New York, N.Y., October 11, 2001 … Joel J. Levy, a longtime Jewish community activist and former U.S. State Department official, has been named Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) New York Regional Office.

"Joel Levy has a deep and abiding commitment to Jewish community issues and to the core values and concerns of our community and of ADL," said Martin E. Karlinsky, ADL New York Regional Chair. "His expertise in intergroup dialogue, and the political awareness and diplomatic skills he developed in more than 20 years with the U.S. Foreign Service, will make him an excellent leader for the New York Region."

Most recently, Mr. Levy served as Chairman for Germany of The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and Co-Managing Director of the SHOAH Visual History Foundation for five years. Prior to that he was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over 20 years, working in the United States, Berlin, Malta, Tanzania and Romania. He also spent time in the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Korea and as a high school history teacher in Port Chester, N.Y. Mr. Levy received his B.A. in anthropology from Franklin and Marshall College, his M.A. in anthropology from Columbia University and also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He and his wife Carol reside in Brooklyn and have two children, Aharon Levy and Renanit Levy, who is married to Steven Mazie.

To schedule an interview with Mr. Levy or to receive a photo, please contact ADL Media Relations at (212) 885-7749.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.