Condemning the Rise of Antisemitism and Calling on Elected Officials to Identify and Educate Others on the Contributions of the Jewish American Community
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month and the important contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our history, our society, and our culture. I thank Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for introducing this resolution and for her tireless work on this topic.
We, in the House of Representatives, have been marking Jewish American Heritage Month since 2005. Of course, Jewish contributions to the mosaic of the United States began centuries ago. In fact, the Jewish-American community dates back to the mid-17th century when 23 Jews fleeing the Portuguese Inquisition found refuge in what we now call New York City in 1654.
Jewish families have put down roots across this country, and thousands and thousands more have crossed oceans to seek security, freedom, and religious liberty. That small Jewish community, which began with 23 individuals fleeing the inquisition, has grown into more than 6 million people. Jewish Americans have become part of the central fabric of the United States.
As the most senior Jewish Member of Congress, I am proud to represent a district with one of the largest Jewish communities in the United States and one that is home to so many historic Jewish institutions that represent the rich diversity of this community. This includes Congregation Shearith Israel, which was founded by those 23 Jews in 1654, as well as the first Reconstructionist synagogue, the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, which hosted the first bat mitzvah in the United States and the first Ashkenazic synagogue in the United States, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, which split off from Shearith Israel in 1829.
This May, during Jewish American Heritage Month, while we celebrate that history and the contributions of Jewish Americans, we also recommit ourselves to fighting anti-Semitism in all its forms.
Anti-Semitism is not a new presence in our society. It is a scourge that has plagued Jewish communities around the world for millennia. Still, the harrowing recent uptick in anti-Semitic attacks across the country means that we must redouble our efforts to combat this hatred.
I applaud the White House for developing the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which was released just last week. This historic effort includes concrete steps that we can all take, including civil society, local government, Congress, and the executive branch, to bring to life the priorities brought forth by this strategy.
This month and every month, we fight against anti-Semitism and celebrate the countless contributions made by Jewish Americans.
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Mr. NADLER. Wasserman Schultz), the chief sponsor of this legislation.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding and his support of the resolution, along with his decades of work supporting the Jewish-American community.
Before I speak on this resolution, Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to mention the tragic shooting that took place in my district last night in Hollywood Beach. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragic act of gun violence.
I thank Mayor Josh Levy, the first responders, dispatchers, hospital staff, and local leaders that are working around the clock to take care of their community. We wish the speediest of recoveries to all of those injured.
Tonight, I rise in strong support of my resolution to properly recognize Jewish American Heritage Month and condemn the rising scourge of anti-Semitism that Jewish Americans face. It is also not lost on me that today marks the first day of the trial for the domestic terrorist alleged to have carried out the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Pittsburgh community today.
I am not sure there are words that could encapsulate the pride that I have for this year's historic Jewish American Heritage Month. For the first time, the House and the Senate will both mark Jewish American Heritage Month, or by its nickname JAHM, by considering and passing bipartisan resolutions with the support of House Members and Senators from across the country.
In 2005, during my first term in office, I introduced the legislation that passed the House, and with the assistance of the late Arlen Specter in the Senate, urging then-President Bush to proclaim the national observation of a month recognizing Jewish Americans' contributions to the rich tapestry that comprises diversity that makes our Nation truly great.
Since 2006, each May, every President, including Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden, have issued JAHM proclamations.
While this month is a time of celebration, we must also never forget that JAHM is a critical tool in countering anti-Semitism. The FBI reports that even though Jewish Americans account for only a little over 2 percent of the population in the United States, they are victims of 63 percent of reported religiously motivated hate crimes.
In addition, the Anti-Defamation League's Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in 2022 tracked 3,697 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, representing a 36 percent increase from 2021 and the largest number on record since the ADL began tracking anti-Semitic incidents in 1979.
However, one of the most effective ways to combat anti-Semitism is through education and awareness, which is a paramount reason why JAHM is so important; so much so that the Biden administration recently released the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which specifically directs Federal agencies to organize and participate in Jewish American Heritage Month events and calls on State and local leaders to use JAHM to raise awareness of anti-Semitism while celebrating the contributions and impact of Jewish Americans on our society.
We need Jews and non-Jews alike to learn about all the remarkable Jewish Americans who served in government or the military, or those who won Nobel Prizes, led universities and corporations, or made lifesaving medical discoveries.
Unfortunately, it is not widely known that so many significant contributions to American success were led by Jewish Americans. In fact, due to our small numbers, there are still pockets of this country where some Americans have never met a Jewish person. I have witnessed that here in this building with some of our colleagues representing districts with either no or few Jewish Americans. That is why I have encouraged my colleagues and community leaders at large to embrace JAHM as a chance to share stories and host events or conversations in your own districts and communities.
I hope that each year, JAHM continues to grow to become a widely celebrated heritage month, joining the ranks of the other rightfully important heritage months that highlight our strengths and diversity.
America would not be what it is today, or what it someday can be, without such a rich mosaic of people. No other nation has that.
While this resolution will not stop hate or anti-Semitism in its tracks, it uses the full voice of Congress to say that there is more that unites us than divides us. It says that whether your culture or religion makes up 20 percent or 2 percent of the population, you belong and should be safe here. It says hate will have no space here, no matter who it targets.
I know that the concept of JAHM and the anti-hate messages it represents are worthy of this House's support.
In closing, I would be remiss if I did not thank my co-leads on this resolution, Congressman Kustoff of Tennessee, the distinguished Democratic leader, Mr. Jeffries of New York, and Congressman Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
I also thank Majority Leader Scalise, Democratic Whip Clark, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jordan, and Ranking Member Nadler, as well as their staff, and especially my staff, for their work to bring this timely resolution to the floor during Jewish American Heritage Month.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important resolution.
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Mr. NADLER. Manning).
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Mr. NADLER. Stevens).
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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, during Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and many contributions of Jewish Americans. We also recognize that anti-Semitism continues to be a scourge on our society that we must combat in all its forms.
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for bringing forward this important resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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