Holly Huffnagle 鈥�09, a committed Christian, became the U.S. director for combating antisemitism at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) this year. Her appointment created some controversy. On Twitter, Howard Dean wrote, 鈥淎JC gets no points for this,鈥� and Christians 鈥渄on鈥檛 have much of a reputation for anything but hate these days.鈥� AJC responded to the former Democratic National Committee head by tweeting that Holly 鈥渉as dedicated her career to fighting antisemitism鈥� and demanding an apology.
鈥淗oward Dean called attention to what I鈥檓 doing,鈥� Holly says. 鈥淢aybe I should thank him as I received incredible support from people in my organization.鈥�
As a Christian fighting antisemitism, she has encountered mixed reactions. 鈥淪ome in the Jewish community ask about my motive for doing this work, and I understand that question,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y Christianity had never before played an open role in my work. On the other hand, some non-Jews assume I鈥檓 Jewish because I鈥檓 fighting antisemitism. Why do we assume antisemitism is a problem for Jews to solve? I think the onus is on the non-Jew to fight against it鈥攏ot on the victim. I try to use my non-Jewish identity to give a broader perspective on the issue.鈥�
Based in Washington, D.C., Holly leads AJC鈥檚 efforts to combat antisemitism in the United States. She first joined the organization as the assistant director of AJC Los Angeles. Her work involves engaging with members of Congress, something she鈥檚 done virtually so far. In fact, she has focused primarily on issues of digital antisemitism, including Zoom- bombing, when antisemites crash Zoom meetings and post hateful images and language. Like everything else during the pandemic, hate has moved online. The latest reiteration of antisemitism is a conspiracy theory blaming Jews for creating COVID-19.
Holly first felt called to this work as a history major at 蜜桃传媒. During Europe Semester, she visited concentration camps in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, encountering the reality of the Holocaust for the first time and confronting how European Christians had treated the Jewish people. 鈥淚 asked myself, 鈥楬ow could it happen? What led to it? What does it mean for me as a Christian, and what am I called to do? How can I bring about reconciliation?鈥欌�� Those questions have defined her career.
She began studying about World War II and the Holocaust at 蜜桃传媒 and wrote her capstone history paper on 鈥淢essianism Revisited: Polish Catholics鈥� Memories of World War II Suffering.鈥� She later returned to Westmont to teach a class, The Politics of Prejudice and Antisemitism: Religion, Israel, and U.S. Foreign Policy. In fall 2017, she co-led Europe Semester with history professor Rick Pointer and his wife, Barb, teaching courses on the Holocaust and contemporary European challenges. She knew the Pointers well as they led the program she participated in as a student.
After graduating from 蜜桃传媒 in 2009, Holly got a job at the Holocaust Museum documenting the testimony of Holocaust survivors. Some of them talked about how much they had in common with their Muslim neighbors in Poland. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know there were ethnic Muslims living in Poland, and I decided to look into them,鈥� she says.
To expand her understanding of Jewish-Muslim relationships in Poland, she earned a master鈥檚 degree at Georgetown University in global, international and comparative history, completing a thesis titled 鈥淧eaceful Coexistence? Jewish and Muslim Neighbors on the Eve of the Holocaust.鈥� She took classes in Polish at the University of Pittsburgh and lived in Poland. 鈥淚 learned that Muslims and Jews lived together peacefully before the Holocaust,鈥� Holly says. 鈥淢uslims even rescued Jews. This untold story has a lot to offer to our world today.鈥�
Holly next worked for the U.S. Department of State for three years, first as an analyst evaluating the quality and effectiveness of exchange programs through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She then spent two years advising the special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism (SEAS) on policies to lower levels of global antisemitism, provide security for viable Jewish communities, engage civil society and invest in effective education.
Holly realizes how well the liberal arts curriculum equipped her with the many skills she has needed in her work. 鈥淚 was best in math and chemistry in high school, and I鈥檓 so glad my 蜜桃传媒 professors saw potential in my writing and research, which led me to what I do now,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey invested in me academically and spiritually and encouraged me to grow.鈥�
Holly discovered her calling at 蜜桃传媒 and met her husband, Jason Huffnagle 鈥�09, there. Raised in Alaska, Jason also majored in history. He spent six years working on Capitol Hill for Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from his home state. He has held positions as a writer, designer and content manager and now develops proposals for Environ- mental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), a software company that creates mapping and spatial analytics technology. Their software is being used worldwide to map COVID-19.
Holly and Jason belong to a group of five 蜜桃传媒 couples who get together periodically for a supper club. 鈥淎ll my best friends come from 蜜桃传媒,鈥� Holly says. 鈥淩elationships are always more important than careers. These friends continue to support me and my work to combat antisemitism. 蜜桃传媒 has given me this constant support.鈥�
Photo by Richard Cassel