Rep. Wasserman Schultz on Historic Rise in Anti-Semitism and Jewish American Contributions

Recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month

• 🇺🇸 Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz highlights the importance of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAM), celebrating the enduring contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.
• 💡 This year marks the second JAM commemorated under the shadow of the Hamas October 7th attack on Israel, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Alarming Rise in Anti-Semitism

• 📈 The period since October 7th has seen a historic rise in anti-Semitism, building on already explosive levels of online hate.
• 📊 In 2024, the ADL tracked 9,354 anti-Semitic incidents, a 344% increase over the past 5 years and the highest number on record since 1979.
• ⚠️ One-third of American Jews reported being personal targets of anti-Semitism in the past year, and a similar proportion of Jewish college students felt unsafe on campus.

Addressing Anti-Semitism on Campuses

• 🏫 Anti-Semitism is a canary in the coal mine, and attacks on Jewish students are unacceptable, requiring serious consequences.
• 🏛️ Investing in policies like fully funding the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights is crucial to hold colleges and universities accountable for tolerating anti-Semitism.
• ✅ Supporting Jewish students' ability to live and study in environments that value their heritage is a key goal.

Highlighting Jewish American Innovations

• 💡 The resolution aims to educate Americans about the remarkable contributions of Jewish Americans across various fields.
• 🛠️ Examples include Irving Maxon inventing the slow cooker, Silvan Goldman inventing the shopping cart, Hedy Lamarr co-inventing frequency hopping (foundational for Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth), and Ralph Baer inventing the prototype for the first video game system.
• 🌍 Jewish Americans have a long-standing commitment to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and take pride in their impact on American society.

Promoting Understanding and Reducing Bigotry

• 🤝 By celebrating Jewish contributions, JAM promotes understanding and reduces bigotry.
• 🗳️ Wasserman Schultz urges colleagues to vote yes on the resolution to shine a light on this important moment.