S.Hrg.119-81

1[Senate Hearing 119-81]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                         S. Hrg. 119-8156                      NEVER AGAIN: ADDRESSING THE7                        RISE OF ANTISEMITISM AND8                       SUPPORTING OLDER AMERICANS910=======================================================================1112                                HEARING1314                               BEFORE THE1516                       SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING1718                          UNITED STATES SENATE1920                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2122                             FIRST SESSION2324                               __________2526                             WASHINGTON, DC2728                               __________2930                             APRIL 30, 20253132                               __________3334                           Serial No. 119-073536         Printed for the use of the Special Committee on Aging3738[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3940        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov4142                                __________4344                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4560-495 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 20254647-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4849                       SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING5051                     RICK SCOTT, Florida, Chairman5253DAVE McCORMICK, Pennsylvania         KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York54JIM JUSTICE, West Virginia           ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts55TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama            MARK KELLY, Arizona56RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin               RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia57ASHLEY MOODY, Florida                ANDY KIM, New Jersey58JON HUSTED, Ohio                     ANGELA ALSOBROOKS, Maryland59                              ----------60                McKinley Lewis, Majority Staff Director61                Claire Descamps, Minority Staff Director6263                        C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S6465                              ----------6667                                                                   Page6869Opening Statement of Senator Rick Scott, Chairman................     170Opening Statement of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Ranking71  Member.........................................................     37273                           PANEL OF WITNESSES7475David Schaecter, Holocaust Survivor and Founder, Holocaust76  Memorial Miami Beach; President, Holocaust Survivors Foundation77  USA, Miami, Florida............................................     478Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, Senior Advisor and Chief Chaplain to Miami-79  Dade Sheriff; Chief Chaplain to FHP and FDLE; Director, Chesed80  Shel Emes Florida, Miami, Florida..............................     781The Honorable Ted Deutch, Former Congressman and CEO, American82  Jewish Committee, Washington, D.C..............................     983Rebecca Federman, Senior Director, CSI Intelligence Desk,84  Community Security Initiative, New York, New York..............    118586                                APPENDIX87                      Prepared Witness Statements8889David Schaecter, Holocaust Survivor and Founder, Holocaust90  Memorial Miami Beach; President, Holocaust Survivors Foundation91  USA, Miami, Florida............................................    2892Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, Senior Advisor and Chief Chaplain to Miami-93  Dade Sheriff; Chief Chaplain to FHP and FDLE; Director, Chesed94  Shel Emes Florida, Miami, Florida..............................    3095The Honorable Ted Deutch, Former Congressman and CEO, American96  Jewish Committee, Washington, D.C..............................    3397Rebecca Federman, Senior Director, CSI Intelligence Desk,98  Community Security Initiative, New York, New York..............    4099100                        Questions for the Record101102David Schaecter, Holocaust Survivor and Founder, Holocaust103  Memorial Miami Beach; President, Holocaust Survivors Foundation104  USA, Miami, Florida............................................    45105The Honorable Ted Deutch, Former Congressman and CEO, American106  Jewish Committee, Washington, D.C..............................    46107Rebecca Federman, Senior Director, CSI Intelligence Desk,108  Community Security Initiative, New York, New York..............    48109110                       Statements for the Record111112Jewish Federations of North America Testimony....................    51113114                      NEVER AGAIN: ADDRESSING THE115                        RISE OF ANTISEMITISM AND116                       SUPPORTING OLDER AMERICANS117118                              ----------119120                       Wednesday, April 30, 2025121122                                        U.S. Senate123                                 Special Committee on Aging124                                                    Washington, DC.125    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 3:30 p.m., Room126216, Hart Senate Office Building, Hon. Rick Scott, Chairman of127the Committee, presiding.128    Present: Senator Scott, Tuberville, Moody, Gillibrand, Kim,129and Alsobrooks.130131       OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICK SCOTT, CHAIRMAN132133    The Chairman. The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging134will now come to order. As a reminder, disruptions of this135hearing will not be tolerated. Should you disrupt this136congressional hearing, you will be removed pursuant to D.C.137Code 221307. Under the code, we can ban you from attending138future hearings for one year.139    Today, we are gathered to address an issue that has been140weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of many. One that141affects a significant portion of our aging population,142Antisemitism.143    This hearing is especially timely as we reflect on Passover144and the time of renewal for the Jewish community and prepare to145recognize Jewish American Heritage Month in May. The recent146surge in Antisemitic incidents including harassment, violence,147and vandalism has become an alarming trend, especially148impacting elderly Jewish Americans, including Holocaust149survivors.150    These individuals, many of whom have already endured the151horrors of persecution, are now facing renewed threats that re-152traumatize and destabilize their lives. Antisemitism is not a153distant historical issue. It is an ongoing reality that154continues to rise in our society. I remember when my daughters155were teenagers, we took them to Auschwitz and Birkenau, and you156can read everything you want to read. You can go to a Holocaust157Museum.158    Going there and seeing the systemic way they just159completely murdered Jews. It is just hard to believe that160anybody could have a lack of humanity. Older Jewish Americans161overwhelmingly recognize the increasing threat of Antisemitism.162    In fact, according to the American Jewish Committee's 2024163State of Antisemitism in America Report, 96 percent of Jewish164Americans over the age of 65 recognize that Antisemitism is a165problem in the U.S. today. More than 94 percent of Jews166Americans aged 50 to 64 reported an increase in Antisemitism167over the past five years.168    Forty-three percent of Jewish Americans over 50 have169avoided wearing Jewish symbols or public identifying as Jewish170out of fear These statistics are not just numbers. They171represent lives, families, and communities being impacted by172fear and violence. This should not be happening.173    Beyond the statistics, elderly Jewish individuals have174faced direct acts of aggression. In recent years, reports have175surfaced of elderly Jewish individuals being harassed in176public, attacked at protests, and even killed in an Antisemitic177instance. A Holocaust survivor in New York was spat on and178verbally abused.179    In California, Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man, was180struck on the head with a megaphone by a pro-Hamas protester,181was hospitalized in critical condition, and eventually died182from blunt force trauma. That is absolutely despicable. Such183incidents have highlighted concerns among older Jewish184communities, particularly Holocaust survivors, for whom these185events re-traumatize past experiences of persecution.186    In my home State of Florida, we have a large population of187both seniors and Jewish individuals, so this is deeply188important to me, and many, many, many in my State. In our first189hearing of this Congress, I outlined my priorities for the190Committee to ensure the wellness of American seniors and broke191it down to four key issues, achieving physical and mental192health, establishing financial stability, living in a safe193community, and securing family and community support systems.194    If you are afraid of being targeted just because you are195Jewish, how could you possibly achieve these things? If you196could be attacked on the street simply because you are wearing197a star of David or a yarmulke and you don't feel safe going out198for a walk or out to the gym to exercise, do you really have199strong physical and mental health? Can you really say that you200are able to live in a safe community, or that you can build a201community support system when you feel isolated?202    When you think about the true impacts that Antisemitism or203any hate has on people every single day, you realize it204disrupts every part of their lives. As we face these205challenges, it is crucial that we listen to those directly206affected.207    Today, we are very fortunate to hear from remarkable208witnesses whose experiences, expertise, and commitment to the209safety and prosperity of the older Jewish community and Jewish210community at large provides invaluable insights into this211growing crisis. Their voices will help us understand how we can212better protect our elderly Jewish citizens and ensure their213safety in their communities.214    We will hear from individuals who have witnessed and lived215through these horrors, including a Holocaust survivor, who will216share their personal stories and perspectives. These stories217are not just a reminder of our shared history. They are a call218to action urging us to stand together as a country and as a219congressional body and work to eliminate the rising tide of220hate.221    I believe that this issue is not just one for Jewish222communities to address, but one that requires our collective223action. This is a bipartisan issue that requires a unified224response, and today we will explore the steps Congress can take225to combat Antisemitism and protect seniors.226    We must act with urgency because every day that we allow227hate to grow unchecked, we risk the safety and dignity of our228fellow Americans, especially our most vulnerable senior229population. I want to take a moment to recognize a few groups230that are here today, AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition,231the Zionist Organization of America, the Endowment for Middle232East Truth, and members of George Washington University's233Jewish community.234    I also want to recognize former Congresswoman and my235friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I thank all of you for being here236for this important hearing, for all you do for our Jewish237community all over the United States.238    I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today and239working with my colleagues across the aisle to take meaningful240action against this persistent threat. Now, we will hear from241the Ranking Member. Ranking Member Gillibrand.242243                  OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR244             KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, RANKING MEMBER245246    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Chairman Scott, for holding247today's hearing. It couldn't come at a more important time for248our Nation, for New Yorkers, for people all across this249country, and frankly, people all around the globe. I want to250thank our witnesses for being here today. Each of you are251experts in this issue.252    I thank the work you do for your congregants, the work that253you do in your communities, and I particularly want to think254David Schaecter for giving us his personal testimony, which I255can't imagine how difficult it is to tell stories like that256over and over again across your lifetime. It makes a huge257difference that you are here for us.258    Not only do American Jews feel less safe in the wake of259October 7th, but I have heard from so many constituents that260their anxiety levels are constantly off the charts, that there261are macroaggressions and microaggressions, but the feeling of262Antisemitism and the feeling of being attacked and the feeling263being isolated is prevalent.264    These are not normal times, and since October 7th, we have265seen violence against Jews continue to grow. We have seen266incidents of Antisemitism heighten. We have seen students on267campus be so isolated and so personally attacked that they268can't learn. This is not the United States that we are proud269of.270    We need a United States that holds up the equality and271civil rights of all of its citizens, and by speaking out today272on these issues of Antisemitism, we are creating a record about273what is happening and what needs to be done. Now, we know that274people who have survived decades and decades of violence and275Antisemitism have experienced the worst kind of Antisemitic276hate and violence.277    We have used the phrase, never again, but do we really mean278never again? We have used the phrase, never forget, but have we279really meant never forget? What happened on October seven is280the most egregious nightmare, the most disgusting, horrific,281inhumane, barbaric attack that I have ever, ever heard282testimony about or seen video footage of. Satanic, evil,283disgusting.284    We witnessed what happened in 2018 with the Tree of Life285synagogue. Worshipers, people in the safety of their own286religious community, the safety of their synagogue being287absolutely destroyed by someone who had murder and evil on288their mind. Many of the victims were older adults who could not289flee, who could not walk quickly, who could not take cover.290    Federally funded activities like the not-for-profit291security grant program which helps organizations like292synagogues and churches and places of worship secure their293buildings, hire security personnel, have barriers, that money294is essential, and we have to continue to fund that program to295its fullest.296    We have to work in Congress to provide top-down policies297and resources that promote learning, allow for the effect of298prosecution of hate crimes, and empower law enforcement and299communities to strengthen the ability to protect our neighbors.300As a mom with college-aged children, I can tell you no campus301should be unsafe for people because of what they believe,302because of their faith, because they are Jewish.303    I call on every college campus to prioritize the safety of304its students, and I think accountability is important. I do not305agree that taking away NIH funding or research funding is the306right approach, but I will stand with the students to make sure307that these college campuses are safe no matter what.308    I look forward to the testimony of these witnesses. I thank309the chairman for holding such an important hearing, and I look310forward to the conversation.311    The Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member Gillibrand. I would312like to welcome our witnesses today, all of whom bring313important perspectives on the challenges facing the elderly314Jewish population in light of the rise in Antisemitism.315    We are honored to be joined by Miami-Dade County Sheriff316Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who has been a powerful force and an317important voice in the fight against Antisemitism in South318Florida.319    As two of her constituents are serving as witnesses before320the Committee today, I would like to recognize Sheriff Rosie to321introduce her fellow Floridians from Miami-Dade County, Mr.322David Schaecter and Rabbi Mark Rosenberg.323    Ms. Cordero-Stutz. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chairman Rick324Scott, Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand, and members of the325Senate Special Committee on Aging. Thank you for inviting me to326introduce Mr. David Schaecter, who is a Holocaust survivor and327President of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA, and328Founder of the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach.329    David has devoted countless hours to educating students330nationwide and advocating on behalf of the Jewish community331about the horrors of the Holocaust and the Antisemitism wave332worldwide.333    We will not allow your story, and the six million innocent334lives lost to be forgotten ever. I would like to thank David's335wife, Sydney, for traveling with him to be here today. It is a336true honor to introduce to you, David Schaecter. You may begin337your testimony.338339        STATEMENT OF DAVID SCHAECTER, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR340341             AND FOUNDER, HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MIAMI342343             BEACH; PRESIDENT, HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS344345                 FOUNDATION USA, MIAMI, FLORIDA346347    Mr. Schaecter. Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand,348members of the Aging Committee, my name is David Schaecter. I349am 95 years old and a proud American and a proud Jew, and a350survivor of two Nazi concentration camps.351    I am a witness to the greatest act of Antisemitism, where352six million Jews were killed for no other reason other than353being a Jew. I was born in a small town in Slovakia,354Czechoslovakia in 1929. In 1940, my father was taken away from355our family by the government.356    That was the last time I saw him. A year later, when I was35711 years old, the rest of my family were rounded up and placed358into train cattle cars. The cars fit no more than 50 people,359and they put in 80. There was nowhere to sit.360    We could only stand or fall on top of each other. Sanitary361facilities were limited to one bucket. Approximately 25 percent362of the people were dead or dying when we arrived at Auschwitz.363When we arrived at Auschwitz, the Nazis separated us. My mother364was holding the hands of my two little sisters, Leah and365Miriam, when they were taken away. This was the last time I saw366them.367    Someone told my brother, Yaakov, to have me stand on his368feet to appear taller, and I did. At 11 years old, I was shaved369bald and given a tattoo on my left arm. We were assigned to a370work detail. We rose every day at 6:00 a.m. and walked two to371three kilometers to our jobs, cleaning the rail cars that we372arrived in. The floors were covered with human feces, urine,373blood, and corpses. I can still smell and taste the filth and374the chemicals we had to use.375    The Nazis were not selective on how and who they beat or376who they killed. Yaakov, my brother, would take beatings meant377for me, and he shared his food with me; he did small things to378help me survive. For example, the grease canister for the axle379of the trains were as big as me. Yaakov tried to get smaller380canisters of grease for me to carry. Yaakov and I were in381Auschwitz for more than two years before being transported to382Buchenwald in Germany, Nazi Germany in 1943. I was about 13383years. By this point, the war was not going well for the Nazis.384I remember the air I was breathing was horrendous. It was the385smell of burning flesh and smoke.386    We knew what the Nazis were doing. They also poisoned the387water pipelines. We knew to boil the water to keep from getting388sick. One day I saw Yaakov, my brother, drinking the water389without boiling it. "I don't want to live anymore," he said.390The next day he was sick from dysentery, frail and weak.391    They marched us to work, but I could not pull him up and I392could not stop because the guard pushed his gun besides my393head. I let go of Yaakov and he just laid there, as we394continued--and we continued.395    About ten seconds later, I heard the sound of a gunshot. I396knew they had shot him, and I never saw Yaakov after that.397After almost a year, around November 1944, I was placed on398another rail car. Along the route near Passau in Bavaria, the399U.S. Air Force bombed the train. I was alone without my brother400to protect me, but I jumped out of the train car and ran like401hell to the forest.402    After eight days, I was found by the Czech partisans. I was403almost 15 years old and weighed 83 pounds. After recovering at404the hospital, at the end of the war, I returned to my hometown.405I had hoped to find comfort, but instead I found more406Antisemitism. I had to hide in a barn on my family's farm407before making my way back to the train station, to go back to408Prague. Other Jews that returned had been killed.409    Many years passed before I learned my father had survived410the Mauthausen concentration camp--it was actually a salt mine411but had died three days after the liberation of typhoid. Before412the war, we lived on a farm that was in our family for seven413generations. I had lost 105 family members, siblings, aunts and414uncles, and cousins - all murdered. Our land was taken, and I415was an orphan. I came to America in 1950.416    I learned English in nine weeks and went to college. Upon417graduation, I married and started a family. Today, I have two418children and five grandchildren, and four-great grandchildren.419I wish I could say that Antisemitism stopped after World War420II, but it rages on. On October 7th, 2023, we saw Hamas kill4211,195 Jews. It has been over 570 days, and we still have422hostages.423    These atrocities are and were barbaric. To say they were424traumatizing to survivors, barely scratches the surface.425Protests on college campuses that intimidate and threaten426Jewish students are not benign and cannot be ignored. I427remember vividly when a Slovakian classmate taunted Jewish kids428like me, and what is happening today looks like and feels like429the same.430    Most recently in Pennsylvania, the Governor's residence was431burned by arsonists during Passover. I spend my days going to432schools, talking about my experiences, and teaching children433about the dangers of Antisemitism.434    Eighteen states in the United States, including Florida and435New York, have a law requiring Holocaust education. A recent436survey shows widespread ignorance about the Holocaust,437especially among U.S. Millennials and Gen Z, and we must do438everything possible to educate our young people, on the subject439of restitution. We survivors have been pressing for years to440ensure restitution of looted assets, such as stolen art, which441is critical to documenting the realities of the Holocaust. That442is why survivors, and our families strongly support amendments443to HEAR Act and other legislation that will enable families to444recover their property from those who still want to profit from445the Holocaust.446    This is also important because part of Shoah's terrible447legacy is that for the past several decades, nearly half of all448the survivors lived and died in poverty, without adequate food,449medicine, or home care.450    Survivors suffer from extreme physical and mental health451challenges due to the long-term effects of starvation,452beatings, disease, malnutrition, and the murders of our loved453ones. I am here reminding everyone that there are still454thousands of survivors alive today who are in desperate need455and who cannot be forgotten.456    Thank you for having this hearing on Antisemitism. It has457been a problem, and God Almighty, it still is a problem. Thank458you.459    Ms. Cordero-Stutz. Now, I would like to welcome my dear460friend and fellow Floridian, Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, who is my461Senior Advisor, as well as a Senior Chief Chaplain of the462Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.463    He is also Chief Chaplain of the Florida Highway Patrol and464the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Rabbi Rosenberg has465dedicated his life to serving the Jewish community, especially466in times of crisis.467    Particularly, Rabbi Rosenberg was a passionate voice of468hope and comfort during the Surfside Tower collapse back in4692021, where 91 lives were tragically lost.470    His leadership in Florida has helped to bridge the gap471between law enforcement and Jewish communities, ensuring that472cultural competency and safety are priorities in dealing with473the acts--with acts of hate.474    Thank you for being such a strong voice for the Jewish475community in the State of Florida. You may begin your476testimony.477478       STATEMENT OF RABBI MARK ROSENBERG, SENIOR ADVISOR479480        AND CHIEF CHAPLAIN TO MIAMI-DADE SHERIFF; CHIEF481482           CHAPLAIN TO FHP AND FDLE; DIRECTOR, CHESED483484               SHEL EMES FLORIDA, MIAMI, FLORIDA485486    Rabbi Rosenberg. Thank you, Sheriff. Chairman Scott,487Ranking Member Gillibrand, members of the Committee, good488afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to speak on this489pivotal issue.490    As a law enforcement Chaplain and Director of Chesed Shel491Emes, I work with many in the aging population, particularly492during end-of-life crises. The rise of Antisemitism is an issue493that is discussed far too often as people are genuinely494concerned about their safety in this online cesspool of hate.495    When hate is allowed to simmer, it spills into the streets,496confirming people's worst anxieties, but there is one group497whose fear is more palpable than others, the elderly. The aging498population held on to the hope that the hatred they witnessed499in their youth was a subject of history, a burden they need not500and should not pass on to their descendants, so, they stayed501silent. Why stress their children and grandchildren if the502present reality doesn't reflect the trauma of the old world?503But on October 7th, the elderly saw their grandchildren504slaughtered for being Jewish. They came face to face with the505horrific news that the past they thought they left behind will506be the future.507    Perhaps the burden they thought was unnecessary to carry508was just an illusion, and the iron grip of evil will once again509take hold of the world. Why do the elderly have more510trepidation than everyone else? Because they have seen this511movie before. They know how this starts.512    They saw Jews barred from colleges and Jewish businesses513boycotted in 1933. Are we not seeing the same in 2025? The514Holocaust didn't start in 1941. The tracks to Auschwitz were515laid much earlier. I am not claiming there will be another516Holocaust in our years, but if we are being honest, the517Holocaust didn't start in the 1900's.518    It was the conclusion of Antisemitism that had fermented519for centuries. After the war, the elderly thought that the520Holocaust was the final chapter in the story of Antisemitism.521They believed the greatest country in the world had given them522and their descendants unprecedented freedom.523    That is why they raised their children in the United States524without passing on the trauma of their youth. Now, the aging525population is not just worried about the Antisemitism their526grandchildren face today. They fear that the country that gave527them freedom of religion could be overtaken by a sinister528agenda.529    If you had to ask them before October 7th whether a530Holocaust or a Spanish Inquisition could ever happen again in531America, the answer would be a resounding no. Now, such an532assertion seems far less certain. Maybe not today, maybe not533tomorrow, but perhaps one day.534    What happens in 40 years when college campuses is the new535Government? They never thought they would see this movie again,536but here we are at the opening scene. The question is, will we537drive the train off its tracks before it reaches Auschwitz? I538know this sounds intense, but these are the very real concerns539of the elderly.540    After all, who knows the movie better than they do? What541will calm their fears? Consequences before it is too late. If542my child runs into the street and I remain silent, I may not543support it, but I can guarantee it will happen again. If there544are no consequences for those who intimidate and bully under545the guise of free speech, they will be emboldened to take more546ground until we reach a dark place.547    For too long, people filled with hate had lived safe enough548to show up at synagogues, educational facilities, and public549spaces spewing hate and Antisemitism. They have bullied,550intimidated, harassed, terrorized, and threatened in the hope551of provoking a reaction.552    In Florida, the laws hold such acts and provide553consequences for those who harass based on religion or554ethnicity, and even imposes felony charges. If we take555legitimate action, we can stop hate and Antisemitism before it556spirals out of control, as it has so many times in history.557Winston Churchill famously stated, the farther backward you can558look, the further forward you are likely to see.559    Now, evil will always have a home in the human psyche. The560question is not whether we can eliminate it, but what those in561power will do to stop the spread. We can show our aging562population that trauma will not be their grandchildren's563burden. We can show them that America is not just the land of564the free, but also the land of consequences, so in conclusion,565we must accept that never again is now.566    We must accept silence enables those who hate. We must567accept that the aging community is reliving the trauma that568should have never happened, let alone forgotten. We must accept569that Holocaust deniers exist, and we cannot deny their570existence.571    We must also accept that the atrocities of October 7th,572murder, rape, burning of families and babies actually happened,573and that we cannot allow these crimes to be suppressed. We must574accept that 250 hostages were taken, including Holocaust575survivors, and many are still waiting for their grandchildren576to be returned from the Hamas terrorists.577    We must guarantee the elderly that the world they are578leaving their children is better than the one they found. Thank579you, and I look forward to answering your questions.580    The Chairman. I thank each of you. First off, Sheriff,581thank you for the introductions. Mr. Schaecter, thank you for582your powerful testimony. Rabbi Rosenberg, thank you for your583testimony.584    Next, we are pleased to welcome former Congressman, Mr. Ted585Deutch from the great State of Florida, the CEO of the American586Jewish Committee. Mr. Deutch brings invaluable experience in587advocating for Jewish communities, including his work here in588Congress where he was instrumental in pushing for legislation589to combat Antisemitism.590    Under his leadership, the AJC continues to be a leading591voice for Jewish Americans in the fight against rising hate and592discrimination. Thank you for being here, and I look forward to593hearing your testimony.594595         STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE TED DEUTCH, FORMER596597              CONGRESSMAN AND CEO, AMERICAN JEWISH598599                  COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON, D.C.600601    Mr. Deutch. Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand,602members of the Committee, I am honored to be here alongside my603distinguished fellow panelists, especially my dear friend,604David Schaecter.605    I want to thank you, first of all, for giving us the gift606of David's testimony. I am the CEO of American Jewish607Committee, a global, nonpartisan advocacy organization that608stands up for Israel, that confronts Antisemitism, and that609upholds the democratic values that we cherish.610    I note that in this Committee's history, there has never611been a hearing on Antisemitism. This hearing, unfortunately, is612both necessary and historic. I thank the Chairman and Ranking613Member for holding this hearing, and I applaud your commitment614to tackling Antisemitism in a nonpartisan and bipartisan615manner. Earlier this year, AJC released our annual State of616Antisemitism in America Report.617    The top lines are startling, 73 percent of American Jews618feel less secure than they did a year ago. Fifty-six percent619have changed their behavior because of fear of Antisemitism. In620short, your constituents are deciding not to be openly Jewish621because they fear they will be targeted. That is not the622America any of us want.623    Of the 1.6 million American Jewish seniors, including more624than 30,000 Holocaust survivors, 43 percent are worried that625they will be victims of Antisemitism, and more than half worry626that their loved ones will be, and they have reason to worry.627They see Antisemitic hate online.628    They saw posters of Holocaust survivors torn down just last629week in New York. They hear from their grandkids about campus630Antisemitism. It doesn't matter who is targeting Jews, whether631it is the far left or the far right.632    For us, the hatred and the fear are the same. Any time a633Jewish person is under threat, it affects every Jew because we634are all interconnected. The rising Antisemitism isn't just a635Jewish problem. It is a crisis for our democracy and our636society. Antisemitism divides us. It weakens our social637cohesion.638    It impedes our ability to solve the challenges that we639face. This moment demands bold actions from our leaders, so640what can Congress do to fight Antisemitism at its roots? Well,641in order to fight the foundation of Antisemitism, we have to642stamp out misinformation about the Jewish community. We do that643by educating people about the Holocaust and about Antisemitism.644    AJC's Translate Hate is one such resource. Building off the645success of the reauthorization of the Never Again Education646Act, we also urge Congress to pass the HEAL Act to direct the647U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to ensure that every student in648America understands why we say never again.649    To counter the scourge of Antisemitism that has rocked650campuses and classrooms across the country, we urge Congress to651pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act and the Protecting Students652on Campus Act. Both are bipartisan bills that would help653identify Antisemitism and empower students to report Title VI654violations they experience.655    We urge Congress also to work with the Trump Administration656and support the Department of Education Office for Civil657Rights, including by providing at least $162 million in the658Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations process.659    I also point out that closing more than half of the OCR660regional offices and cutting the number of Title VI661investigators means that fewer cases will be investigated and662thoroughly and timely dispensed with. Students deserve to know663that the Federal Government will be there for them and will664step in when their rights are violated.665    In order to combat the inferno of online Antisemitism, we666urge Congress to consider a targeted and narrowed reform of667section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to tackle online668Antisemitism that leads to violence in the real world, and669social media companies should enforce their own rules meant to670prevent harassment and hatred on their platforms.671    It is also imperative to protect the Jewish community from672the threats we are facing now, and we urge Congress to673immediately work with the Trump Administration to unfreeze674vital funding associated with the nonprofit security grant675program and provide necessary funding so that the security of676non-profits like synagogues and Jewish community centers are677met.678    Finally, to best guarantee these efforts are as effective679as possible, we urge Congress to work with the Trump680Administration to counter Antisemitism by taking a whole-of-681government approach in its fight, and just as we fight682Antisemitism and protect the Jewish community, so too must we683lift up the voices and lived experiences of Jewish Americans.684Tomorrow marks the start of Jewish American Heritage Month.685    Congress should codify this month into federal statute to686ensure that the contributions and sacrifices that Jewish687Americans have made to our country are celebrated every year,688and I urge each of you, I urge you and all of your Senate689colleagues to recognize Jewish heritage, Jewish life, and690Jewish contributions to American society during the month of691May.692    Meet directly with Jewish constituents. Hear their stories693and their experiences. Understand that our contributions to694America, our lives in America contribute to the richness of our695diversity and the greatness of our Nation.696    My father, the late Bernard Deutsch, who earned a Purple697Heart fighting the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge, always698taught us that we are Jews, and we are Americans, and we699couldn't be more proud to be both.700    Jewish seniors, those who have done so much for our Nation,701deserve to live out their remaining lives, celebrating their702family and community, and observing their faith openly without703worrying if their children or grandchildren will be victims of704Antisemitism.705    They deserve the freedom that is promised to them and every706American, and AJC looks forward to working together with all of707you toward safeguarding that foundational promise for our708seniors whose contributions and whose sacrifices have built the709America that we are all blessed to live in. Thank you again for710having me.711    The Chairman. Congressman, thanks for being here. Thanks712for your testimony, and thanks for what you do. Now, I would713like to recognize Ranking Member Gillibrand to introduce the714next witness.715    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Chairman Scott. I want to716introduce Rebecca Federman. Ms. Federman serves as the Senior717Director of the Intelligence Desk for the Community Security718Initiative in New York.719    In this capacity, she manages the intelligence collection,720monitoring, and investigations related to the safety and721security of New York's Jewish community.722    Ms. Federman works closely with law enforcement partners in723both state and federal agencies to provide critical724intelligence on known threat actors and impending threats. You725may begin.726727        STATEMENT OF REBECCA FEDERMAN, SENIOR DIRECTOR,728729           CSI INTELLIGENCE DESK, COMMUNITY SECURITY730731                 INITIATIVE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK732733    Ms. Federman. Thank you, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member734Gillibrand, and members of the Special Committee on Aging for735inviting me to speak with you today. My name is Rebecca736Federman, and as Senator Gillibrand mentioned, I am privileged737to serve as the Senior Director of the Intelligence Desk for738the Community Security Initiative of New York, or CSI.739    In 2019, in the wake of the deadliest attacks against740American Jews, 15 Jews murdered in 14 months across Pittsburgh,741Poway, Jersey City, and Monsey, many of whom were elderly742individuals, the umbrella Jewish organizations in New York743founded CSI as our way of actualizing never again744    CSI is a comprehensive program designed to protect and745enhance security for the 1.8 million Jews in New York and746Southwest Connecticut. We help ensure Jews are never again747murdered in our synagogues, schools, or grocery stores. I lead748our intelligence desk, a team of four analysts whose main goal749is to detect, investigate, and disrupt violent threats750targeting the Jewish community.751    The investigations we undertake are politically and752ideologically agnostic. We have thwarted violent neo-Nazis,753ISIS-inspired individuals, and other variants of Antisemites754with weapons. We spend our days knee deep in the sewers of the755internet, scouring it for threats.756    It is important to note that our focus is not on the albeit757vile, but nevertheless first amendment protected Antisemitic758speech, but rather on credible threats that meet a higher759threshold, including an explicit expression of violent intent,760such as, I am going to shoot up a synagogue, an indication