What immediately stands out when entering Congressman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) Washington office is a sign in Hebrew that says “Love Thy Neighbor,” a plaque commemorating the American Jewish Committee Soviet Jewry Liberty Award he received in 2008.
On Sunday September 21, at the Teaneck home of David and Rena Schlussel, Chris Smith displayed his passion for a strong United States-Israel bond and the fight against antisemitism worldwide. During the two-hour NORPAC sponsored event, Smith greeted and conversed with dozens of guests before sharing his perspective on current issues that affect the United States and Israel.
Representing New Jersey’s 4th district, Republican Congressman Smith is among the most senior members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he is the chairman of its Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee. Smith is the former Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, which works to foster democracy and human rights in central and eastern-Europe. The New Jersey native assumed office in 1981. Congressman Smith was one of the first to publicize the injustices of the Soviet Gulag and, as the Head of the Helsinki Commission, was an instrumental supporter of the Soviet refuseniks’ struggle to emigrate abroad.
During the event Smith discussed his displeasure with the reduction of sanctions against Iran saying, “We’re twiddling our thumbs on Iran…Iran having a bomb will completely change the course of that region.
“Hamas has written the book on crimes against humanity,” said Smith when discussing the summer’s military conflict between Hamas and Israel.
The Congressman believes that not supporting the Syrian rebels three years ago, coupled with removal of troops from Iraq was a tactical mistake, allowing for the spreading of the radical ISIS militants. “We missed a window of opportunity that was huge,” said Smith.
Congressman Smith discussed his concerns with the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe. “It’s a wake up call to me that the government and teachers union in France has aligned itself with antisemitic stances,” said the Congressman. The Congressman also explained that though Jews make up only 2% of the United States population, 70% of religious based hate crimes are against the Jewish community.
