Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albrigh (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) Jewish groups issued various statements mourning the passing of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on March 23.
Albright, 84, had died from cancer, according to a statement from her family. Albright had served as the Secretary of State from 1997-2001 under President Bill Clinton, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993-7.
Jewish groups paid homage to her.
“ADL is heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Secretary of State #MadeleineAlbright, the first woman to serve in that position and a champion in the fight for freedom and against oppression,” the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tweeted. “Albright was a recipient of ADL’s Distinguished Leadership Award in 1996 and an honorary chair of our Centennial Committee. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Secretary Albright’s family members and loved ones. May her memory and legacy forever be a blessing.”
ADL is heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Secretary of State #MadeleineAlbright, the first woman to serve in that position and a champion in the fight for freedom and against oppression. pic.twitter.com/MBlW9Ny4ra
— ADL (@ADL) March 23, 2022
Albright was a recipient of ADL’s Distinguished Leadership Award in 1996 and an honorary chair of our Centennial Committee. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Secretary Albright's family members and loved ones. May her memory and legacy forever be a blessing.
— ADL (@ADL) March 23, 2022
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) similarly tweeted, “AJC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend Madeleine Albright. She was a true trailblazer who went from fleeing the Nazis as a child to leading American diplomacy as the first woman to serve as Secretary of State. May her memory be a blessing.”
AJC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend Madeleine Albright.
She was a true trailblazer who went from fleeing the Nazis as a child to leading American diplomacy as the first woman to serve as Secretary of State.
May her memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/0oRPV6d4QD
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) March 23, 2022
Democratic Majority for Israel Co-Chairs Ann Lewis and Todd Richman and President and CEO Mark Mellman also said in a statement, “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Dr. Madeleine Albright. As our nation’s top diplomat, she broke barriers and fought for human rights at home and abroad. A refugee from Nazi Germany and Soviet communism, she was tough, courageous, and a clear-speaking believer in democracy. Her moral leadership and courage will be an inspiration for generations to come. We’re indebted to her for her service to America.”
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said in a statement that Albright had “paved the way for women in high-ranking positions in U.S. politics, serving as our country’s permanent representative to the United Nations and its first female secretary of state” and called Middle East terrorism “the instrument of cowards.” “She was also a stalwart ally in the international efforts on behalf of Holocaust survivors. Addressing the opening ceremony of the December 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets, she declared, ‘Our goal must be justice, even though justice in this searing context is a highly relative term. We know well our inability to provide true justice to Holocaust victims. We cannot restore life nor rewrite history. But we can make the ledger slightly less out of balance by devoting our time, energy and resources to the search for answers, the return of property and the payment of just claims.’ On behalf of the more than 100 Jewish communities affiliated with the World Jewish Congress, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Albright family. May her memory be for a blessing and may she continue to inspire future generations.”
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