of761possessing weapons with intent to use them, or an expressed762allegiance to a U.S. designated terrorist organization.763    In 2024 alone, we elevated a total of 221 life-threatening764instances to law enforcement and partner organizations at home765and abroad. This is undeniably a profoundly disturbing number.766    Just two months ago, one of my analysts detected a post on767X in which the user indicated his intention to visit Central768Synagogue, a prominent synagogue in Manhattan, naming the exact769location, date, and time.770    In a subsequent post, he evoked Adolf Hitler and pledged to771kill tenfold as many Jews if he was stopped. Working closely772with the NYPD and New Jersey State Police, the individual was773intercepted as he was in route to New York City. This is but774one of many examples of the threats the CSI team has helped to775thwart.776    Based on our analysis, the most acute threats against the777Jewish community today stem from three main sources,778individuals radicalized by the current Israel-Hamas war, ISIS-779affiliated or inspired actors, or those fueled by white780supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs. Indeed, recent plots781corroborate our triple threat assessment.782    In July 2024, a Canada-based ISIS supporter planned a mass783casualty attack against Chabad's world headquarters in784Brooklyn. In January 2025, based on a tip from CSI, a white785supremacist in Massachusetts was arrested with weapons and a786Nazi flag after he posted online that it was time to kill Jews,787and of course, as David said, just a few weeks ago, Governor788Josh Shapiro's home was firebombed during Passover, an act789allegedly motivated by the Governor's pro-Israel stance. A790large-scale attack like one of these is not the only threat.791Every day, Jewish Americans are victims of Antisemitic792incidents that range from vandalism and harassment to assault.793    Just last week, the Anti-Defamation League released its7942024 audit of Antisemitic incidents, recording a record-795breaking 9,354 incidents. Assaults increased by 21 percent, and79658 percent of the incidents contained elements of anti-Israel797bias perpetrated by both anti-Israel organizations and798individuals, and white supremacist groups.799    Particularly concerning is the 84 percent increase in800Antisemitic activity on college campuses. Since October 7th,801Jewish students face intimidation, harassment, and disruptions802to campus life.803    In response, CSI launched our campus security initiative804working with Campus Hillels, Chabad Rabbis, and campus security805professionals at 25 universities from Boston to Washington D.C.806    We provide everything from event security funding and807personal safety apps for students, to weekly intelligence808reports detailing trends, incidents, and upcoming protests.809While not all campuses have seen the same level of disturbing810activity, what we are witnessing on some is no longer mere811protesting.812    At George Mason University, a student plotted an ISIS-813inspired attack on the Israeli consulate in New York City. At814the University of Pittsburgh, Jewish students were assaulted815during a demonstration, and at Columbia University, Jewish816students have been spat on, shoved, and chased off campus by817mobs chanting. We don't want no Zionists here.818    This is not activism. It is dangerous and growing more819brazen by the day. To address the rise of Antisemitism for the820entire community, including the elderly, CSI recommends the821following.822    Increased funding to $500 million for the nonprofit823security grant program, the passage of the Antisemitism824Awareness Act, and a fully funded office for civil rights825within the Department of Education to effectively and826efficiently investigate Title VI complaints.827    Thank you for your bipartisan leadership in fighting828Antisemitism. I look forward to your questions.829    The Chairman. Ms. Federman, thank you for your testimony.830Thanks for what you do and for the lives you have saved, so,831thank each of you for being here today. Now we are going to go832to questions. Let me start with Senator Tuberville.833    Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks to834all of you for being here and your heartfelt statements. Very835much needed.836    Before I start my questions, I want to read a statement837here from a good friend of mine. His name is Coach Bruce Pearl,838who is currently in Jerusalem and will be there for a couple of839weeks.840    He would have loved to have been here. Shalom from841Jerusalem. I am an American Jewish college basketball coach842visiting my ancestral homeland. Yesterday was Israel's843Remembrance Day. Today is Israel's Independence Day. This is a844very emotional time for everyone here because this country has845been at war since birth.846    Hours ago, I left Knesset, where I was in attendance, along847with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and about8481,000 citizens honoring the fallen. I am angry. I am very849angry. What I would ask of this Committee is the courage to850speak to our educators. We must teach our children.851    I am very proud that in the State of Alabama, we have852mandatory Holocaust education for middle school students. If we853choose not to teach them, somebody else will. None of us can854explain. They can't explain it or understand why the Jewish855people have been targeted.856    We have to do two things. We have to protect ourselves from857those who want to kill us, and we have to try to live exemplary858lives so that maybe the uncertain won't hate us. Our859educational institutions want to stay neutral, leaving our860young people to find out the truth on their own. I am proud to861be an American.862    This country saved my family's life rescuing my grandfather863from a turnip hole in 1929. I will be forever grateful. God864bless. Coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn University. The issue we are865seeing today on college campuses, and this is from me, is being866reinforced by the culture and values being taught on all the867campuses.868    Good people in this country are being taught that869Palestinians are the freedom fighters and the people who are870being oppressed. They are being taught the facts on the ground871of the Middle East are not true.872    Why is this happening on university campuses? It is the873same reason why our players would kneel for our flag and the874national anthem. Because they are not being taught to love this875country. They have been taught that they are oppressed. They876have not been taught to appreciate the opportunities this877country gives them.878    They have not been taught what is really going on in the879Middle East. Young people want to have a cause, and they have880now chosen to stand against freedom because of lies and881propaganda.882    Congressman, we have unfortunately seen Antisemitic attacks883spike since October the 7th, Hamas terrorist attack. Many of884the victims of these attacks have been elderly Jewish885Americans. How can the U.S. Government better protect its886citizens, particularly the elderly, from such attacks?887    Mr. Deutch. Senator Tuberville, thank you. First of all, I888appreciate you reading that statement from Coach Pearl, who889stopped at AJC Global Forum in New York on his way to Israel.890    We, as I am sure you are, are quite proud of his leadership891on these issues. There is an enormous amount that Congress can892do. It is important, though, to emphasize that facts really893matter here, and what you said is so important. Some of the894protests that we saw, the ones that happened on October 8th and8959th, were not protests about anything that Israel was doing.896    The IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces hadn't even gone into897Gaza to defend the people of Israel and the Jewish people. The898people who took to the streets immediately with signs that had899a terrorist and a hang glider as their call to action where900they are going to do one thing, which is to support the Hamas901terrorists who slaughtered 1,200 Jews and whose goal is the902destruction of Israel and the massacre of Jews.903    Congress can play a vital role both in helping to keep904seniors, Jewish seniors, and all Jews safe by focusing on905security and nonprofit security grants. Congress can play an906important role in helping everyone understand and identify what907Antisemitism actually is for those who don't spend time908thinking about this the way that we believe the country should909in passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act.910    We think that Congress can play a really vital role in911making sure that on those campuses, that when the civil rights912of Jewish students are violated, when anyone's Title VI rights913are violated, that the Office for Civil Rights at the914Department of Education has the funding necessary to actually915conduct the investigations and hold those who committed these916acts accountable. Accountability matters.917    On campuses across America, Jewish students have the right918to speak out and feel safe like every other group on campus.919    Senator Tuberville. Thank you. Rabbi, I am proud that we920now have the most pro-Israel and pro-Jewish President of my921life back in the White House.922    President Trump has made it clear. If universities continue923allowing Antisemitic propaganda on their campuses, they will924lose their federal funding. Outside of this, what steps do925universities and school administrators need to take to put an926end to all this?927    Rabbi Rosenberg. Well first, they need to follow the law,928and I hope that if the law is on their side, why don't we see929college campuses go rob 14 stores every day? Why don't we see930iPhones, Android phones, go missing every day? Why?931    Why don't the 7-Elevens around the colleges don't have a932problem with people coming into the stores? Because there is933law and order, and I strongly believe that if what my friend934Ted over here said, that if we do that, we are not going to935have an issue. If people are taught to love like young936children, they need to know what is right and what is wrong.937    Right now, it is right. It is a movement. It is cause. I938have been to college campuses myself and, you know, for 40 plus939years I grew up in upstate New York. I never experienced940anything whatsoever.941    We all got along. Now, at this time of my life, I have to942walk into college campus and feel weird that I am wearing a943yarmulke. I don't feel that I am going to be robbed. I feel944that I am going to be identified because I am a Jew.945    Senator Tuberville. Thank you. My time is up, but I946appreciate you all coming and speaking the truth, and as my947buddy and fellow coach Bruce Pearl would say, I think one of948the biggest answer to this question is education. We need to949educate people the right way. Thank you, and God bless you.950    The Chairman. Thank you. Ranking Member Gillibrand.951    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. Ms. Federman, in 2024, New952York led the Nation in reported Antisemitic incidents with over9531,400 reported. These incidents are not isolated. They reflect954a broader, deeply troubling trend of rising Antisemitism in the955Nation.956    The not-for-profit security grant program, which has been957instrumental in helping at-risk communities, particularly958Jewish institutions, helps to bolster the safety and security959of these institutions.960    Congress recognized the importance of this program by961increasing funding to $305 million in the Fiscal Year 2025962Senate Appropriations Bill, and they approved an additional963$400 million in funding through the Fiscal Year 2024 National964Security Supplemental.965    Even with this increased funding, the not-for-profit966security grant program is oversubscribed and less than half the967applicants receive the funding they need. Ms. Federman, can you968please speak about the importance of this program and why you969recommend appropriating at least $500 million dollars for it.970    Ms. Federman. Yes, thank you so much for the question.971Jewish community institutions are often the sources of Jewish972life in a community, including synagogues, schools, and973community centers, and they are increasingly targets of974harassment, vandalism, violent threats.975    Whether it is bomb threats, whether it is swastika976graffiti, or something more nefarious. In 2023, despite the977$274.5 million dollars that were funded in appropriations, only97843 percent, less than half of grant applications, were funded979and this leaves a significant number of at-risk institutions980without access to critical security enhancements.981    Expanding this investment in the same way will ensure that982vulnerable nonprofits, synagogues, churches, etcetera, will983have the necessary resources to harden potential targets, train984for emergency scenarios, and protect their communities for985those who seek to do them harm.986    If I may just give an example as to how imperative these987grants are and the work they actually do. In May 2024 in988Brooklyn, an individual attempted to run over Jewish students989at a religious Jewish school in Brooklyn. He drove his car up990on the curb, saw students outside, and tried to run them over.991    Now, they received NSGP funding, and we have helped them992put up a fence, and this is going to ensure that never again993will their students be at risk in the same way from a vehicle994ramming attack, and so it is imperative that NSGPs is funded995further.996    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. You also mentioned in your997opening remarks CSI's Campus Security Initiative, where you998work with Hillel and Chabad to ensure their security.999    Throughout this work, what have you learned about the1000Jewish community on campuses need to help mitigate the effects1001of Antisemitism on campuses? Have there been any policy1002decisions made by campus administrations to help address these1003incidents?1004    Ms. Federman. Yes, so on a tactical level, campuses have1005asked us for extended funding for events, security guards in1006place, particularly for events about Israel featuring Israeli1007soldiers or Israeli individuals that tend to be targeted, or1008large scale holidays, right. A Passover Seder, Rosh Hashanah1009services.1010    We have also actually provided, and this came directly as1011an ask from the rabbis, from their students because they felt1012unsafe, we provided students with escorts to and from their1013dorms on Passover of last year because they were so concerned1014that they would be assaulted, harassed on their ways to and1015from.1016    In a general sense, students just want the ability for1017normal campus life. They want to be able to attend classes,1018whether about the Middle East or on otherwise innocuous1019subjects, and not feel that they can't speak their mind, they1020can't be Israeli in school.1021    They won't be able to walk-through campus without being1022subjected to vitriol, and they want to be able to go to their1023Hillels and Chabad houses and feel safe and secure there. In1024terms of policy decisions that campus administrators can make,1025we have actually seen a success at NYU. They have, since the1026spring of 2024 when all of the encampments were popping up,1027they changed their code of conduct to include the term Zionist1028as a dog whistle.1029    We know that very frequently someone will use it instead of1030saying Jew to sort of couch their--alleged they are not1031Antisemitic, but NYU has explicitly changed their code of1032conduct, and it says, if you are going to use coded language,1033if you are going to call for the death of Zionists, if you were1034going to exclude Zionists from a campus event or a place on1035campus, that then violates their code of conduct, and they are1036able to----1037    Senator Gillibrand. I would argue all of those are1038incidents of Antisemitism.1039    Ms. Federman. Correct.1040    Senator Gillibrand. Congressman Deutch, can you talk a1041little bit about the Antisemitism Awareness Act and how this1042Act could enhance the Federal Government's ability to enforce1043Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, particularly in educational1044settings, and why it is imperative that the Senate has to pass1045this legislation and provide clear, actual definition of1046Antisemitism to the Federal Government.1047    Also, and I know I am out of time, but can you just talk a1048little bit about why we should be supporting more Holocaust1049education programs in the United States, since a lot of our1050students, 12 percent of U.S. Millennials and Gen Z have never1051heard or don't think they have ever heard the word Holocaust1052before.1053    Mr. Deutch. Sure. Just really quickly on your second point,1054Senator Gillibrand. I mean the answer is here with us.1055    The reason people need to let--kids need to learn about the1056Holocaust is because as fewer and fewer survivors are able to1057share their stories directly, we have to help provide that1058education. Every student in America should hear what David1059Schaecter shared with us today.1060    The impact that that has to change the way they view the1061world and understand what can happen when Antisemitism, when1062hate goes unchecked. That is why that is so critically1063important. As far as the Antisemitism Awareness Act, it is1064critical to have a standardized definition of Antisemitism.1065    The IHRA definition is an educational tool, and it is meant1066to inform policymakers, and police, and prosecutors, judges, to1067understand what Antisemitism can look like. It is not a speech1068code. I want to disabuse people of that idea, something that we1069have heard a lot about over the past couple of days.1070    It is a not a speech code at all. It is meant to help1071people identify what speech that is Antisemitic looks like so1072that policymakers have the ability to decide how to combat it.1073Because the question isn't whether or not Antisemitic language1074is acceptable. It is not whether it is protected speech.1075    It is whether it is something that we should simply allow1076to continue that can lead to the kinds of instances that we1077have been--all of us here have been talking about on this1078panel. It is a really important tool in that fight, and it is a1079tool that policymakers should have, and that they will when1080Congress passes the Antisemitism Awareness Act.1081    The Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member. Let's start with1082Mr. Schaecter. As a Holocaust survivor, you have experienced1083firsthand the horrors of Antisemitism. How has the current rise1084in Antisemitism in the U.S. impacted you personally? What do1085you see as the greatest threat to elderly Jewish Americans1086today?1087    Mr. Schaecter. Well, I don't know how to describe age, and1088these elderly, I don't think they possess the same stamina that1089I have at being 97 almost, but I don't want to be measuring1090what makes a guy understand when he is trying to escape, when1091he is trying to avoid, and he is trying not to be the guy who1092gets it all and who is the victim.1093    I for one, I speak to youngsters, I speak to children. I1094beg them to look at me, and do they think that I am someone to1095be scared of? They say no.1096    If the children say no, why should grown-ups? Why should1097grown-ups go ahead and have the right to demean and the right1098to attack the helpless and the ones who are the mostly, mostly1099the nicest of all time people.1100    The Chairman. Thank you. Rabbi Rosenberg, you have worked1101extensively with law enforcement in Florida to bridge the gap1102between Jewish communities and those who protect our streets.1103    You have also been deeply involved in cultural competency1104training with law enforcement. How well-equipped are law1105enforcement agencies to recognize and respond to Antisemitic1106incidents, particularly those affecting the elderly Jewish1107population?1108    Rabbi Rosenberg. That depends in which area. In areas such1109as South Florida, like Dade County, I would say that the law1110enforcement is--again, like you said, Senator, we do a lot of1111education to educate them.1112    We could do a whole lot more. Many times across the state,1113in different states, I find it to be that if they would know1114more, they would be able to do a much better job, and we1115simply, again comes back to what you were saying, everything1116else.1117    We need to educate, educate. The last time we did the 47-1118minute Hamas roll footage video, we did it through the state,1119and some people wanted to see it, some people were not that1120interested in seeing it. The ones who saw it said, now we1121understand.1122    The Chairman. Ms. Federman, what are some challenges1123organizations like yours have--what you face when tracking1124threats to the community through the deep dark web?1125    Ms. Federman. I would say that our biggest challenge is the1126volume of threats that we come across on a regular basis. We1127are reviewing thousands of alerts that we get with our tools1128that could indicate a life-threatening instance, and we have to1129consider every single one as a potential threat.1130    It is not just the deep and dark web. It is also the1131surface web, X, Facebook, Instagram, etcetera. The threats are1132incredibly pervasive, and the biggest impediment is having the1133ability to go through all of them.1134    The Chairman. Do the social media sites, are they helpful?1135    Ms. Federman. Not directly, for our purposes, right. We are1136looking for the threats. We are not inherently engaging with1137them to remove Antisemitic content. We are focused on, as I1138mentioned, that very specific high threshold of I am going to1139go commit violence, rather than general Antisemitic speech.1140    The Chairman. Do you have the--does your law enforcement1141have the tools to be able to stop it?1142    Ms. Federman. Yes, we are very, very fortunate to work very1143closely, both at the local level, at the precinct level with1144the NYPD intelligence teams, with the New York State Police,1145and with our FBI partners, and they have been incredibly1146responsive in working to mitigate threats and in working with1147us, because they know that if we are elevating something to1148them, it could be imminent.1149    The Chairman. It is just hard to believe--it is just, you1150know, it is when you--it is just hard to believe people do it,1151right. It just doesn't--it doesn't make sense. None of this1152makes any sense, right, so, Senator Kim.1153    Senator Kim. Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Schaecter, I wanted1154to just start with just saying thank you to you for just such1155an extraordinarily powerful testimony. I am just grateful for1156you.1157    I wish I was able to bring my two boys to be able to come1158and meet you and hear from you about your story, and I will be1159making sure that they see your testimony. You know, when I was1160in college, I did extensive Holocaust studies there. I actually1161wrote my undergraduate thesis about the Holocaust.1162    I do think that we need to be doing more to be able to1163invest in that type of education with our youth here in the1164United States at this time, and the threat that you said, it is1165not just about what happened during the Holocaust and World War1166II, but what we have seen since October 7th.1167    Just about an hour ago, I guess a little over an hour ago,1168just got off the phone again with Edan Alexander's parents,1169talking to them directly about just the concern, the fear that1170they feel, and I can tell you how impactful that is to the1171Jewish-American community in my home State of New Jersey and1172just how fearful they are. It is not theoretical. They feel it1173on a visceral daily level.1174    Then with Edan Alexander's captivity still, it is still1175very much at the forefront of their minds. One thing that you1176said Mr. Schaecter, I wanted to ask this actually to1177Congressman Deutch because it was something that really stuck1178out to me. I wasn't going to ask about this but, you know, he1179said that thousands of survivors of Holocaust who need help.1180    That really stuck out to me because as we are talking about1181this on the Committee of Aging, you know, Congressman Deutch,1182there is a part of our government agency, the Administration1183for Community Living. I am not sure how familiar you are with1184them.1185    They have a program called the Holocaust Survivor1186Assistance Program, something that I worry right now that is1187very much under risk because there has been this reorganization1188at HHS determination of the administration for community1189living.1190    Is this something that you are tracking? Is it a real1191concern that this could very well take away resources from1192elderly Holocaust survivors in their time of need, as Mr.1193Schaecter pointed out?1194    Mr. Deutch. Senator Kim, yes, we are tracking it very1195closely, but I can't let the moment pass to express1196appreciation not just for your advocacy for the Alexander1197family, but for speaking about it here.1198    A number of people have stopped me on my way and thought1199that I had some garbage on my jacket. It is a piece of tape1200that has the number of days now, 572 days that Hamas has held1201hostages, 59 hostages including Americans, including Edan1202Alexander.1203    Everyone, like you, Chairman Scott, has been a hero on this1204issue. Your voices in speaking out makes their stories real for1205everyone and keeps up the pressure to help bring them home.1206    I wanted to thank you for that, and yes, David is right.1207The Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program is a critically1208important program, and are we tracking? Yes, and all that I1209would--all of our advocacy around this issue is very1210straightforward. This is a program that takes care of those1211whose needs are great and whose histories demand that we be1212there for them so that they can help--so that we can help them1213live out their lives in dignity.1214    Any changes that would result in cutting back on funding,1215any changes that would impede the ability to ensure that1216mission that I think we all have in caring for seniors and for1217survivors in particular is something that we should all work to1218prevent, and so, I very much appreciate raising this. It is a1219vitally important issue, and we have to stand together.1220    Senator Kim. I wanted to make sure it didn't just fall by1221the wayside, and Mr. Chairman, I hope we can followup on this,1222because I think it is really at the intersection between1223elderly in this country, Antisemitism, Holocaust--you know,1224supported Holocaust survivors.1225    Congressman, you know, it was already talked about the non-1226profit security grant program. I am on the Homeland Security1227Committee. I am doing everything I can to be able to protect1228that as there is conversations about abolishing FEMA. I worry1229about the future of this. Yes, we want to preserve it. We want1230to increase the funds.1231    One thing I also hear is that, you know, from the1232synagogues, the temples that I have talked to, you know, it is1233not just one-off security that they need. This is not just1234something where, you know, they can have a capital project,1235increase security one year. You know, this is the top budget1236item for every single synagogue every single year, right.1237    Like how do we try to think about this in terms of1238persistent support? You know, not just like a one-of grant.1239Okay, it is important that they get that, but for them to get a1240non-profit security grant project, you know, once out of every1241x number of years is not enough, right? Like I just feel like1242there is something we need to do to be able to help with that1243persisting cost.1244    Mr. Deutch. Well, there is a lot that we need to do. I1245would just say that what my fellow panelists here spoke so1246clearly to is how urgent the needs are.1247    The Chairman was exactly right. Senator Kim, for those of1248us, all of us on this panel, for people who care about these1249issues and focus on them like the Chairman and like you do, we1250know--Senator Alsobrooks--we know that the challenges are1251enormous.1252    When you take a step back, as the Chairman said, it is not1253normal that every Jewish institution in America, every single1254one worries about the physical safety of the people who come1255through their doors, kids, seniors, people coming to synagogue1256to pray. That isn't normal.1257    Yes, we have to focus on funding, but it is the reason1258why--it is ultimately the reason this whole hearing is so1259important, why the fight against Antisemitism needs to be waged1260by everyone, everyone across Government and all of society.1261    The Chairman. Speak up. Everybody has got to speak up.1262Everybody.1263    Mr. Deutch. Everyone has to speak up. Chairman Scott,1264when--there can be zero tolerance for Antisemitism. When you1265hear something from, in your case, from a constituent, when we1266hear something from a neighbor, when we know something is said1267that isn't right, that is based in Antisemitic tropes, that it1268is meant to stir up Antisemitism, we all have an obligation to1269call it out just as we would against any other kind of hatred,1270because Antisemitism never stops with the Jews. Not in America,1271not in any country throughout history.1272    The Chairman. It is just the beginning. It is an attack1273against other people. It is just pure hatred.1274    Senator Kim. It builds within people the trauma that they1275carry as well, but just, you know, it gets so pervasive, I mean1276especially for the parents I have talked to in New Jersey. Just1277the fear every single day about their kids and their well-1278being, and it just continues to cycle, so.1279    The Chairman. Well, and they are trying to force these1280Jewish day schools to be shut down. They are trying to scare1281people that they shouldn't send their kids there, and so--to1282try to kill Jewish religion. I mean, it is just ongoing.1283    Senator Kim. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1284    The Chairman. Mr. Schaecter, did you want to say something1285really quick?1286    Mr. Schaecter. Yes. I am almost embarrassed to make this1287question or answer it. Not every survivor is a college1288graduate. I am a college graduate.1289    I have benefited in this country because the opportunity.1290They didn't ask me what synagogue or what church I belonged to.1291They accepted me because I was told to take a test and take1292another test, and sure enough, I was accepted, and sure enough,1293I graduated, and sure enough, I did that.1294    When this thing called the high tech world became here in1295America like no other place on earth, and I was in that place1296called America, and I was given a job because my graduation was1297in the field of high tech, and high tech was the world, and I1298was there, and I, God Almighty, was so lucky.1299    The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Kim, did you have anything1300else?1301    Senator Kim. No. Thank you, Chairman. I appreciate it.1302Thank you for pulling this hearing together.1303    The Chairman. Senator Alsobrooks.1304    Senator Alsobrooks. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, and thank1305you so much as well to all who have come today to testify at1306this hearing. I want to begin by underscoring what I am sure1307all of my colleagues have already shared today, and that is1308that Antisemitism is a real and rising threat, not only in my1309State of Maryland, but it is rising throughout our country.1310    Any act of hate or form of discrimination is unacceptable1311and absolutely must be condemned. According to the Anti-1312Defamation League in Maryland, we saw a 211 percent increase in1313Antisemitic incidents in 2023, including harassment, vandalism,1314and even assault, and just last month, a Baltimore man was1315sentenced for setting fire outside the Jewish Museum in1316Maryland.1317    These acts are intended, as we know, to stoke fear, to1318stoke division, and they have no place in our State or in our1319country. Now, I want to thank Mr. Schaecter for--begin by1320thanking you so much, sir, for being here today. Your survival1321story, your lifelong commitment to educating others is1322powerful. It is inspiring. We are really, really honored to1323have you here today. I just have a couple of quick questions.1324    One of them is, I am a baby of the 70's. I was born in the1325early--in 1971 to be exact, and at the time that I was, I was1326born on the edge of the Civil Rights Movement. One of the1327things I can tell you happen routinely in my family is we sat1328at the kitchen table and had dinner each night was there was a1329very real discussion about the Civil Rights Movement and the1330fact the African American community and the Jewish community1331were friends and allies, and that we would not have seen the1332successes that we did except for that allyship.1333    I would like to ask you, because I know that American Jews1334and Black Civil Rights leaders have long worked together in a1335struggle against discrimination in this country, how does1336finding shared values and building relationships across1337communities help to combat hate? How does it make our larger1338communities safer?1339    Mr. Deutch. Senator, I will switch--I am happy to jump in.1340    Senator Alsobrooks. Sure. Thank you.1341    Mr. Deutch. It is a really important question, and the1342importance of recognizing fundamentally that we are all in this1343together in America, it is the story of our Nation, and what1344you describe, and the history of the Civil Rights Movement1345speaks powerfully to that realization. It is the reason that1346there were so many in the Jewish community who recognized the1347importance of standing up during the Civil Rights Movement,1348understanding that discrimination against one group ultimately1349holds everyone down.1350    As we fast forward to where we are today, it is very much1351consistent with the exchange that we had just a moment ago1352about how Antisemitism is the world's oldest hate, which for1353thousands of years has plagued the Jewish community.1354    When it rises up as it has, when there is so much1355misinformation, when there are so many threats, there too is1356the opportunity for the rest of the community to stand with the1357Jewish community to push back against this hatred, to push1358against these lies, and to help set the record straight for the1359very same reason--that coming together during the Civil Rights1360Movement, as you pointed out, was so critical. Coming together1361in the fight against Antisemitism is so critically important at1362this moment.1363    Senator Alsobrooks. Thank you. Now, Mr. Congressman, the1364Administration for Community Living has invested nearly five1365million annually in a five-year initiative with the Jewish1366Federations of North America to expand person-centered, trauma-1367informed services for Holocaust survivors and other older1368adults with histories of trauma.1369    This program has supported 15,000 survivors and trained1370more than 10,000 professionals nationwide. Altogether, the1371Administration for Community Living ensures that older adults1372and people with disabilities can live in their communities with1373dignity, security, and the independence that they deserve.1374    Congressman, you used to represent a district with a large1375senior population, and I wonder if you might just be able to1376highlight, and I know I am running out of time, of how1377disrupting the services provided to seniors, including Jewish1378seniors, harm our most vulnerable communities.1379    Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Senator Alsobrooks. It is very much,1380as you point out, it is the issue of not just need, but trauma1381and what it means when we have this moment, this last moment to1382ensure that the now small number of survivors can live out1383their lives in dignity.1384    That means not having to revisit trauma. That means having1385the wherewithal to be able to celebrate their remaining years1386with their children, and grandchildren, and great-1387grandchildren, and it means making sure that the means to do1388that aren't ripped away from them, and it is a really important1389point that you make, and I am glad you brought that up.1390    Senator Alsobrooks. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr.1391Chair.1392    The Chairman. Thank you. Congressman, we have seen1393disturbing instances where individuals, including licensed1394healthcare workers, have made threats online. Which is1395shocking, right. Implying that they would deny care or provide1396substantive treatment to Jewish patients. How would you respond1397to threats like these, particularly when they come from1398individuals in positions of public trust, like the healthcare1399sector?1400    Mr. Deutch. Chairman Scott--.1401    The Chairman. It is hard to believe, right?1402    Mr. Deutch. Right, and it starts, again, with no tolerance1403for it. When someone makes clear that--let's just be clear1404about one thing. As Rebecca said just a little while ago, what1405we have seen, especially online, is the willingness to1406determine that somehow it is acceptable to just replace the1407word Jew with Zionist.1408    That just as people will acknowledge they can't get away1409with saying online or anywhere else that Jews aren't welcome,1410that Jews can't come, that Jews should be killed, that somehow1411when it comes to Zionists--and again, let's be clear. For the1412Jewish community, for the vast majority of Jews, Israel isn't1413just a country they care about. It is central to their1414religious identity, to their identity as part of the Jewish1415people.1416    When they are told by a doctor or someone whose trust we1417need to count on that they are not going to be accepted if they1418are Zionists, then they are being told that Jews can't come.1419    It is one of the reasons why at AJC we work with the social1420media companies to make sure that they understand that when you1421simply take Israel and Zionism and you put it in the place of1422Jew in order to fulfill the desires of the Antisemites who are1423doing it, that they have a role to play to make sure that1424doesn't happen, and that is exactly what we need to impress1425upon them.1426    The Chairman. If, let's say, in South Florida, a health1427care worker at a hospital, whatever hospital down there, said1428this. Said, you know, put out online, you know, if it is a1429Jewish patient, I am going to get them substandard care. What1430should everybody in the community do?1431    Mr. Deutch. If--and by the way, as you know, not everyone1432goes to a hospital voluntarily, Senator Scott.1433    The idea that there are--that there may be professionals1434who have said that if a patient comes in, that their care will1435be different, will be lesser, or will be shunned aside1436altogether because they happen to be Jewish, then that can't be1437tolerated.1438    It wouldn't be tolerated if someone made a comment like1439that about any other group, and I would think that the1440hospital, the practice, would take action to ensure that that1441person can't carry out those Antisemitic desires.1442    The Chairman. Let's take Miami. How many people live in1443Miami?1444    Mr. Deutch. I am going to turn to my Dade County Sheriff.1445    The Chairman. Sure. How many people live in Miami-Dade?1446    Ms. Cordero-Stutz. Miami-Dade County has 2.9 million1447residents.1448    The Chairman. 