An Interview with Daniel Elbaum, American Jewish Committee Regional Director in Chicago

May 9, 2011

Recently Daniel Elbaum, Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee in Chicago took some time to answer a few questions via email about the work of his organization which includes reaching out and forming connections to a diverse array of other communities and organizations. In this interview, Mr. Elbaum details some of the innovative programming his office is doing, including partnering with a wide variety of foreign consulates and cultural institutions and shares some of his own story and what led him to work for the AJC.

NVR: Can you give us a snapshot of the work of AJC in Chicago? Are there particular programs or activities that have been influenced by certain issues that have arisen with the Chicago Jewish community, or within the broader city community?

We are global advocates for the Jewish people and universal human rights. Although AJC has a global agenda, we live in Chicago and events that occur here affect us. Because Chicago has such an incredibly diverse ethnic and religious population, as well as being a center for diplomats representing some 70 countries, AJC has a broad agenda that begins with building relationships.

We recognize that over time, by building relationships we can impact attitudes and action in other places.

We hold a wonderful event every year to introduce local diplomats to the different religious and ethnic communities of Chicago. We respond to local events as they occur, but more importantly, we are proactive in building relationships with local figures so that our first meeting is not in a time of crisis.

Just to give you a snapshot of activity this month, we already have meetings scheduled with three members of Congress, five diplomats, and several religious leaders. In addition, our office has events planned, or will be participating in events, with the German Consulate, the Mexican American Museum of Art, the new mayor of Chicago, the mayor of Jerusalem who will be visiting Chicago, and a Shabbat dinner with the Minister President of Thuringia who will be visiting from Germany. 

NVR: What role does your board play in the activities of AJC in Chicago? Can you tell us a little about some of the lay leaders who are helping your office to achieve its goals?

I am blessed with a very engaged and supportive board. We on the staff are acutely aware that we would not have the influence that we have without them standing by our side. It is difficult to highlight just a few because I know that I will be forced to leave so many out. Larry Adelman, my regional President, juggles an incredibly busy work schedule and gives so generously of himself to be present at nearly every meeting. Ron Gidwitz, our campaign chair, is a pillar of our community and has made our fundraising efforts the most successful in the entire agency.

I am leaving out scores of important people, but let me also just add that we have a wonderful young leadership group chaired by Dan Klaff and Amy Katz. The lifeblood of any organization is its youth and we are so pleased that a new generation of leaders is emerging.

NVR: You were recently at the 2011 AJC Global Forum in Washington, DC, where you led a session on diplomatic outreach – is this something you feel passionate about personally? How important is diplomatic outreach when it comes to the work you are doing in Chicago?

It is of vital importance. There are over 70 foreign consulates in Chicago representing their nations’ interests. In Chicago, and at AJC regional offices around the nation, we regard this as a true opportunity to both educate them about our issues and develop relationships. Many of these diplomats will go on to senior positions in their governments and shape the global affairs of their nations.

I feel incredibly passionate about the importance of this outreach and blessed that I have the opportunity to speak and get to know these diplomats. I have developed some wonderful friendships and learned so much about different nations and cultures.

NVR: Can you tell us about your own background and how you came to work for AJC in Chicago?

I am the grandchild of Holocaust survivors and I am sure that played some role in my decision to enter Jewish life. After I graduated law school, I became a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. I learned a lot there both about our society and myself and that experience really shaped me as a person.

After having worked on a hate crime case, I learned about the role that Jewish organizations had played passing hate-crime legislation and I was amazed. I then also learned of the role organizations like AJC had in fighting for the rights of Catholic parents to send their children to Catholic school and that AJC sponsored the research cited in Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark civil rights case that desegregated America’s schools. I went to work with a different Jewish organization and then met more and more of AJC’s local leaders. When the opportunity came up to apply for Director of the Chicago office, my wife said “If you don’t apply for this you are going to hate yourself.” She is usually right and here I am. 

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson/The New Vilna Review 2011.

Full disclosure: the publisher of the New Vilna Review is a member of the AJC Boston ACCESS circle.