ADL, was in Utah last week and told the Deseret News editorial board Thursday morning that he had learned a lot during his meeting with six apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"We have a lot in common, Jews and Mormons," he said.

He said a group of Mormons visited him a few years ago but this was his first time in Salt Lake, outside of a few brief airport layovers.

He said he told LDS Church leaders, "We can maybe help you."

That's because he believes both Jews and Mormons suffer prejudice and bias — mostly from ignorance.

He said the LDS Church also lacks a voice on the outside, such as the Jews have with the ADL.

He said Mormons and Jews need to become closer and that mutual understanding is a good first step to better relations.

Foxman admitted that the Mormon proxy baptism doctrine — which was discussed with church leaders this week — is still a troubling issue for him. But he said, "We understand each other better. We will continue the conversation."

The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1913 "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry.

He said that a "perfect storm" exists right now because of three factors: the election of an African-American as president; immigration issues; and the economic crisis.

When Foxman began his ADL career, he said polls estimated that one in three Americans were anti-Semitic. Today it is down to 14 percent — though that still equals about 35 million Americans. What's more, Foxman said, 2009 saw the most anti-Semitic incidents worldwide since the ADL has been keeping records.