2.9 million people.1449    Ms. Cordero-Stutz. That is not counting our tourism.1450    The Chairman. If a hospital Miami-Dade had a healthcare1451worker that said that they were going to give Jews a1452substandard care, and 10,000 people sent a letter to the CEO of1453the hospital, what do you think would happen?1454    Mr. Deutch. I would expect that if--I would certainly1455expect that if someone in the hospital staff made a statement1456like that, that was publicized, and confirmed to be accurate,1457and people complained about it, that the hospital would want to1458take action on behalf of the entire hospital and all of the1459patients that it sees.1460    The Chairman. Right, but that is an example of what1461everybody can do, whether you are Jewish or not. All right,1462thank you all. I want to thank everybody for--all of our1463witnesses for being here today, sharing your powerful stories1464and expertise. The rising tide of Antisemitism in this country1465is a dire threat to the safety and dignity of our elderly1466Jewish population and to all Americans.1467    We have a moral obligation to protect those who are most1468vulnerable, especially those who have survived the unimaginable1469horrors of the Holocaust. Every action we take today can make a1470difference, every law we pass, every policy we implement. Every1471conversation we have represents one step closer to ensuring1472that our elderly Jewish Americans, our parents, our1473grandparents, and Holocaust survivors can live in peace and1474security.1475    I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance1476solutions that will make a real impact in combating1477Antisemitism and protecting Jewish seniors, and I personally do1478not understand why anybody has an anti-Jewish statement. I1479just--it floors me.1480    We will keep the record open for additional questions and1481statements from Senators until next Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.1482Thank you all for being here. This meeting is adjourned.1483    [Whereupon, at 5:04 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]14841485?14861487=======================================================================14881489                                APPENDIX14901491=======================================================================14921493?14941495=======================================================================14961497                      Prepared Witness Statements14981499=======================================================================15001501?15021503                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging15041505"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older1506                               Americans"15071508                             April 30, 202515091510                      Prepared Witness Statements15111512                            David Schaecter15131514    Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand and Members of1515the Aging Committee. My name is David Schaecter, I'm 95 years1516old, a proud Jew, and a survivor of two Nazi concentration1517camps. I am a witness to the greatest act of antisemitism where1518six million Jews were killed for no reason other than being a1519Jew.1520    I was born in a small town in Slovakia in 1929. In 1940, my1521father was taken away from our family by the government. That1522was the last time I saw him. A year later, when I was 11, the1523rest of my family were rounded up and placed onto train cattle1524cars. The cars fit no more than 50 people and they put in 80.1525There was nowhere to sit. We could only stand or fall on top of1526each other. Sanitary facilities were limited to one bucket.1527Approximately 25% of the people were dead or dying when we1528arrived at Auschwitz.1529    When we arrived at Auschwitz, the Nazi's separated us. My1530mother was holding the hands of my sisters, Leah and Miriam,1531when they were taken away. This was the last time that I saw1532them. Someone told my older brother Yaakov to have me stand on1533his feet to appear taller, and I did. At 11 years old, I was1534shaved bald, and given a tattoo.1535    We were assigned to a work detail. We rose every day at 6AM1536and walked 2-3 kilometers to our jobs cleaning the rail cars1537that we arrived in. The floors were covered with human feces,1538urine, blood and corpses. I can still smell and taste the filth1539and the chemicals we had to use. The Nazis were not selective1540on who they beat or who they killed. Yaakov would take the1541beatings meant for me, and he shared his food with me, and did1542small things to help me survive. For example, the grease1543canisters for the axles of the trains were as big as me. Yaakov1544would try to get the smaller canisters of grease for me to1545carry.1546    Yaakov and I were at Auschwitz for more than two years1547before being transported to Buchenwald in Germany in 1943. I1548was about 13. By this point the war was not going well for the1549Nazis. I remember the air that I was breathing was horrendous,1550it was the smell of burning flesh and smoke. We knew what they1551were doing. They also poisoned the water. We knew to boil the1552water to keep from getting sick. One day I saw Yaakov drink the1553water without boiling it. He said, "I don't want to live1554anymore." The next day he was sick from dysentery, frail and1555weak. They marched us to work, but I could not pull him up and1556I could not stop because the guard pushed his gun beside my1557head. I let go of Yaakov and he just laid there as we1558continued. About 10 seconds later I heard the sound of a1559gunshot. I knew they had shot him. I never saw Yaakov after1560that.1561    After almost a year, around November of 1944, I was placed1562on another railroad car. Along the route, near Passau in1563Bavaria, the US Air Force bombed the train. I was alone,1564without my brother to protect me, but I jumped out of the train1565car and ran like hell to the forest. After eight days, I was1566found by Czech partisans. I was almost 15 years old and weighed156783 pounds.1568    After recovering at the hospital at the end of war, I1569returned to my hometown. I had hoped to find comfort but1570instead I found more antisemitism. I had to hide in a barn on1571my family's farm before making my way back to the train station1572and back to Prague. Other Jews that returned had been killed.1573    Many years passed before I learned that my father had1574survived the Mauthausen concentration camp, but had died three1575days after liberation from typhoid.1576    Before the war, we lived on a farm that was in our family1577for seven generations. I had lost 105 family members: siblings,1578aunts, uncles, and cousins - all murdered. Our land was taken,1579and I was an orphan.1580    I came to America in 1950; learned English in nine weeks1581and went to college. Upon graduation, I married and started a1582family. Today, I have two children, five grandchildren and four1583great-grandchildren. I wish I could say that antisemitism1584stopped after World War II, but it rages on.1585    On October 7th, 2023, we saw Hamas kill 1,195 Jews. It's1586been over 570 days and we still have hostages. These atrocities1587are and were barbaric. To say they were traumatizing to1588survivors barely scratches the surface. Protests on college1589campuses that intimidate and threaten Jewish students are not1590benign and cannot be ignored. I remember vividly when Slovakian1591classmates taunted Jewish kids like me, and what's happening1592today looks and feels the same. And most recently the1593Pennsylvania Governor's residence was burned by an arsonist1594during Passover.1595    I spend my days going to schools talking about my1596experiences, and teaching children about the dangers of1597antisemitism. 18 states, including Florida and New York, have a1598law requiring Holocaust education. This is important because a1599recent survey shows widespread ignorance about the Holocaust,1600especially among US Millennials and Gen Z, and we must do1601everything possible to educate our young people.1602    On the subject of restitution, we survivors have been1603pressing for years to ensure restitution of looted assets such1604as stolen art, which is critical to documenting the realities1605of the Holocaust. That is why survivors and our families1606strongly support amendments to the HEAR Act and other1607legislation that will enable families to recover their property1608from those who still want to profit from the Holocaust. This is1609also important because part of the Shoah's terrible legacy is1610that for the past several decades, nearly half of all survivors1611lived and died in poverty, without adequate food, medicine or1612home care. Survivors suffer from extreme physical and mental-1613health challenges due to the long-term effects of starvation,1614beatings, disease, malnutrition, and the murders of our loved1615ones. I am here to remind everyone that there are still1616thousands of survivors alive today who are in desperate need,1617and who cannot be forgotten.1618    Thank you for having this hearing on antisemitism. It has1619been a problem and is still a problem.16201621                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging16221623"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older1624                               Americans"16251626                             April 30, 202516271628                      Prepared Witness Statements16291630                          Rabbi Mark Rosenberg16311632    I'm Rabbi Mark Rosenberg & I serve as the Chief Chaplain of1633the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law1634Enforcement, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Chaplain with Miami-1635Dade Fire Rescue, Senior Chaplain with the North Miami Beach1636Police, Clergy to the Miami Dade Medical Examiner's Office,1637Chairman of the Interfaith Advisory Board of Miami Dade-County1638and Senior Advisor to the Sheriff of Miami Dade-County, Sheriff1639Rosie Codero-Stutz. In addition to my role in these great1640agencies, I also serve as the Director of Chesed Shel Emes of1641Florida, aka CSE. Our main focus is to ensure that every Jew1642who passes away gets a proper burial in line with Jewish1643tradition but we are involved in every facet of Jewish life.1644Through this effort, and by dealing with end-of-life crises, I1645have direct interaction with the elderly population on very1646sensitive matters. Correspondingly, we have forged strong1647relationships with numerous synagogues/temples, Jewish Schools,1648old age homes, senior citizens centers, retirement communities,1649hospitals, & other institutions in addition to the countless1650individuals that we come across in our lines of work. CSE is1651always available to help families in times of crisis & with the1652daily needs of the communities as well. These efforts allow us1653to present an accurate portrayal of the Jewish collective & its1654considerations, concerns, & interests to those higher1655institutions whom I work for. I hope to present an accurate1656portrayal to the Senate Body as well.1657    The rise of antisemitism is a topic that is discussed way1658too often when speaking with individuals, community leaders, &1659establishments as people are genuinely concerned about their1660safety due to the online cesspool of antisemitism. When hate is1661allowed to simmer online, it often spills into the streets1662where there are incidents that confirm people's worst1663anxieties. But there is one community who's fear is more1664palpable than all others. The aging population has long held on1665to the hope that the hatred they witnessed in their youth was a1666subject of history. A burden that they need not & should not1667put onto their descendants. So, they stayed silent. Why stress1668your children & grandchildren if their present reality does not1669represent the trauma from the old world. But on October 7th,1670Holocaust survivors saw their grandchildren slaughtered for1671being Jewish. The elderly came face to face with the horrific1672news that perhaps the past they thought they left behind will1673be the future. Perhaps the burden they thought was an1674unnecessary load to carry was just an illusion & the iron grip1675of evil will once again take hold of this world. They worry1676about the college campuses & what their descendants will1677experience. They fear that the country that gave them1678unprecedented freedom of religion can be usurped by those with1679a sinister agenda.1680    What will calm their fears that the old world is not the1681new world? Consequences. It's simple really, if my child runs1682into the street & I remain silent - I may not support it, but I1683guarantee it will happen again. If there are no consequences1684for those that intimidate & bully under the guise of free1685speech, then they will be emboldened & take more ground until1686we get to a dark place. The Holocaust didn't start in the mid-168720th century; it was the conclusion of antisemitism that had1688fermented for centuries.16891690      We must accept that NEVER AGAIN is now.1691      We must accept that staying silent is really enabling1692those who hate.1693      We must accept that the aging community is re-living the1694trauma that should've never happened, let alone forgotten.1695      We must accept that there are Holocaust deniers, and we1696cannot deny the deniers existence.1697      We must accept that the Oct 7th atrocities, murder,1698rape, burning of families & babies & other horrific acts1699actually happened. We cannot allow these crimes to be1700whitewashed as just another conflict in the Middle East.1701      We must accept that 250 hostages were taken, some of1702them being elderly and Holocaust survivors, who are still1703waiting for their grandchildren to be released by the Hamas1704terrorist organization.1705      We must guarantee the elderly that the United States1706Government will not allow this to continue.17071708    For too long, people filled with hatred felt safe enough to1709show up to synagogues, educational facilities, & public spaces1710spewing hate & antisemitism in the name of free speech & there1711was no legal consequence to stop them. They would bully,1712intimidate, harass & threaten in the hope of provoking a1713reaction. In Florida, under the Governorship of Rick Scott,1714many laws have been instituted to help halt acts such as these.1715This includes Florida House Bill 269 - which has helped in a1716tremendous manner. It provides consequences for those that1717harass based on religion or ethnic heritage, it protects1718synagogues, schools, & campuses, & even includes felony charges1719for hate mail & projections of images onto buildings. The bill1720is referenced below. If we take legitimate action like this1721today, then we can stop hate & antisemitism before it spirals1722out of control like it has so many times in history. We can1723show our aging population that their trauma will not be their1724grandchildren's trauma. We can show them why America is the1725land of the free but also the land of consequences for those1726that deserve them.1727    Thanks to Chairman Rick Scott of the Senate Special1728Committee on Aging, Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator1729Ashley Moody and the other members of the Committee for giving1730me the opportunity to testify on this matter at the hearing on1731April 30th, 2025. I hope & I have full confidence that the1732Senate body will do whatever they can to implement the1733consequences necessary to ensure this runaway train of1734antisemitism is pushed off the tracks before it is too late.1735Once again, thank you to the Special Committee on Aging & the1736Senate body for ensuring "Never Again" actually never ever1737happens again.17381739    Rabbi Mark Rosenberg17401741Florida House Bill 26917421743Harassing Based on Religion or Ethnic Heritage17441745784.0493, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting a person1746from willfully and maliciously harassing, threatening, or1747intimidating another person based on the person's wearing or1748displaying of any indicia relating to any religious or ethnic1749heritage; A person who violates subsection (2) commits a1750misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable. A person who1751violates subsection (2), and in the course of committing the1752violation, makes a credible threat to the person who is the1753subject of the harassment or intimidation, commits a felony of1754the third degree.17551756Synagogues and Schools17571758871.01 assemblies.- 5. Subsection (1) of section 871.01,1759Florida amended to read:Disturbing schools and religious and1760other Whoever willfully and maliciously interrupts or school or1761any assembly of people met for the worship of God, any assembly1762of people met for the purpose of acknowledging the death of an1763individual, or for any other lawful purpose commits a1764misdemeanor of the first second degree, punishable as provided1765in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (b) If a person commits a1766violation of paragraph (a) and in doing so makes a credible1767threat, as that term is defined in s. 784.048(1), he or she1768commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in1769s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.17701771Campus17721773810.098, F.S.; prohibiting a person who willfully enters the1774campus of a state university or Florida College System1775institution for the purpose of threatening or intimidating1776another person from remaining on such campus after being warned1777to depart. Whoever, without being authorized, licensed, or1778invited, willfully enters the campus of a state university or1779Florida College System institution for the purpose of1780threatening or intimidating another person, and is warned by1781the state university or Florida College System institution to1782depart and refuses to do so, commits a misdemeanor of the first1783degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.17841785Hate Mail17861787403.413, F.S.; prohibiting a person from distributing onto1788private property any material for the purpose of intimidating1789or threatening the owner, resident, or invitee of such1790property; providing criminal penalties; prohibiting a person1791from distributing onto private property any material which1792contains a credible threat to the owner, resident, or invitee1793of such property;If a person violates subparagraph 1. by1794intentionally dumping litter onto private property for the1795purpose of intimidating the owner, resident, or invitee of such1796property and such litter contains a credible threat, the person1797commits a felony of the third degree.1798Projecting Images on Buildings17991800806.13, F.S.; prohibiting the display or projection of images1801onto a building, structure, or property without permission.18021803      (a) A person who violates this subsection commits a1804misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.1805775.082 or s. 775.083.1806      (b) A person who violates this subsection by displaying1807or projecting an image that contains a credible threat, as that1808term is defined in s. 784.048(1), commits a felony of the third1809degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.1810108 775.084.18111812                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging18131814"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older1815                               Americans"18161817                             April 30, 202518181819                      Prepared Witness Statements18201821                               Ted Deutch18221823    Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, Members of the1824Committee, it is a pleasure to be before you this afternoon to1825testify in the Senate, across the Capitol from where I served1826for seven terms.1827    I am honored to be here alongside my three other1828distinguished panelists, including a heroic Holocaust survivor1829and my dear friend, David Schachter. It is so important to hear1830their stories firsthand. Their experiences are an integral part1831of Holocaust education, as studies have shown that the more a1832person knows about the Holocaust, the less susceptible they are1833to antisemitic rhetoric.1834    Today, I am here in my capacity as CEO of American Jewish1835Committee (AJC), a global, non-partisan advocacy organization1836that stands up for Israel's right to exist in peace and1837security; confronts antisemitism, no matter the source; and1838upholds the democratic values that unite Jews and our allies.1839    I come to you today on the heels of AJC's annual Global1840Forum, where two thousand Jewish leaders from more than 601841countries convened to tackle the most pressing issues facing1842the Jewish people, America, Israel, and the world.1843    In the Senate Special Committee on Aging's nearly 65-year1844history, there has never been a dedicated hearing on1845antisemitism affecting our nation's seniors. Think about that.1846Today, we are, unfortunately, doing something historic. This1847hearing is a testament to the moment American Jews, and indeed1848the entire American people, are facing right now when it comes1849to the increased levels of antisemitism and hate that have1850become all too common in our society.18511852The State of Antisemitism in the Last Year18531854    Earlier this year, American Jewish Committee released our1855State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report. The report is the1856first comprehensive data we have that captures the experiences1857with and perceptions of both Jewish and non-Jewish Americans1858with antisemitism one full year after Hamas's brutal terrorist1859attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which over 1,200 people1860were murdered and more than 250 were taken hostage, including186159 who are still held in captivity today, both alive and dead,1862but all deserving to return home now, after 572 days in1863captivity. What this report shows is that antisemitism has1864reached a tipping point in America, threatening the freedoms of1865American Jews and casting an ominous shadow across our society.1866The topline numbers are unsettling. 73% of American Jews feel1867less secure than they did a year ago. 56% of American Jews1868admit that they have changed their behavior over the last year1869because of the fear of antisemitism. Your constituents are1870deciding not to wear a Jewish star or a hostage pin like the1871one I have on because they fear they will be targeted with hate1872and violence. They aren't going to synagogues or visibly1873wearing kippahs because they think they may be targeted because1874of their identity as Jews.1875    The 1.6 million American Jewish seniors - more than 30,0001876of whom are Holocaust survivors are acutely aware of the1877antisemitism emanating from every corner of society, and their1878fear is pronounced. 43% of Jewish American seniors are worried1879they'll be victims of antisemitism, and 53% are worried that1880their loved ones will be victims of antisemitism because they1881are Jewish. And they have reason to worry. American Jewish1882seniors are seeing an overwhelming amount of antisemitic hate1883online, they are seeing that posters of Holocaust survivors1884were torn down last week in New York City, they are hearing1885from their grandkids about what is happening on campus - chants1886like "go back to Poland" and threats that October 7th would1887happen "100 more times, 1,000 more times, and 10,000 more1888times" ringing on the quad - and they know about the death of1889Paul Kessler, a 69-year old man who in November 2023 died after1890being shoved by an extremist while he was simply trying to1891support Israel and uplift the plight of the hostages.18921893Seniors Are Experiencing Antisemitism18941895    But it's not just statistics. Here are a few stories about1896how American Jewish seniors are experiencing this explosion of1897antisemitism.1898    Through the USC Shoah Foundation, our partners who1899catalogue testimony about contemporary antisemitism, we heard1900from Holocaust survivors in the U.S. who are deeply worried1901about the surge of antisemitism happening right now. Eva1902Perlman, who fled Berlin with her family to Paris, and then was1903sheltered by Righteous Gentiles in Lyon during the war, is1904afraid. She said that the antisemitism we are seeing "now is1905even worse than it was at the time. And it's everywhere." The1906time she is referring to? 1930s Europe. In her interview with1907the Shoah Foundation, she said of the current moment, I'm1908scared. I'm absolutely scared because [antisemitism] is a1909poison that has invaded the whole world. Which was probably1910latent, you know, it was dormant for many years, and now it's1911coming out in full force. And I don't know what will happen. I1912have no idea. Where will the Jews go if they are no longer1913wanted in this country?1914    Bob Koperwas parents fled east from Nazi occupied Krakow1915right before he was born. The rest of his family was rounded up1916and sent to concentration camps. After witnessing just six1917months of the antisemitism that had transpired since the1918October 7 attacks, he told the USC Shoah Foundation that, I'm1919glad I was born when I was born, because I don't want to be a1920young child today.19211922Antisemitism Must Be Fought in a Bipartisan Manner19231924    This all-hands-on-deck moment we find ourselves in -1925American Jews and Americans of all religious and political1926stripes alike - is why it is so crucial that leaders are taking1927every angle to address this problem. No stone should be1928unturned. It does not matter who is perpetrating antisemitism1929and targeting Jews. We will be under attack no matter if it is1930from those on the far-left or the far-right, as they will find1931a way to make the Jews the culprits of whatever they deem to be1932the ultimate evil in their philosophy. It does not matter to us1933if far-left protestors call us "baby killers" when we are on1934our way to synagogue or if neo-Nazis deface a synagogue with1935swastikas and other hate symbols. For us, the hatred and fear1936we experience are the same. Anytime a Jewish person is1937targeted, it affects every Jew because we are all1938interconnected. But the rising tide of antisemitism is not just1939a Jewish problem. It is a crisis for our democracy and our1940society.1941    At its roots, antisemitism is interconnected with1942conspiracy theories. One of the oldest stories used to attack1943the Jewish community is that the Jews killed Jesus. Since then,1944no matter where Jewish people have lived, there has been Jewish1945hate. It has spanned borders and millennia; it has been a left-1946wing prejudice and a right-wing prejudice. Antisemitism has1947emerged due to concerns about communism or capitalism.1948Antisemitism is typically rooted in conspiracy theories about1949the Jewish people and is irrational in nature, unable to be1950explained by logic or sound reasoning. This hate flourishes1951when extremism is on the rise and democratic norms are being1952challenged. Whenever antisemitism surges, it leaves us divided1953and unable to deal with the problems facing our society.1954Addressing it is not only a defense of the Jewish community -1955it is a defense of democracy itself.1956    That is why it is so significant that the Special Committee1957on Aging is having this hearing now. And it is why, despite the1958partisan rancor in Washington reaching a boiling point, there1959is still room for productive discourse and bipartisan agreement1960to address antisemitism. We can take real steps, today, that1961will make a tangible difference to millions of American Jews.1962So, I thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gillibrand once1963again for exercising bipartisanship on this deeply important1964issue that is so essential to the very fabric of our society.1965    To that end, I want to take a moment as a former member of1966Congress to speak candidly to the members on the panel. Right1967now, as antisemitism continues to rear its ugly head across1968society, as we saw recently with the targeting of Pennsylvania1969Governor Shapiro on the first night of Passover, I urge you to1970condemn antisemitism unequivocally and publicly, in all its1971forms, whenever and wherever it occurs. Name it. Call it out.1972Be strong. When an incident occurs, it matters when elected1973officials speak out loudly and use their broad reach, raising1974awareness that antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem, but1975an assault on American values.1976    I spent 16 years in politics; I understand the political1977implications of every statement you make. I understand that it1978is often easier to call out antisemitism when perpetrated by1979someone across the aisle, someone you are used to battling, and1980I know the challenge that comes with calling someone out within1981your own party when they do or say something you know is wrong.1982But every one of you knows that when you speak out against1983anyone, members from both parties, including your own, when1984they spew language that threatens others in your community, as1985antisemitism threatens the Jewish community, people will thank1986you. You will satisfy the enormous responsibility you have to1987your constituents. We cannot allow antisemitism - the world's1988oldest hatred - to become a partisan political issue and be1989used as a wedge to divide the Jewish community, because1990regardless of where it comes from, whether from the right or1991left or anywhere in between, antisemitism hurts Jews and our1992country. I urge every elected official on this Committee to be1993mindful of politicization and reach across party lines to1994address antisemitism. The House and Senate Bipartisan Task1995Forces for Combating Antisemitism serve as examples of how1996Members can responsibly reach across the aisle to collectively1997push back against antisemitism. I m grateful that some of you1998already belong to the Senate Task Force, and I encourage every1999single Senator in this chamber to join.20002001Understanding Antisemitism20022003    Key to standing up to this threat is truly understanding2004antisemitism. According to AJC's State of Antisemitism in2005America 2024 Report, 30% of Americans are not familiar with2006antisemitism, including 10% of Americans who have never heard2007the term before. That is why the International Holocaust2008Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism,2009which provides a clear and concise description of antisemitism2010in its various forms, is an important educational tool to help2011individuals and entities understand how antisemitism manifests2012in modern times.20132014How Congress Can Better Define Antisemitism20152016    Congress should swiftly pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act2017(S.558), legislation with strong bipartisan support that would2018ensure the Department of Education continues to consider this2019useful tool when it seeks to protect students in educational2020spaces.2021    I also want to take a moment to address opposition to the2022IHRA Working Definition due to concern that it could be used to2023restrict free speech. Free speech is guaranteed under the First2024Amendment. However, if someone is espousing antisemitic2025rhetoric and invoking age-old tropes about Jews (some of which2026are outlined in AJC's Translate Hate Glossary), our laws also2027make it clear that free speech does not prevent us from2028identifying antisemitism when we hear it. The IHRA Working2029Definition and the examples it provides are meant to serve as a2030flexible educational tool to help people recognize2031antisemitism, depending on the context, not to restrict or2032limit speech. Critiques of the IHRA Working Definition on the2033basis that it could limit constitutionally protected speech2034misunderstand the working definition and its purpose, which is2035to help policymakers, civil society monitors, educators, and2036others understand what antisemitism can look like, in order to2037take proactive steps to address the issue and hold perpetrators2038of antisemitism accountable.20392040Jewish American Heritage Month20412042    Jewish American Heritage Month will start on May 1, the day2043after this hearing takes place. At a time when much of the2044public discourse regarding the Jewish community tends to focus2045on negative themes and stereotypes, Jewish American Heritage2046Month presents a valuable opportunity to shift the narrative.2047It is imperative for the public to understand that like every2048other American community, the Jewish American community has2049made numerous valuable contributions to our country. Jewish2050American Heritage Month is a great way to uplift these2051contributions to our country's successes in culture, law,2052medicine, sports, business, and all the ways we have valiantly2053served our country - including many folks from the past2054generations, such as my late father, who fought in the Battle2055of the Bulge against the Nazis in World War II.2056    Embracing Jewish American heritage is a key strategy in the2057whole-of-society fight against antisemitism. This approach2058educates business leaders about Jewish identity; pushes tech2059companies to combat the spread of antisemitism online and2060demands that social media platforms enforce their own rules2061against hate speech; and calls for strong legislation to clamp2062down on antisemitism wherever it might rear its ugly head.2063Allowing antisemitism to fester in any part of our society is2064wholly unacceptable, and it undermines the foundational values2065of our democracy. History has shown us that vibrant democracies2066are the only societies that allow the Jewish community and2067other minority communities to thrive, and allowing antisemitism2068to permeate our discourse is a threat to our way of life.2069Fighting antisemitism requires all of us, in our various2070capacities, to unequivocally call out and condemn this bigotry.2071Educating people across society about American Jewish history2072and all of the enormous contributions Jews have made to2073America, while also increasing American Jewish visibility, are2074essential steps in fostering empathy and understanding, which2075is crucial as ignorance often underpins prejudice and hate.2076    AJC's State of Antisemitism in America Report 2024 found2077that 59% of U.S. adults say antisemitism has increased over the2078past five years. What's more, 88% of this group say they are2079concerned by the rise in antisemitism. Corroborating that2080sentiment, 90% of the general public believe that not only does2081antisemitism affect society as a whole, but everyone is2082responsible for combating it. It is great that so many members2083of the general public understand the scale and scope of the2084scourge of antisemitism we are facing. But, concerningly, only208513% of non-Jewish U.S. adults know how many Jewish people live2086in the United States, demonstrating that despite concern and2087desire to act, the size and contributions of the Jewish2088community continue to be misunderstood. How Congress Can2089Embrace Jewish American Heritage2090    Congress established Jewish American Heritage Month, and2091elected officials continue to play a valuable role in lifting2092up this important honor. But there is more to be done. Congress2093should codify into federal statute May as Jewish American2094Heritage Month, ensuring this month and the countless2095contributions and sacrifices Jewish Americans have made to our2096country are celebrated. Members of this body, and indeed all2097members of Congress, should recognize Jewish heritage, Jewish2098life, and Jewish contributions to American society. This2099educates the public about who Jews are as a people and can help2100mitigate antisemitism. Having a Jewish person in your life, or2101even just knowing more about American Jews, can go a long way2102to combat hate. Our State of Antisemitism in America 20242103Report found that 60% of U.S. adults say they personally know2104someone who is Jewish. We found that knowing someone Jewish has2105a deep impact on knowing what antisemitism is and thinking that2106it is a problem in America today. 81% of U.S. adults who know2107someone Jewish know the term antisemitism, whereas only 52%2108know the term if they don t know someone Jewish. It also2109affects thinking that antisemitism is a problem: 81% of2110Americans who know someone Jewish say antisemitism is a problem2111in America today, while only 58% of Americans who don t know2112someone Jewish say the same. This tells us how when people have2113any relationship or familiarity with Jews, they are more likely2114to be cognisant of the threat antisemitism poses today.21152116The Need For Holocaust Education21172118    The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum plays a vital role in2119teaching about the important history and lessons from the2120Holocaust, and I appreciate Congress's bipartisan commitment to2121ensuring this vital information is taught in our nation's2122schools. In our State of Antisemitism in American 2024 Report,2123we found that more than half of U.S. adults (53%) answered2124three or more questions about the Holocaust correctly, and2125those who did are more likely to know the term antisemitism and2126what it means; say that antisemitism has increased in the past2127five years; be concerned about the increase in antisemitism;2128and say antisemitism is a problem in the United States.21292130How Congress Can Bolster Holocaust Education21312132    Congress has a vital role to play in improving education2133about the Holocaust and understanding of antisemitism. I was2134pleased that Congress reauthorized the Never Again Education2135Act at the end of last year, which empowers the U.S. Holocaust2136Memorial Museum to provide Holocaust education, resources, and2137training, and urge this chamber to also pass the Holocaust2138Education and Lessons (HEAL) Act (S.332), which would direct2139the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to deepen our understanding2140of where the gaps in K-12 education are by conducting a study2141on Holocaust education efforts in states, local educational2142agencies, and public elementary and secondary schools2143nationwide. This information will inform policymakers as they2144discuss how best to address gaps in Holocaust education and2145what additional resources are needed to bolster curricula.2146Congress should also ensure, through the annual appropriations2147process, funding that supports Holocaust education and grants,2148including $2 million for the Never Again Education Act,2149continues.21502151Antisemitism Online21522153    Antisemitic rhetoric has exploded online. Online and on2154social media continue to be the places where American Jews2155experience antisemitism the most. According to AJC's State of2156Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, 67% of Jewish adults have2157seen antisemitic content online or on social media at least2158once in the past 12 months. While 20% of that group report that2159these incidents made them feel physically threatened, many2160people do not report the incidents. The number one reason given2161by Jewish respondents as to why they chose not to report2162antisemitism online or on social media was that they did not2163believe any action would be taken.21642165How Congress Can Fight Antisemitism Online21662167    To mitigate these issues, there are several avenues2168Congress can take. Congress should pass fundamental reforms to2169Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and hold social2170media companies accountable for the spread of antisemitic and2171hate-fueled violence on their platforms. Congress should ensure2172online platforms lose their special immunity if they utilize an2173algorithm to amplify or recommend content to a user that2174promotes violence and can impose stronger transparency2175requirements on online platforms that prevent algorithmic bias,2176improve moderation systems, and enforce community standards.2177And finally, Congress should pass legislation requiring social2178media companies to allow researchers access to the platform's2179data, while maintaining users privacy. Qualified, independent2180researchers can help Congress and the social media companies2181themselves better understand how the platform's algorithms are2182spreading antisemitism.2183    Experts from American Jewish Committee actively engage with2184social media companies on these issues, provide briefings and2185policy recommendations, and serve as a trusted flagger or early2186warning partner, which allows us to escalate harmful content2187and alert the companies to changing trends in antisemitism. AJC2188would be happy to brief Members of Congress to ensure you2189remain updated on the latest data and can develop comprehensive2190policies that can make these platforms safer for all users.21912192Antisemitism On Campus21932194    Unfortunately, a large number of antisemitic incidents we2195have seen since October 7, 2023, have occurred on college2196campuses. At George Washington University, pro-Hamas phrases,2197including "Glory to Our Martyrs" were projected for hours onto2198a building in the heart of the campus. At Cornell University, a2199student threatened to kill Jewish students in an online forum.2200At the University of Maryland, students chanted, "there is only2201one solution - intifada revolution," with "Holocaust 2.0" found2202chalked on the ground at the time of the rally. In December22032024, a freshman at George Mason University was arrested and2204charged with plotting a mass casualty attack on the Israeli2205consulate in New York, which he referred to as "a symbol of2206Judaism in the world." These types of antisemitic incidents2207have continued well into the 2024-2025 academic year as schools2208have struggled to appropriately respond.22092210How Congress Can Counter Campus Antisemitism22112212    In our State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, 32% of2213Jewish university students reported feeling uncomfortable or2214unsafe at a campus event because