A new book by former attorney general John Ashcroft is raising some eyebrows — not for its content, which details Ashcroft’s career in the years before, during and after the attacks of September 11, 2001, but for its title, “Never Again,” which, to the Jewish ear, sounds more than a little familiar.

While the phrase “Never Again” was in use before World War II — it was the title of several early American films — it has, for Jews, become shorthand for an ongoing commitment to remembering the Holocaust. The phrase was first popularized as a Jewish rallying cry by militant Zionist leader Meir Kahane in his 1972 book “Never Again!: A Program for Survival.” Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, used the phrase as the title of his 2003 book “Never Again?: The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism.”

The title of Ashcroft’s book “came from the hours after 9/11,” said Juleanna Glover-Weiss, a senior adviser with Ashcroft’s consulting firm. “The president looked at him and said, ‘Don’t ever let this happen again.’” The book makes no mention of the phrase’s history, and when asked whether Ashcroft had it in mind when crafting his title, Glover-Weiss said, “This came solely out of those hours after 9/11.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Foxman, for one, isn’t troubled. “We, the Jewish people, do not have a patent on that phrase,” he told the Forward. “‘Never again’ certainly applies in terms of 9/11. Americans were targeted because of who they are and what they are. It’s not genocide, but it was enhanced by hate, bigotry and prejudice.” Foxman said that when his book was published, he was told, “‘This belongs to Meir Kahane, and this belongs to Holocaust survivors.’ With all due respect,” he said, “that’s nonsense.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount