U.S. Jewish briefs: April 25, 2017

ADL applauds President Trump’s stand against anti-Semitism
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuesday welcomed President Trump’s pledge to confront anti-Semitism and his recognition of the need to honor both the survivors and the victims of the Holocaust.
In Mr. Trump’s remarks to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the president called anyone who promotes Holocaust denial, “an accomplice to this horrible evil” and pledged to stamp out prejudice, condemn hatred, and bear witness to the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished in the Shoah.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:

“We welcome President Trump’s clear pledge today to confront anti-Semitism and we look forward to working with the president and his administration to put his pledge into action.

“It deeply matters that President Trump used the power of his office to stand against anti-Semitism and hate and to honor the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others murdered in Europe. But this spirit should not be restricted to Holocaust Remembrance Day. We very much hope the president will continue to use his bully pulpit to speak out against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred in all forms. We urge the president and his administration to act to protect targeted communities against hate crime and discrimination.

“As Americans, we are also proud that every president since the museum opened has addressed the Days of Remembrance event. This is an important statement about our nation’s highest ideals and commitment to apply the lessons of the Holocaust.”

Preceding provided by the Anti-Defamation League
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Bend the Ark says Trump’s speech differs from record

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Following President Trump’s keynote address at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s (USHMM) National Day of Remembrance, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s ability to read carefully scripted remarks must not and will not excuse his administration’s overt embrace of white supremacy and white nationalism. Trump continues to surround himself with radical advisors like Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka and advance an agenda of hatred, bigotry and division.

“Trump’s speech today must be viewed in the context of his disturbing record and policy actions to date. On that account, he has time and again demonstrated his true colors as a champion of white nationalists and the alt-right. Americans and the Jewish community in particular are not fooled by Trump’s pleasant-sounding words and we will not allow them to distract us from his radical agenda.”
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Preceding provided by Bend the Arc
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AJC applauds Trump’s speech on the Holocaust

WASHINGTON, D.C. — AJC praised President Trump for his passionate address Tuesday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Days of Remembrance ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

“We are here today to bear witness. To make sure that humanity never, ever forgets that the Nazis massacred six million Jews,” said Trump, who referred to the late Elie Wiesel and his lifelong pleas that “for the dead and the living we must bear witness.”

Calling Holocaust denial “a new form of anti-Semitism,” the President declared: “Those who deny the Holocaust are accomplice to this horrible evil. We will never be silent in the face of evil again.”

Jason Isaacson, AJC Associate Director for Policy, praised President Trump for his “forthright message of fidelity to historical accuracy, empathy with the Jewish people, and commitment to combat all forms of hatred and violence towards Jews.”

“I will always stand with the Jewish people, and with our great friend and partner, the state of Israel,” the President affirmed. “Israel is an eternal monument to the undying strength of the Jewish people.”

President Trump promised to “confront anti-Semitism” wherever it exists, including in the U.S. “We’ve seen anti-Semitism on university campuses, in the public square, and in threats against Jewish citizens,” he said. “Even worse, it’s been on display in the most sinister manner when terrorists attack Jewish communities, or when aggressors threaten Israel with total and complete destruction.”

Preceding provided by the American Jewish Commitee (AJC)
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NCYI: Tell the President to move U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

NEW YORK (Press Release) – Congressman Ron DeSantis has recently convened an advisory council which will aid the House Oversight Committee in scouting out potential locations in Jerusalem for relocation of the U.S. Embassy. Due to this significant and momentous occasion, the National Council of Young Israel is urging its members to call the White House and urge President Trump to keep his election promises by moving the Embassy of the United States in Israel to the historic capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.

Farley Weiss, the president of NCYI has said, “Every Passover, the Jewish people reiterate a centuries-old endeavor: ‘next year in Jerusalem.’ Next year, I hope to see a Passover Seder at the new American Embassy in Jerusalem.” After President Trump promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem during his campaign, the House Oversight Committee and Congressman Ron DeSantis are now trying to further the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act. It is extremely important that we, as Orthodox Jews, take advantage of this extremely important time and call our president to remind him that we do not expect his promises to remain unfulfilled.

NCYI urges its membership to call the White House this week at 202-456-1111

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Preceding provided by the National Council of Young Israel

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Holocaust Survivor Ruth Sax speaks at Chula Vista Library

CHULA VISTA, California — Ruth Sax survived the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, three concentration camps, and a number of encounters with the dreaded “Dr. Death,” Josef Mengele, in Auschwitz. As a tribute to her mother, Sandra Scheller wrote the book Try to Remember-Never Forget. Scheller and Sax will speak about the book, and Sax’s experiences, at the Chula Vista Public Library, 365 F Street, on Thursday, April 27, at 5 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. The program is free of charge and in partnership with the City of Chula Vista’s Office of Cultural Arts.

Ruth Sax was eleven when the Nazis loaded her family onto a train to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. Ruth’s head was shaved to prevent lice infestation, and her feet wrapped in paper for warmth in the winters. Separated from her father, she and her mother were eventually sent to Auschwitz, where they witnessed daily atrocities. Forced to face Josef Mengele six times, they were allowed to survive. Finally Ruth was sent to the Oederan Camp where she stayed until the liberation of the camps. Throughout her ordeal in Auschwitz and Oederan, Ruth was made to wear a sack-like dress. Each week, the Nazis would paint a large white X and stripe down the dress’s backside. Following the liberation, Ruth was miraculously reunited with her parents. She later emigrated to the United States and married her childhood sweetheart. Now in her eighties, Ruth Sax still gives talks about her ordeal.

Preceding provided by the Chula Vista Public Library
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Reform Jews sponsor ‘Consultation on Conscience’
WASNINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– More than 800 Reform Movement leaders, clergy and activists from across North America will come together from Sunday, April 30 to Tuesday, May 2, for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s (RAC), Consultation on Conscience. The conference will feature prominent national leaders including incoming-President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Vanita Gupta, NAACP President Rev. Cornell William Brooks, Orange is the New Black Author and Activist Piper Kerman, Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, former Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Representative Jamie Raskin, Representative Joe Kennedy III, Representative Lee Zeldin, and Representative Jerrold Nadler.

The 2017 Consultation on Conscience: Building the World We Want will be the largest in the over 50-year history of the Religious Action Center, with attendees forming more than 85 congregational and community-based delegations. The Consultation will help them strengthen relationships and build their skills to pursue Tikkun Olam at the local, state and federal levels, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.

The Consultation will focus on addressing the vital issues of racial justice, criminal justice reform, immigration, transgender rights, and more, and building an effective grassroots movement at the state and local levels. Consultation attendees representing over 200 synagogues from across North America will also learn about community organizing through action-oriented workshops and training sessions. On Tuesday, the conference will culminate in a Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, during which hundreds Reform Jewish leaders will visit their senators and representatives.

Preceding provided by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism