Israel’s 75th Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) was celebrated in several ways at the United States Capitol last week. These included two Jewish receptions for members of Congress and invited guests, as well as the official introduction in the Senate of a bill to mint a coin, of legal tender, in memory of former Prime Minister Golda Meir. As the week ended, a bipartisan official congressional delegation led by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) departed for a two-day visit to Israel.
The Prime Minister Golda Meir Commemorative Coin Act was introduced in the Senate as S.1300, by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Yom Ha’atzmaut itself. Sponsors of the bill explained, “Golda Meir served as Israel’s fourth Prime Minister from 1969-1974 and was the first woman to lead the country. Although she was born in Kiev, Ukraine, the future Prime Minister immigrated to the USA as a young child and lived as a naturalized American Citizen in Milwaukee and Denver until she made Aliyah to Mandatory Palestine as a newlywed.”
In their statements that day, Sens. Cruz and Cardin noted that “Prime Minister Meir helped to strengthen US-Israeli relations and chart a path for future women leaders around the world.” To date, S.1300 is cosponsored by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mike Braun (R-IN).
Sen. Cruz declared, “Golda Meir was a towering figure and left an incredible legacy. She signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence and was its first female prime minister. She did enormous work deepening the U.S.-Israel alliance, which is critical to the national security of both our countries and the safety and security of Americans. I am proud to join Senator Cardin in introducing this legislation to recognize her leadership ahead of Israel’s 75th anniversary.”
Senator Cardin added, “No recognition of Israel’s modern founding and rich 75-year history would be complete without particular mention of the outsized role of Prime Minister Golda Meir. I am proud to be leading this legislation with Senator Cruz that will recognize her crucial role in building and strengthening the Jewish state and the enduring U.S.-Israel partnership.”
The House version of this bill (H.R.987) was introduced in February by Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). Six other New York area members of Congress, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Bill Pascrell (NJ-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Grace Meng (NY-6), Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Marc Molinaro (NY-19) are among the first 40 cosponsors of this legislation.
According to the text of the bill, proceeds from the sale of the limited-issue commemorative coins, expected in 2026, will benefit Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital, a not-for-profit health care facility serving the diverse population of the Israeli city of Netanya. These coins will be considered legal tender but also are of interest to numismatic collectors.
On April 27, a kosher luncheon in recognition of Israel 75 was held in the Cannon Caucus Room and hosted by Jewish communal activist Bobby Rechnitz, who is the Golda Meir Commemorative Coin Commission Chair. The luncheon was organized by Ezra Friedlander, who will also organize the annual Jewish Heritage Month Luncheon on Capitol Hill this month. Local New York area House members Dan Goldman, Jerry Nadler, Marc Molinaro and Mike Lawler joined over a dozen colleagues saluting Israel at the luncheon.
Just as he had mentioned the previous week to Westchester Jewish leaders, Rockland/Westchester Rep. Lawler discussed his joining with Bronx/Riverdale Rep. Ritchie Torres in sponsoring a bill to establish an official State Department level “Ambassador to the Abraham Accords.” He announced, “The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will begin the debate process in the coming weeks.” Earlier that day, a Jewish American Heritage Month breakfast event was hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. Four Senators and 10 members of Congress addressed the breakfast participants.
On May 1 and 7,000 miles away, Speaker McCarthy addressed the Knesset in honor of the country’s 75th anniversary. McCarthy is only the second speaker in U.S. history to address Israel’s Parliament. (Speaker Newt Gingrich was the first, in 1998.) Local Reps. Lawler and Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) were among the 20 House members participating in the Co-Del.
Not to be outdone, Bergen County’s own Congressman Josh Gottheimer also joined the Speaker, on Gottheimer’s second trip to Israel in a week. He also celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut in Israel with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (of Brooklyn).
By Judy Berger
