In light of the recent hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas, 96 Jewish Federations and Community Relations Councils urged the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold a hearing “without delay” on the nomination of Professor Deborah Lipstadt for the post of State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
 
The incident "was a stark reminder of the constant and ever-increasing threat of antisemitism that members of the Jewish community encounter daily around the world," the groups wrote in a letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Ranking Member James Risch (R-ID).
 
“It is undeniable that a rising tide of antisemitic speech and physical attacks have targeted the Jewish community across the world, creating the dangerous preconditions to attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions abroad and at home.  This latest, horrific attack makes clear that the Senate must expeditiously confirm this position so that America’s diplomatic corps has an able leader to combat the global threat of antisemitism,” the letter stated.  
 
For over a decade, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism has been critical in urging foreign governments to protect their Jewish communities, establish national coordinators to address antisemitism, and develop and implement policies to combat antisemitism and hate.  President Biden nominated Professor Lipstadt for this post in July of 2021.  The post has remained vacant while her nomination has been held up in the Senate.
 
"The cross-border nature of the Colleyville attack shows that global antisemitism threatens our local communities," said Elana Broitman, JFNA Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. "The Committee can take a major step to help secure Jewish institutions and communities at home and abroad by advancing this hearing.”
 
To read more about the Jewish Federations’ advocacy work in Washington DC, click here.