of their Jewish identity, a221575% increase from our study last year. Universities are not2216fostering an open and safe environment for their students. In2217the months following Hamas attacks, the Department of2218Education's Office for Civil Rights received almost three times2219as many Title VI complaints as the entire previous fiscal year.2220And we don t even know the extent of the problem because filing2221a Title VI case is not a process that many students know how to2222do. Congress should pass the Protecting Students on Campus Act2223(S.163), bipartisan legislation which would not only empower2224students to report Title VI violations they experience but also2225help ensure institutions of higher education are properly2226addressing discrimination complaints, so that safe learning2227environments are guaranteed for all.2228    I am concerned by the Administration's executive order on2229March 20, 2025, titled Improving Education Outcomes by2230Empowering Parents, States, and Communities, which was intended2231to begin the process of eliminating the Department of2232Education. These proposed cuts directly impact the Department's2233Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which enforces civil rights laws2234in any educational institution that receives Department of2235Education funding. Without OCR, along with other critical2236Department of Education programs, the protections guaranteed2237for Jewish students by Title VI could be compromised if2238complaints are not investigated in a thorough and timely2239manner. Because of this, Congress should call on the Trump2240Administration to support the Office for Civil Rights, ensure2241adequate staffing levels in Washington, D.C. and in all2242regional offices, and provide at least $162 million for OCR so2243that it can continue to carry out its important mission of2244keeping students safe. As more than half of the OCR regional2245offices were recently closed, a review must be undertaken to2246understand the impact of that decision. Additionally, there2247must be guidance on where the OCR's functions will be housed2248going forward in the federal government. Students deserve to2249know the federal government will be there to enforce the rights2250and protections afforded to them and step in when these rights2251are violated.22522253Addressing Security Threats22542255    Just as we can do more to educate and train people to2256understand antisemitism, more also needs to be done to protect2257Jewish communities from physical threats. Our State of2258Antisemitism in America 2024 Report data found that, for2259American Jews who are affiliated with a Jewish institution, 30%2260said their institutions were targeted by graffiti, threats, or2261attacks in the last five years. Nearly one-third of a minority2262group's institutions have been threatened. And as alarming as2263that number is, even more American Jews think their synagogue,2264their campus Hillel, their JCC, or their kosher deli might be2265next. For American Jews who are affiliated with a Jewish2266institution, 70% said their institutions have increased2267security measures since October 7, 2023.2268How Congress Can Address Security Threats22692270    Congress should support community-based violence prevention2271programs and encourage local law enforcement to build stronger2272ties with synagogues, Jewish community centers, Jewish day2273schools, and other Jewish institutions and organizations and2274vice versa. Through these relationships, Jewish communities can2275avail themselves of state and local-level training, technical2276assistance, and resources to bolster their security. And these2277local efforts should work in conjunction with federal programs2278such as the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).2279    The NSGP provides funding for nonprofits at high risk of2280terrorist threats and attacks to increase their preparedness2281and support security needs. This essential program has been2282severely underfunded for years, only fulfilling 42% of requests2283in 2023. Since October 7, 2023, Jewish institutional applicants2284to the NSGP have increased as antisemitic attacks have surged,2285and fears about attacks have become pervasive. Funding for the2286Nonprofit Security Grant Program is currently frozen, leaving2287hundreds of Jewish and other religious institutions2288increasingly vulnerable to attack. Congress should call on the2289Trump Administration to immediately unfreeze this vital funding2290and, further, ensure the program continues by providing $5002291million in fiscal year 2026. I want to thank Congress for its2292continued bipartisan support for this program. It is more vital2293now than ever before.22942295The Need For a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism22962297    In the United States, while we have a Special Envoy to2298Monitor and Combat Antisemitism in the U.S. Department of2299State, their focus is global. The efforts of the Federal Task2300Force to Combat Antisemitism can be streamlined and amplified2301by including all federal agencies. Additionally, having a point2302person solely focused on leading interagency coordination and2303building infrastructure around combating antisemitism,2304including leading and maintaining the process of sharing2305federal government efforts across agencies and with the Jewish2306community, will make countering antisemitism more efficient and2307effective.23082309How Congress Can Help Create a National Coordinator23102311    Congress should work with the Administration to appoint a2312national coordinator to counter antisemitism so that our2313government continues to take a whole-of-government approach to2314fight the scourge of antisemitism.23152316Engage With Jewish Communities23172318    I implore you to take the time to personally engage with2319the Jewish communities in your state. You could attend a local2320Shabbat dinner or participate in a roundtable discussion. Sit2321down with and listen to Jewish students about what they are2322seeing and encountering in their schools and on campus. You'll2323witness the challenges they face and the experiences that shape2324their lives. Let your staff and your constituents know that you2325stand with the Jewish community as they boldly describe what2326they have faced. There is no more important ally to our2327community than the people we elect to represent us in2328Washington. With our 25 regional offices nationwide, connecting2329with your local AJC office, Jewish Federation, and leaders of2330large synagogues is a great way to start building these2331meaningful connections.23322333Fighting Antisemitism Will Strengthen Our Democracy23342335    This moment is not only about the Jewish community, but2336also about the society we live in, and we must find ways to2337work together in a bipartisan manner to protect Jewish seniors,2338combat antisemitism in society, and create a better future for2339our children and grandchildren. When I was in Congress, I swore2340to uphold the Constitution and worked hard to defend the2341families in my district. As the CEO of AJC, I lead a 118-year-2342old global organization dedicated to creating a world where2343Jews thrive and are safe. Right now, that starts with defeating2344antisemitism, and by working together, we can aggressively wage2345this battle and our victory will be protecting the Jewish2346community and strengthening our nation.2347    The hatred of Jews and antisemitism has plagued our world2348for thousands of years. It has led to Jews being vilified,2349isolated, harassed, chased, expelled, hunted, and murdered. At2350its core, antisemitism is a symptom of extremism and the2351fraying of our shared social cohesion. When antisemitism is2352tolerated, it means even more conspiracy theories have the air2353to bloom into something more dangerous and sinister. It means2354there is a rot gnawing at the foundation of our society and2355that we are at risk of democratic backsliding, extremism, and2356dehumanization. And it means that every one of us, not just the2357Jewish community, is worse off. Fighting antisemitism will not2358only protect the Jewish community in America but also protect2359our democracy.2360    For American Jewish seniors more than 30,000 of whom are2361Holocaust survivors, as well as veterans of our military who2362put their lives on the line to fight for our country's freedom,2363small and large business owners who contributed to our economy,2364and the countless others who, in their own ways, gave all of2365themselves to the promise of America - the moment they are2366facing right now is scary. American Jewish seniors remember a2367time when Jews were often intentionally ostracized in our2368country. Through their tenacity and dedication to American and2369Jewish values, American Jews have experienced what some have2370deemed a "Golden Age" for our community. But now, with2371antisemitism on the rise, the acceptance we have enjoyed is at2372risk of going away. These seniors deserve to live out their2373many remaining years celebrating the successes of their family2374and community, and observing their faith openly without2375worrying about what happens if they are proudly Jewish in2376public or if their children or grandchildren will be victims of2377antisemitism. For these amazing American Jewish seniors, for2378the Jewish community, for the future of our democracy, we must2379all come together to fight antisemitism now.2380    Thank you.23812382                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging23832384"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older2385                               Americans"23862387                             April 30, 202523882389                      Prepared Witness Statements23902391                            Rebecca Federman23922393    Thank you, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and2394Members of the Special Committee on Aging, for inviting me to2395speak before you today.2396    My name is Rebecca Federman, and I am privileged to serve2397as the Senior Director for the Community Security Initiative of2398New York's Intelligence Desk. In 2019, in the wake of the2399deadliest attacks against American Jews - 15 dead Jews in 142400months across Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City, and Monsey, many2401of whom were elderly individuals - the umbrella Jewish2402organizations in New York, UJA-Federation and JCRC-NY, founded2403the Community Security Initiative as our way of actualizing2404Never Again. CSI, as the organization is colloquially known, is2405a comprehensive program designed to protect and enhance2406security for the 1.8-million-person Jewish community in New2407York and in Southwest Connecticut. We help ensure Jews are2408never again murdered in our houses of worship, schools,2409community centers, summer camps, or grocery stores.2410    I supervise our Intelligence Desk, a team of four threat2411intelligence analysts, whose main goal is to detect,2412investigate, and disrupt violent threats targeting the Jewish2413community. The investigations we undertake are politically and2414ideologically agnostic - we've thwarted violent neo-Nazis,2415disrupted ISIS-inspired individuals, and other variants of2416antisemites with weapons. We spend our days knee-deep in the2417sewers of the deep, dark and surface web, scouring the internet2418for threats.2419    It is important to note that our focus is not on vile,2420first amendment protected antisemitic speech, but rather a2421higher threshold, focusing on those threats that include: 1) an2422explicit expression of intent to commit violence, such as "I am2423going to shoot up a synagogue"; 2) an indication of possessing2424weapons with intent to use them; or 3) an expressed allegiance2425to a U.S. designated terrorist organization. And in 2024 alone,2426we elevated a total of 221 life-threatening instances to law2427enforcement and partner organizations both locally and globally2428for them to urgently respond. This is undeniably a profoundly2429disturbing number.2430    Fortunately, CSI works hand in hand with law enforcement2431partners at the local, state, and federal level and in many2432cases sharing of this threat information has enabled law2433enforcement to act and to disrupt potentially deadly threats.2434    Just two months ago, this past Valentine's Day, the CSI2435Intelligence Desk thwarted an attack against Central Synagogue,2436a prominent synagogue in Manhattan. One of my analysts detected2437a post on X in which the user indicated his intention to visit2438the synagogue, naming his location, date and time, and in a2439subsequent post, evoked Adolf Hitler, claiming if he was2440stopped, he would kill tenfold as many Jews as Hitler did.2441Working closely with our partners at the NYPD and New Jersey2442State Police, they were able to locate this individual as he2443was en route to New York City, arresting him as he attempted to2444enter the Lincoln Tunnel, a main thoroughfare connecting New2445Jersey to Manhattan. This is but one of many examples of the2446antisemitic terrorist threats the CSI team has helped to2447thwart.2448    The threat landscape facing the Jews in America and around2449the world is vast and diverse, particularly in the wake of2450Hamas' October 7, 2023 terror attack against Israel. Of the2451instances we elevated to law enforcement for which we were able2452to determine the online user's ideology, 60% were motivated by2453white supremacist ideology and 40% by jihadi ideology, such as2454individuals expressing their allegiance to ISIS or Hamas.2455    CSI assesses that another violent attack targeting the2456Jewish community in America is increasingly likely. Based on2457our analysis, CSI assesses the greatest threats to the Jewish2458community come from three main vectors: a homegrown violent2459extremist motivated by the current Israel-Hamas war; an2460individual associated with or inspired by ISIS; or a Racially2461and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremist fueled by white2462supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs.2463    Indeed, recent thwarted attacks-some stemming from CSI2464Intelligence threat detection-corroborate our "triple threat"2465assessment. In July 2024, a Canada-based individual planned to2466target Chabad's world headquarters in Brooklyn, NY with a mass-2467casualty attack in the name of ISIS, which was fortunately2468thwarted by a joint FBI-Canadian law enforcement operation. In2469January 2025, based on a tip from CSI to the FBI, a white2470supremacist in Beverly, Massachusetts was arrested with2471weapons, ammunition, and a Nazi flag after he posted online2472that it was time to kill Jews and that he had the addresses of2473every Jew in his neighborhood. And of course, just a few weeks2474ago, Governor Josh Shapiro's home was firebombed during2475Passover, by an attacker allegedly motivated by the current2476Israel-Hamas war and the Governor's pro-Israel stance.2477    A large-scale, violent attack is not the only threat facing2478the Jewish community in America. Every day, Jewish Americans2479are victims of antisemitic incidents that range from vandalism2480and harassment to assault. Just last week, the Anti-Defamation2481League released its annual audit of antisemitic incidents for24822024. Unsurprisingly, the 9,354 incidents recorded were the2483highest on record since ADL began tracking these statistics in24841979. Assaults increased by 21% over last year's data, and 58%2485of the incidents the ADL recorded in 2024 contained elements of2486anti-Israel bias, perpetrated by both anti-Israel organizations2487and white supremacist groups.2488    Also included in ADL's audit data, was an 84% increase in2489antisemitic activity on college campuses across the country.2490Since October 7th, Jewish students began feeling unsafe on2491their college campuses, often subjected to intimidation,2492harassment, and disruptions of their events, classes, and2493campus life. In response to the frequent vitriol and disruptive2494protest activity, CSI launched our Campus Security Initiative,2495working with Campus Hillels and Chabad Rabbis as well as Campus2496Security professionals at twenty-five universities along the2497Amtrak corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C. in order to2498meet their needs. On some campuses, our role is to provide2499guidance for Jewish campus professionals and students. For2500other campuses, CSI provides funding for security guards to2501protect events. For every campus, we offer a personal security2502app for students and my analysts prepare a weekly campus report2503detailing the key trends, incidents, and upcoming protest2504activities taking place on campuses.2505    Looking at the trendlines across the twenty-five campuses,2506we assess that campuses are no longer just centers of first2507amendment protected protest. While not all campuses have seen2508the same level of protest activity, harassment, and2509intimidation of Jewish students, in some cases, campuses have2510become launchpads for violence and hate. Late last year, at2511George Mason University, a student plotted an ISIS-inspired2512terror attack against the Israeli Consulate in New York. Also,2513during 2024, at the University of Pittsburgh, Jewish students2514were physically assaulted during a protest. And at Columbia2515University, during the past year, Jewish students were spat on,2516shoved, and chased off campus by mobs shouting, "We don't want2517no Zionists here." This is not activism-it is antisemitic2518violence, growing louder, bolder, and more dangerous by the2519day.25202521Policy Proscriptions - Keeping Jewish Americans Safe from2522Antisemitism and Terrorist Threats In order to address the rise2523of antisemitism, CSI proposes the following policy2524recommendations:25252526      1. In light of the alarming rise in antisemitic threats2527and acts of violence across the United States, it is imperative2528that Congress takes swift and decisive action by increasing2529funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Jewish2530community institutions-including synagogues, schools, and2531community centers-have become increasingly frequent targets of2532harassment, vandalism, and violent threats. In 2023, despite2533$274.5 million in appropriations, only 43% of grant2534applications were funded, leaving a significant number of at-2535risk institutions without access to critical security2536enhancements. CSI, in partnership with the Jewish Federations2537of North America, respectfully urges Congress to include $5002538million in the final FY25 and FY26 appropriations bills for the2539NSGP. An expanded investment will ensure that vulnerable2540nonprofits have the necessary resources to harden potential2541targets, train for emergency scenarios, and protect their2542communities from those who seek to do them harm.2543      2. In addition, we strongly urge passage of the2544Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA). Following the October 7th2545terrorist attack by Hamas, Jewish students across the United2546States have experienced a disturbing increase in harassment and2547intimidation, particularly on college campuses. The AAA would2548require the U.S. Department of Education to use the2549International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working2550Definition of Antisemitism when evaluating discrimination2551complaints under Title VI. The IHRA definition-endorsed by over2552160 Jewish communities and organizations worldwide-provides2553concrete, internationally accepted examples to help distinguish2554protected free speech from unlawful, antisemitic conduct.2555Adoption of the Antisemitism Awareness Act will give the2556Department of Education a critical tool to combat antisemitism2557effectively while upholding constitutional rights, and it will2558reaffirm America's commitment to protecting the safety and2559dignity of all students.2560      3. Finally, to protect students, safeguard campuses, and2561ensure a peaceful end to the semester, colleges must robustly2562enforce Title VI guidelines, including time, place, and manner2563restrictions, permitting requirements, and enforcing campus2564codes of conduct that protect Jewish students. Serious2565consequences, such as suspension, expulsion, and bans from2566campus events, including commencement, must be swiftly imposed.2567Congress has an important role to play here, ensuring that the2568Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of2569Education, which