Letter to the Hon. Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States - Meng Urges Biden to Expeditiously Nominate Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
Letter
Dear President Biden,
Congratulations on a successful first few weeks in office. We write to you today to urge the expeditious nomination of an Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This position, which has recently been elevated to the role of Ambassador by Congress, was left empty for too long under the previous administration. However, strong leadership in this office is critical to the safety and security of Jewish communities around the world, and key to our commitment to protect international religious freedom.
Violence inspired by anti-Semitism is an everyday concern for Jewish families, who must weigh the decision to freely practice their Judaism against the risk of violence that these rituals can invite. With threats of anti-Semitism increasing every year, strong American leadership is required to address them.
Worldwide, major violent cases of anti-Semitism increased by 18 percent in 2019 as compared to 2018; at least 53 synagogues and 28 community centers and schools were attacked. Furthermore, 41 percent of Jews ages 16-34 have considered leaving the European Union in the previous five years for fear of their safety.[1] Since then, COVID-19 has also sparked a resurgence of ancient tropes that blame Jews, among other minorities, for the spread of the pandemic. Left unchecked, these conspiracy theories can lead to increased anti-Semitism.
Here in Washington D.C., we were reminded of the increasingly pervasive and overt impacts of anti-Semitism on January 6th as rioters invaded the Capitol, including one wearing a sweatshirt that read "Camp Auschwitz" as well as the participation of known members of several hateful extremist groups. We know that you have a deep understanding of the impact of anti-Semitism, and ask that you quickly nominate a qualified Ambassador for this critical role.
We look forward to working with your administration to rebuild America's role in the world and to protect religious freedom around the world. We would deeply appreciate your prompt response.
Sincerely,
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