abbaleh

AJC congratulates the new majorities in the House and Senate, and all those elected to serve. Across the country, voters elected many new and returning leaders of both parties who care deeply about the Jewish community, recognize the threats we face, support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and share our commitment to democratic values and pluralism. For 120 years, AJC has worked with leaders of both parties to protect the Jewish community, support Israel, defend democratic values, and advance America’s leadership around the world. We believe that the fundamental interests of the Jewish community and of America are deeply aligned: rejection of antisemitism and extremism, support for our allies, and a country where every community can belong, participate fully, and thrive. We are ready to continue working with the Administration, the new House and Senate majorities, and leaders in the minority to advance these shared priorities. And through our 25 regional offices, we will work with state and local leaders across the country. At the same time, there are also individuals elected whose records, rhetoric, and positions are deeply troubling, including candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and others, who have made hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community or conspiratorial antisemitism central to their politics. We will confront these threats whenever and wherever we need to. When elected officials on either side of the aisle traffic in antisemitism, seek to marginalize the Jewish community, demonize Israel, or fuel extremism, we will call it out, confront it, and hold them accountable. But those voices must not define the new majorities or the direction of our country. The leaders of the House and Senate have a tremendous responsibility to set the right course, and elected officials across the country must be willing to stand up for the Jewish community, reject antisemitism and extremism, and help shape a country in which American Jews and all Americans can thrive. AJC will engage tirelessly in pursuit of that vision. This is a moment to engage, not retreat. To build stronger alliances with the many leaders – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – who share those commitments. And to ensure that the voices of pluralism, not the voices of extremism, shape our nation’s future. AJC will be there, bringing our global reach, nationwide presence, and 120 years of nonpartisan advocacy to help build a stronger Jewish community in a strong America.

This campaign season has been deeply painful for the American Jewish community. We have been told we don’t belong in political spaces. When we’ve spoken out against candidates trafficking in antisemitism, we’ve been brushed aside. We have been told that if we embrace any connection to the state of Israel or express our Zionism, we cannot be allies. The fixation on Israel—and, inevitably, on Jews—has been relentless. This goes far beyond disagreements on foreign policy. No community should become a political scapegoat or be subjected to ideological litmus tests. Yet throughout this election, Jews have found ourselves targeted from both the far left and the far right. What once lurked in the darkest corners of the internet now plays out openly in campaign ads. Hasan Piker and Tucker Carlson, each with his own brand of antisemitism, have become welcome figures on the campaign trail. Their hateful, divisive language does not exist in a vacuum. Antisemitism has real-world consequences for our community. History has taught Jews what happens when political movements decide that blaming, isolating, or scapegoating us is useful. We’ve had enough. However you define your Judaism or your connection to Israel, no one should ever be told they are unwelcome participating in American democracy. We would not accept that for any other minority community, and we will not accept it for American Jews. American Jews have the same right as every other community to advocate for what matters to us and to expect our political leaders to listen. We will make ourselves heard, and we will insist that our concerns be taken seriously. When extremism is normalized and one community is singled out and marginalized, the threat does not stop there—it signals to every community that their seat at the American table is at risk because of identity or beliefs. I remain hopeful that there is a path forward if our leaders are willing to reject those who exploit our differences to divide us. This work is not new for AJC, but this moment requires greater urgency and focus. To those who emerge victorious tomorrow, we are ready to work with you. But we will also expect you to listen, and to confront antisemitism wherever it comes from, even when doing so is politically inconvenient. We will expect you to lead.