To our Colorado Jewish Community and Friends,

Today, the White House released the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. This matters to each and every Jew in America and marks an important step for our nation in a time of rising and increasingly normalized antisemitism.

JEWISHcolorado, as part of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), applauds President Biden and his team for crafting a broad plan to address antisemitism that embraces many of JFNA’s policy priorities, including funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $360 million, funding for the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, and ensuring quality Holocaust education.

The White House announcement features remarks by the president, the second gentleman, retiring advisor and Ambassador Susan Rice, United States Homeland Security Advisor to President Joe Biden Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt. This is a historic moment, and the nation’s first attempt to approach this program strategically and with a “whole of society” approach. Please take a look at the announcement video, and find the White House fact sheet here.

We are pleased that the White House statement affirms the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and maintain our commitment to its use. While there have been some disagreements in the Jewish community about which of three current definitions of antisemitism is the most correct, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt has said many times, the IHRA definition is the most broadly accepted definition” that has proven “effective in combating the oldest hatred.”

The unprecedented spike in antisemitism has caused significant pain and alarm in our communities, and we look forward to working with Congress, the Administration, and civil society groups to enhance security and fight back against all forms of hate and make our country a safer place.

As communal leaders in each of the four pillar areas outlined in the plan (viewable on page 12), Federations are essential for advancing any “whole of society” approach to combating antisemitism at the local, state, and national levels.

We look forward to delving deeper into the plan and exploring ways our community can work with local and national leaders in this critical effort.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,

Dr. Dan Leshem
Director
Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)