Recognizing the Significance of Jewish American Heritage Month and Calling on Elected Officials and Civil Society Leaders to Counter Antisemitism

Floor Speech

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Ms. ROSEN. I thank Senator Scott.

Madam President, Jewish American Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor the generations of Jewish Americans who have helped to build this country, who have helped to strengthen our democracy, who have helped to enhance our country and advance the promise of America. And this year's celebration feels especially significant as our Nation approaches 250 years of independence.

For centuries, Jewish Americans have been part of the American story. From the Jewish immigrants who arrived here on our shores in 1654 seeking refuge and freedom and opportunity, to Haym Salomon's helping finance the Revolutionary War, to the scientists, artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, servicemembers, and public servants who helped shape this country into what it is today, the story of Jewish Americans is the story of America. It is a story rooted in resilience, in perseverance, in faith, in community, and in an enduring belief in the promise of a better future.

Those values have guided the Jewish-American community for generations. These are the values that taught us to pursue justice, to repair the world, to care for our neighbors, and to stand up for those who are the most vulnerable. They are the values that have inspired Jewish Americans to contribute so profoundly to every corner of American life, from medicine to music, from business to civil rights, from the military to public service. They are the values we continue to carry forward today.

But as we celebrate all that Jewish Americans have contributed to this Nation, we must also acknowledge the challenges our community continues to face because while Jewish history in America is filled with achievement and opportunity, it has also included moments of exclusion, discrimination, and hate.

Unfortunately, we are once again living through a deeply troubling rise in anti-Semitism. Since Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack in Israel, anti-Semitism incidents have skyrocketed across this country. We have seen Jewish students harassed on college campuses. We have seen synagogues and Jewish institutions threatened. We have seen Jewish Americans verbally attacked, physically assaulted, and even murdered simply because of who they are. And all of it--every single bit of it-- is unacceptable. There can be no excuses and no ambiguity when it comes to condemning anti-Semitism.

For me, this work is deeply personal. As one of only a handful of Jewish women ever to serve in the U.S. Senate--the third, to be exact-- and as the first and only former synagogue president in the Senate, my Jewish identity is part of who I am, and it is part of how I lead. The experiences that my family has endured and the hate that I have personally faced have only strengthened my determination to fight anti- Jewish hatred wherever it exists because even in difficult moments, the Jewish people have always found ways to move forward with hope and perseverance. Those are two qualities we hold dear. Jewish Americans are people who have endured--a people who have persevered through hardship time and time again and a people who continue to believe in the hope and the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. Hope is part of our heritage--the very essence of our faith. Hope is a part of what carried generations before us through unimaginable adversity, and hope is what continues to guide us today.

In celebration of that heritage and in recognition of our history, I am so proud to work with Senator Rick Scott to pass this bipartisan resolution for Jewish American Heritage Month. In doing so, let us celebrate not only the accomplishments of Jewish Americans throughout our Nation's history but also the values that continue to strengthen both our community and our country.

Let us recommit ourselves to fighting hate in all its forms. Let us continue building bridges across all communities. Let us ensure that future generations will grow up in a country where they can live openly, proudly, and safely as Jews and as Americans.
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