Thursday, April 11, 2019
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader, United States Senate
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Minority Leader, United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
1236 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
1705 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
To Congressional Leadership,
We, a coalition of national communities of faith, write to express our deep concern about the use of anti-Semitism for partisan purposes as well as the use of Holocaust and Nazi comparisons to disparage political opponents.
Anti-Semitism has a long and dangerous history. Successful efforts to combat it have been rooted in interfaith and bipartisan action. We are distressed to now see anti-Semitism being used as a wedge issue. At the same time, we are also concerned by members of Congress using references to the Holocaust and Nazis to demonize the opposition. Most recently, one member of Congress quoted directly from Mein Kampf on the floor of the House of Representatives in his effort to criticize the other side of the political aisle. Such behavior is deeply offensive and ultimately harmful to our democracy.
We welcome bipartisan efforts aimed at combating anti-Semitism. However, much of the recent rhetoric and political maneuvering on the issue seems cynically focused on showing that one party cares more about anti-Jewish bigotry than the other. This political theater is not only counter-productive, but endangers the very people such advocates claim to defend.
Anti-Semitism has a significant impact on the lives of American Jews, contributing to a culture in which Jews are afraid to openly express their faith. In a nation founded by those seeking religious freedom, we cannot allow this phenomenon to become normalized. Any solution to the rising trend of anti-Semitism must include Democrats, Republicans and Independents working together. Last year, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum warned, “As the Holocaust recedes in time, some Americans (and Europeans) are becoming increasingly casual and disrespectful to the mass murder of millions.” The United States Congress should not add to that problem.
Last year’s horrifying massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue, carried out by a professed white supremacist, should be a stark reminder that we need our political leaders to be uncompromising in calling out anti-Semitism and bringing our country together. We also expect you to show the same vigilance in confronting bigotry targeting other minority faith communities. Only by working together can we live up to the highest aspirations of our nation, founded in principles of religious liberty and tolerance for all.
We must all strive to do better. Please join us in calling on your colleagues to stop using anti-Semitism and accusations of hate to win votes and seek political advantage.
Respectfully,
Interfaith Alliance
Ameinu
Americans for Peace Now
American Jewish World Service
Anti-Defamation League
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Faith in Action
Habonim Dror North America
Hadassah
HIAS
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
J Street
Keshet
Muslim Public Affairs Council
The Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Union for Reform Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Uri L’Tzedek
Washington National Cathedral
