NEW YORK — The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF), a nonprofit dedicated to harnessing the lessons of the Holocaust to combat contemporary hate and bigotry, has appointed Michael Cohen as its new US Executive Vice President.
In this role, Cohen will report directly to the foundation’s director general and work to expand AJCF’s global mission to confront antisemitism, extremism, and hate in all its forms.
Cohen brings extensive experience in Jewish communal leadership, government affairs, and Holocaust education.
Most recently, he served as East Coast Director at the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance, overseeing strategy, operations, programming, and staffing.
His career has included influential roles in government and advocacy, including as Director of New York State lobbying at Pitta, Bishop, Del Giorno & Giblin, Director of Public Policy for the Orthodox Union, and Chief of Staff to the New York State Senate Majority Leader.
Earlier in his career, Cohen worked for NYC Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, NYC Public Advocate Mark Green, and longtime congressman Edolphus Towns, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
While with Towns, Cohen organized the first Black/Jewish Capitol Hill Conference in a generation, collaborating with co-sponsors including the late civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis.
“We are excited to welcome Michael to the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation,” said AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson. “At a time when antisemitism is escalating worldwide, his addition to our leadership team will help ensure AJCF remains at the forefront of Holocaust and anti-hatred education—empowering the next generation to confront hate with knowledge, courage, and moral clarity.”
Cohen currently serves on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Hate & Bias Council, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Jewish Advisory Board, CUNY Chancellor FĂ©lix Matos RodrĂguez’s Jewish Advisory Board, and the New Jersey Israel Commission.
He is also an appointee to the Israeli Consulate and Hadassah’s Speakers Bureaus. From 2011 to 2022, Cohen was a city councilmember in Englewood, New Jersey.
“At a time when hate and antisemitism are on the rise, I am humbled to join the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation’s remarkable team, whose work continues to transform remembrance into responsibility and impact communities worldwide,” said Cohen.
“Together, we will build on AJCF’s extraordinary legacy to expand its reach, deepen its impact, and forge lasting partnerships with government leaders, civic institutions, and faith communities—strengthening the Jewish community while building bridges with all communities committed to tolerance, dignity, and human rights.”
Cohen holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Brooklyn College (CUNY). He lives in Woodmere, New York, with his family.