On Feb. 2, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York’s annual Congressional Breakfast was held at UJA-Federation in Manhattan, sponsored by Craig Newmark and Harley Lippman.
JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger began, “We’ve endured a challenging year, marked by rising antisemitism and moments of deep pain. Through it all, we continue to move forward with strength, resilience and unwavering unity. This is the essence of the Jewish community. When we face adversity, we don’t shrink back. We turn our pain into purpose.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres, said, “The Abraham Accords is the best framework for building durable peace between Israel and the Arab world. The Holy Grail of the Abraham Accords would be normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the world. That would mean definitively and decisively defeating the campaign to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish state. I do believe it would create a new Middle East where Jews, Christians and Muslims coexist in peace and prosperity. That, to me, is the Abrahamic dream worth pursuing.”
Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. House Democratic Leader, noted his seven visits to Israel, more than any other country. “I’m from New York City. We consider Jerusalem to be the sixth borough. It’s important that we continue to maintain support for the U.S.-Israel relationship in a strongly bipartisan way. That is my commitment. There is a special relationship between the United States and Israel, anchored in our shared democratic values and shared strategic interests. We’ve got to make sure that the core pillars of that relationship are maintained. Certainly, that means staying steadfast and ensuring every hostage is returned home.”
Jeffries continued, “Israel lives in a tough neighborhood. You can achieve peace, but you have to be able to achieve peace through strength, which is why we remain committed to Israel’s qualitative military edge, at all times, and to stopping Iran from ever becoming nuclear capable.”
Lawler noted he represents one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. “In my district, this issue of antisemitism is obviously deeply personal. It’s why I was proud to lead the effort to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The biggest failure of the last Congress was that the United States Senate did not take up the Antisemitism Awareness Act and pass it into law. We will get it done in this Congress. The Department of Education, the Department of Justice, universities and colleges across this country have failed miserably in their responsibility to uphold Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and to ensure antisemitism is not tolerated.
“I went to Columbia University at the height of the protest,” he continued, “stood on the steps, looked out at the students and called them out for exactly what they are, an absolute abomination to our country. If Hamas and Iran are praising your protest, there is something fundamentally wrong with your protest.”
Westchester’s freshman Rep. George Latimer, noting his 35 days in Congress, said, “I support the Jewish state. I support activities against antisemitism because it is right. It appeals to my sense of morality. Washington right now is in as difficult a position as I remember. The issues on the table about Israel and antisemitism are critical, fundamental issues.”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Since Oct. 7, the weight of the Jewish community has been literally unbearable, and it’s been an everyday feeling of dread and worry and anxiety, not just for the hostages, which is consuming our minds, and not just for Israel, which is consuming our hearts, but for our kids, for our synagogues. There’s a threat every single day that we can’t fully absorb because it’s too painful.”
Gillibrand continued, “Over the last year, the biggest crisis that we’ve had to witness is the fear of the hostages not coming home. We have so many families still separated, still in crisis. Their heartbreak is our heartbreak. It’s so sad and it’s so harmful what has been done by Hamas. We have to protect those hostages. We have to hear their stories. We’ve heard hostages were housed in facilities owned and run by UNRWA. That is shocking. I, as a member of Congress, have to hold UNRWA and the U.N. accountable for the platform of antisemitism they have used time and again.
“We have to hold the ICC accountable, because the ICC continues to treat Israel as a terrorist organization, comparing Israel and the prime minister to terrorist organizations,” added Gillibrand. “We have to hold these international organizations accountable for their lack of leadership during the last year. I spoke at the U.N. after Oct. 7, demanding that they look at what happened and speak out against the hateful, misogynistic terrorist crimes against women, children and all people on Oct. 7. Yet, to this day, they have not stood up and done the right thing. We have to also continue to fight for Israel’s right to exist, to be part of the Abrahamic Alliance international organization, to make sure they have the resources they need to protect themselves from future terrorist attacks.”
Gillibrand continued, “The most important thing that Israel can do now is to get back to work on the Abrahamic Alliance. We need the help of Egypt, Jordan, Saudis, Emiratis, and Moroccans to fight against terrorism forever. They have to be a bulwark against Iran and its proxies. This Abrahamic Alliance is the best solution, because if you can have Mecca on your side against Iran and its proxies, be responsible for rebuilding Gaza, to use their men and women on the ground, to have long-term anti-terrorist effects against Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and any other Iranian proxies. That is how Israel is going to achieve its peace.”
Judy Berger is The Jewish Link Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut community editor.
