David Harris, CEO of AJC (American Jewish Committee), will visit Kansas City at the end of the month to speak at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence. President Truman recognized the newly created state of Israel in 1948. Harris will be in conversation with Kurt Graham, the Truman Library and Museum’s director, about Truman’s role in Israel’s creation and his continuing legacy today.
“There is no better place in the United States to tell the story of the founding of Israel than the Truman Library,” said Graham, who spoke at the AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem in June on the 70th anniversary of the rebirth of the state of Israel. “Our understandings of Israel’s founding and Truman’s leadership are inexorably tied together, and continue to affect our engagement with the Jewish state today. We are thrilled to welcome David Harris to our institution to share his insights with our community.”
The Truman Library and Museum will soon undergo a major renovation, including an expansion of the exhibits detailing Truman’s role in Israel’s founding. The space is slated to reopen in April 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Truman becoming president.
AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, has been described as “the Jewish State Department,” and the late Shimon Peres called Harris, who has led the organization since 1990, the “Foreign Minister of the Jewish people.” AJC maintains headquarters in New York, 11 international posts and 22 regional offices, including JCRB/AJC in Kansas City. Its unparalleled access for a non-governmental organization to government officials, diplomats and other world leaders helps AJC make an impact on the issues that matter most: combating rising anti-Semitism and extremism, defending Israel’s place in the world and safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all people.
Harris has been honored 16 times by foreign governments for his efforts in defense of human rights, advancement of the transatlantic partnership, and dedication to the Jewish people. He has been invited to serve on four official U.S. government delegations to international conferences. Educated at the University of Pennsylvania and London School of Economics, he has been a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University.
The program at the Truman Library and Museum will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. It is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Call 816-400-1214 or email to RSVP.