AJC Executive Director Briefs Congress on Global Antisemitism

AJC Executive Director David Harris briefed this morning a dozen key members of the U.S. House of Representatives on the surge in antisemitism across Europe.

The briefing took place on Capitol Hill today, after the House unanimously passed Thursday evening a resolution on global antisemitism, an action Harris warmly applauded. AJC had advocated for passage of the House measure, which forcefully condemns antisemitism and calls on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to take additional steps to curb the rise in anti-Jewish incidents.

The Briefing on European antisemitism was hosted by Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Peter Roskam (R-IL), and Nita Lowey (D-NY). The other invited speakers were Professor Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and Sara Bloomfield, Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Combatting global antisemitism has been a top AJC priority since the advocacy organization was founded more than 108 years ago in response to the pogroms against Jews in Tsarist Russia. A recent rise in antisemitic incidents in Europe began in 2000 and has intensified in recent years -- some incidents have been violent, some have used vile language not heard since the Holocaust. They have taken place in major cities across Europe.

Harris, whose wife and children are EU citizens, visits European capitals frequently to meet with senior government officials. Moreover, AJC maintains offices in the EU capital of Brussels as well as in Berlin, Paris, and Rome, and has association agreements with several European Jewish communities.

“We are present, working with government officials, civil society representatives, and Jewish community leaders to energetically counter this surging tide of hatred that threatens not only Jews, but, make no mistake about it, the very fabric of the democratic societies where they live," said Harris.

Noting that most European heads of state now recognize the antisemitism virus that is spreading and must be checked, Harris cited Chancellor Angela Merkel as a laudable example. At a recent Berlin rally against antisemitism, the German leader declared: “Anyone who hits someone wearing a skullcap is hitting us all. Anyone who damages a Jewish gravestone is disgracing our culture. Anyone who attacks a synagogue is attacking the foundations of our free society.” He also praised the efforts of Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, and several other European leaders.