James Allen Graff

James Allen Graff (1937 – October 23, 2005) was a Canadian professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto and a dedicated activist for human rights in Palestine. Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Graff pursued higher education, earning a BA from Lafayette College in 1959 and a doctorate from Brown University in 1963 with a thesis titled "The Concept of a Moral Agent." His academic career at the University of Toronto spanned decades, focusing on ethics and political philosophy. He joined the faculty in 1963, became chairman of the Department of Ethics in 1970, and continued as a professor in the Department of Philosophy until his retirement in 2002, remaining professor emeritus until his death. In his later years, Graff's principal passion became the plight of the Palestinian people. He founded Canada's Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation (NECEF) in 1984, an organization dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of the Middle East, particularly the Arab world, and supporting humanitarian and educational initiatives. Graff was a prominent voice advocating for Palestinian rights, speaking and writing extensively on the subject. He also served as vice-chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine from 1986 to 1996. Notably, Graff was also critical of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and openly condemned violence, a stance that reportedly led to the expulsion of his organization from the United Nations. He passed away in Toronto, Ontario, in 2005. An annual scholarship at Birzeit University is awarded in his memory.