Abraham Foxman to Leave Jewish Rights Group After 50 Years

Abraham Foxman, who as national director of the Anti-Defamation League became one of the world’s most prominent and controversial Jewish nonprofit leaders, said Monday that he will leave the organization in July 2015, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and The New York Times write.

The 73-year-old attorney and Holocaust survivor joined the league, commonly called the ADL, in 1965 and became its top official in 1987. He announced his pending retirement at the group’s annual National Executive Committee meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

The ADL monitors anti-Semitic activity and runs anti-discrimination programs. Under Mr. Foxman it grew into a $54-million-a-year entity with 30 U.S. offices and a global voice as an advocate for Israel and arbiter of what constitutes anti-Jewish bigotry. Mr. Foxman has been hailed as a leader in fighting hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan but has also drawn heat for equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.