WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey joined members of Congress and leaders of major Jewish organizations to honor victims of an antisemitic attack in Australia and to call attention to rising antisemitism worldwide.
Gottheimer, D-N.J., spoke alongside Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee; Marina Rosenberg, senior vice president for international affairs at the Anti-Defamation League; and William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The event followed an attack at Bondi Beach in Australia that occurred on the first night of Hanukkah.
“Like so many of those here today, I am horrified and heartbroken at the vile antisemitic attack in Australia this weekend targeting the Jewish community on the first night of Hanukkah. We must not, we cannot, and we will not be silent,” Gottheimer said. “We should all be going after the root of the rising scourge of antisemitic hate around the world. We must stand up to our foreign adversaries, like Iran, and the terrorist organizations that they support, who are driving this hatred and violence toward the Jewish people. If we stand together, I know the light will peak through the darkness.”
Deutch said the attack followed earlier warnings about antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations.
“The fatal massacre in Australia comes after repeated warnings, including from the Australian Jewish community itself,” Deutch said. “When American Jewish Committee was in Australia in September, we echoed those warnings: allowing antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations to go unchecked can—and does—lead to violence and death. At this moment, we need leaders across the globe and political spectrum to stand up and say this can no longer be tolerated. That’s exactly what we did today. I am deeply grateful to Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), as well as the many Members of Congress who stood with us in a bipartisan fashion, amplified this message, and affirmed their commitment to do everything possible to protect Jewish communities worldwide.”
Gottheimer was joined by Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Brad Sherman of California, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Lois Frankel of Florida, Grace Meng of New York, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey, Wesley Bell of Missouri, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Nick LaLota of New York, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Laura Gillen of New York, George Latimer of New York, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois.
Leaders from national Jewish organizations, including Daroff and Rosenberg, also participated, emphasizing concerns about global antisemitism and the need for coordinated responses to protect Jewish communities.