handles Title VI investigations, receives the2570resources needed to conduct robust investigations.25712572    Thank you for your bipartisan partnership and leadership2573fighting antisemitism. I look forward to your questions.25742575=======================================================================25762577                        Questions for the Record25782579=======================================================================25802581                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging25822583"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older2584                               Americans"25852586                             April 30, 202525872588                        Questions for the Record25892590                            David Schaecter25912592                         Senator Dave McCormick25932594    Question:25952596    The civil terrorists that vandalize synagogues, assault2597police officers, occupy buildings, and block roads often cite2598the Holocaust. They compare democratically elected leaders to2599Hitler and call Jewish people the new Nazis. As someone who2600survived the horrors of the Holocaust, what do you make of this2601framing?26022603    Response:26042605    Analogies of contemporary events or people to Nazism2606reflect a very serious misunderstanding of the vast scope of2607Nazi Germany's crimes. The Holocaust was the greatest crime in2608human history. Nazi Germany and its collaborators perpetrated2609murder and theft on an incomprehensible scale against the2610Jewish people, as documented in millions of archival records,2611and traumatic human experience and testimony. Whether through2612ignorance or malice, Nazi analogies are terribly misguided and2613dishonor the memory of six million Jews who were murdered,2614including one and a half million children under the age of2615twelve.2616    Comparisons of Israel with Nazis, or accusations that2617Israel is committing "genocide," are especially contemptible.2618We personally saw the world stand silent as our mothers,2619fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and2620cousins were slaughtered. We actually had nowhere to go -- no2621possible place of refuge. No country would accept us even2622though world leaders knew full well that thousands of Jews were2623being murdered every day. There was no Jewish nation to which2624we could flee.2625    Accusing Israel of "genocide" today creates a completely2626false moral equivalency between Hamas's unspeakable atrocities2627against innocent Israelis, and Israel's right of self-defense2628against terrorists who use Palestinian women and children as2629human shields to wage war against Jewish people and try to2630destroy Israel.2631    The barbarity of the Hamas attacks of October 7, and2632grotesque accusations of "genocide" against Israel before and2633after October 7, including in the days before one Israeli2634soldier set foot in Gaza, remind us that hatred of the Jewish2635people is a cancer that will never be eradicated. It must be2636recognized, protected against, and crushed when it threatens.2637The shameful explosion of antisemitism that has followed, even2638in this great country and on campuses once considered "elite,"2639is fueled by such hateful propaganda.2640    In the years leading to and during the Holocaust, similar2641lies and political propaganda were ignored and excused, at the2642same time they fostered unprecedented genocidal hatred - real2643genocide. I know -- I was there.26442645                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging26462647"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older2648                               Americans"26492650                             April 30, 202526512652                        Questions for the Record26532654                               Ted Deutch26552656                         Senator Dave McCormick26572658    Question:26592660    Congress has a duty to do whatever it can to put a stop to2661the criminals and civil terrorists harming, intimidating, and2662attacking Jewish Americans. I agree with you that defining2663antisemitism is critical - not just for educating the public,2664but for giving government officials a framework for evaluating2665Title VI cases. To that end, why do you believe the IHRA2666definition of antisemitism is the most useful framework?26672668    Response:26692670    As the most widely adopted and used definition of2671antisemitism in the world, employed by over 100 entities,2672including over 40 governments, including within the U.S.2673government, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism is a2674clear and concise description of antisemitism in its various2675forms, including conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial and2676distortion, prejudices against Jews, and the rejection of2677Israel's right to exist.2678    Contemporary manifestations of antisemitism require a more2679thorough and nuanced approach when it comes to recognizing when2680antisemitism extends beyond explicit expressions of hatred. The2681IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism includes a series of2682examples that serve as illustrations of the various ways that2683antisemitism can manifest, depending on the context. These2684practical examples could help a police officer on the street2685recognize antisemitism as well as a graduate student in a2686classroom. With the context provided by the examples, the2687Working Definition is meant to serve as a flexible tool to help2688people recognize what might constitute antisemitism.26892690                        Senator Raphael Warnock26912692    Question:26932694    On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive2695order entitled "Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering2696Parents, States, and Communities," which directs the Secretary2697of Education to close the Department of Education.\1\2698---------------------------------------------------------------------------2699    \1\ Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States,2700Executive Order No. 14242, 90 Fed. Reg. 13679, and Communities, White2701House (March 20, 2025), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/270203/25/2025-05213/improving-education-outcomes-by-empowering-parents-2703states-and-communities.2704---------------------------------------------------------------------------2705    Can you describe the role the Office for Civil Rights in2706the Department of Education plays in protecting students from2707religious discrimination?27082709    Response:27102711    The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR)2712enforces civil rights laws in any educational institution that2713receives Department of Education funding. Title VI of the Civil2714Rights Act of 1964 protects people from discrimination based on2715race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that2716receive Federal financial assistance. Students who experience2717religious discrimination often have few other options for a2718guaranteed free, unbiased examination into the complaint other2719than under Title VI. OCR is tasked with investigating2720complaints against educational institutions, and the office2721also works with these institutions to resolve these complaints2722and ensure a safe environment for students.2723    Question:27242725    What are the potential consequences if the Office for Civil2726Rights does not have adequate funding or staffing?27272728    Response:27292730    In the months following Hamas's terror attacks in Israel on2731October 7, 2023, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received2732nearly three times as many Title VI complaints as in the entire2733previous fiscal year. However, we still do not fully understand2734the extent of the problem because many students are unaware of2735how to file a Title VI complaint, so the actual number of Title2736VI violations might be much higher. OCR was under-resourced at2737the start of this year and my concerns have only increased with2738reports that more than 200 of OCR's roughly 550 employees were2739laid off and more than half of their regional offices have2740closed. Without adequate funding or staffing, the OCR, along2741with other essential Department of Education programs, will be2742unable to investigate these complaints properly and in a timely2743manner. This jeopardizes the protections guaranteed for Jewish2744students under Title VI. Students deserve to know the federal2745government will be there to enforce the rights and protections2746afforded to them and step in when these rights are violated.27472748                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging27492750"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older2751                               Americans"27522753                             April 30, 202527542755                        Questions for the Record27562757                            Rebecca Federman27582759                         Senator Dave McCormick27602761    Question:27622763    As someone who works closely with law enforcement, do you2764think law enforcement has the tools it needs to monitor and2765thwart antisemitic violence? w can Congress further support2766efforts to protect religious communities?27672768    Response:27692770    The Community Security Initiative is incredibly grateful2771that our law enforcement partners, including NYPD, New York2772State Police, and the New York FBI office, have been2773consistently supportive of our work and protecting the Jewish2774community in New York. The tools and the know-how are there,2775but the threat is so vast that having adequate resources and2776personnel to remain on top of antisemitic threats of violence2777is a constant challenge.2778    Congress can support efforts to protect religious2779communities by 1) increasing funding for the Nonprofit Security2780Grant Program (NSGP). An expanded investment will ensure that2781vulnerable nonprofits have the necessary resources to harden2782potential targets, train for emergency scenarios, and protect2783their communities from those who seek to do them harm; 2)2784passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA), requiring the2785U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust2786Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism2787when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI; and27883) ensuring that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the2789U.S. Department of Education, which handles Title VI2790investigations, receives the resources needed to conduct robust2791investigations into antisemitic and other bias incidents that2792occur on campus.27932794                        Senator Raphael Warnock27952796    Question:27972798    Your intelligence team monitors for antisemitic posts that2799may pose a threat to the Jewish community in New York.2800    Research shows that seniors use social media less than2801younger generations.\1\ What can Congress do to help make2802seniors aware of and to protect seniors from online threats?2803---------------------------------------------------------------------------2804    \1\ Michelle Faverio, Share of Those 65 and Older Who Are Tech2805Users Has Grown in the Past Decade, Pew Research Center (Jan. 13,28062022), https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/13/share-of-2807those-65-and-older-who-are-tech-users-has-grown-in-the-past-decade.28082809---------------------------------------------------------------------------2810    Response:28112812    As you indicate, because seniors are less active on social2813media, the most effective way to protect seniors from threats2814to their lives that are made online is to ensure that they are2815safe within their Jewish institutions, including synagogues and2816community centers. Increasing funding for the Nonprofit2817Security Grant Program (NSGP) will help facilitate keeping2818seniors safe in the locations they frequent, providing critical2819resources to harden these targets.28202821=======================================================================28222823                       Statements for the Record28242825=======================================================================28262827                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging28282829"Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older2830                               Americans"28312832                             April 30, 202528332834                       Statements for the Record28352836             Jewish Federations of North America Testimony28372838    Thank you for your work to address antisemitism and for2839holding the hearing, Never Again: Addressing the Rise of2840Antisemitism and Supporting Older Americans, on April 30, 2025.2841It is an honor to submit testimony for the record.2842    The Jewish Federations of North America proudly represents2843146 independent Federations and a network of 300 smaller2844communities across the continent. Our mission is to build2845flourishing Jewish communities. We protect and enhance the2846well-being of Jews worldwide through meaningful contributions2847to community, Israel, and civil society. In 2024, Jewish2848communities experienced 8,354 reported antisemitic incidents -2849the highest number recorded in a single year according to the2850Anti-Defamation League. As we know, antisemitism affects us2851all, including older people in our community. Too often, older2852voices are not heard. This is why we work to give voice to2853Holocaust survivors and other older Americans. Here are some2854stories of how Holocaust survivors are experiencing2855antisemitism around the country.28562857Survivors Speak: Facing Antisemitism in America Today28582859    In Chicago, Illinois, a Holocaust survivor's front door was2860vandalized with antisemitic language. A neighbor was the first2861to notice, and when they remarked that the survivor seemed2862relatively unfazed, the survivor said, "I cannot show fear.2863It's not an option. I cannot show them I'm afraid." She refused2864to take down her mezuzah and continued to live her normal life.2865On the other hand, the agency serving Holocaust survivors2866recently received a generous donation of mezuzot for their2867clients' doorposts. Almost no clients wanted one, presumably2868out of concern for identifying their home as a Jewish home.2869    A Holocaust survivor couple in Boca Raton, Florida, shared2870a story about their Jewish grandson who was harassed during2871anti-Israel protests at a university in the northeast. The2872grandson was pressured by his friends to join anti-Israel2873protests, and when he refused, he was shunned and antagonized2874for being Jewish and supporting Israel. It was devastating for2875him to learn he could not trust people who previously had been2876cordial and with whom he had enjoyed activities together. The2877Holocaust survivor grandparents were deeply affected.2878    Other survivors in Boca Raton articulated that "it feels2879like Germany all over again," retraumatized by current events2880in Israel and antisemitism. Survivors were saying, "It feels so2881much like Germany. It started with casual remarks, then2882rallies, we didn't think this would ever happen again and here2883it is."2884    A Holocaust survivor in Columbus, Ohio, applied for an2885Austrian Passport. "Even though I never thought I would ever go2886back to Austria after my father was taken away to the camps,"2887he wrote, "I now look at Austria as a potential safe place to2888run to with the rise of antisemitism and destruction of all2889social services here in the U.S."2890    Several Holocaust survivors have stopped attending public2891events that have a Jewish focus because they are concerned2892about their safety. They have reason to be concerned. When the2893Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed in San Diego,2894California, protestors blocked some cars with survivors in them2895from getting to the concert hall. The survivors were rattled by2896the experience.2897    While giving a speech at a Holocaust remembrance gathering2898in San Diego, a 90 year old Holocaust survivor shared how much2899anxiety she is living with because of what she sees and hears2900around her. She feels we are on a precipice of another2901Holocaust, as she once again experiences behaviors, rhetoric2902and propaganda that appears to blame the Jewish people for2903today's societal problems. Another survivor warned that "Never2904Again" is happening once more.2905    A prominent Holocaust survivor from Queens, New York, has2906been extremely traumatized by the increasing antisemitism.2907Seeing Jewish college students being accosted on the college2908campus has brought back terrible memories from the past. An2909elderly Bukharian victim of trauma living in Queens has heard2910about how people who are visibly Jewish have been verbally2911abused on the streets of New York. Survivors have also drawn a2912parallel between the hostages being held in Gaza to people2913being held by the Nazis.2914    The wife and daughter of Holocaust survivors in2915Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said that every time she2916experiences antisemitism, she feels the urge to flee. When2917instances of antisemitism had become prevalent in Ukraine where2918she previously lived, she made the decision to leave within two2919days. When she hears about antisemitism now, she feels her2920trauma resurfacing.2921    There is a Holocaust survivor in Cincinnati, Ohio, who2922frequently shares her Holocaust story with public audiences2923because she knows how important it is to teach the lessons of2924the Holocaust. However, after she experienced antisemitism in2925some schools and public settings where she had been speaking,2926she is now worried about someone coming to her house to harm2927her.2928    As a group, Holocaust survivors in Cincinnati have taken2929action. Upon learning about antisemitism on college campuses,2930the survivors expressed their sadness and disappointment that2931after everything they lived through during the Holocaust, young2932people today were still experiencing this hatred. Guided by2933their belief in the resilience of the Jewish people, the2934survivors penned an inspirational letter to offer wisdom,2935comfort, and encouragement to the students. The University of2936Cincinnati Hillel invited the survivors to read the letter to2937students at a Shabbat gathering. The local news covered the2938event on TV, and the newspaper published the letter. Finally,2939the Holocaust survivors read the letter at Cincinnati's October29407th commemoration to a standing ovation. Through these2941activities, the survivors turned a feeling of helplessness into2942a feeling of power and influence.2943    Holocaust survivors in New York, NY, who attend a weekly2944virtual class together often reference the similarities between2945today and the antisemitism they experienced in Europe. They are2946shocked this is happening in the United States, the country2947that became their new home and provided safety and the ability2948to build a new life. They ask, "How could this be happening2949again? When will they leave us alone in peace? How could this2950country allow this?"2951    Also in New York, NY, members of a support group for2952children of Holocaust survivors shared how they are removing2953their mezuzot from their doorposts or not wearing their star of2954David necklace to try to protect themselves. One person2955expressed fear and worry about having a medical procedure done2956by someone who wasn't Jewish, and another specifically only2957sees doctors who are Jewish. Another shared that she was2958considering leaving her synagogue because antisemitism wasn't2959talked about, despite it being very present in the community,2960and as a result it made her feel very alone and isolated.2961Another group member talked about how she was bullied and2962ridiculed as a child for being Jewish in a school where she was2963one of the only Jewish people and this trauma is coming back up2964for her now.2965    These stories demonstrate how Holocaust survivors and their2966families have been re-traumatized. Many are avoiding public2967gatherings, concealing their Jewish identities, and planning2968their "escapes" from the antisemitism of the United States.2969Others are taking action. These are mechanisms to cope with the2970trauma.29712972From Survival to Support: Meeting the Needs of Holocaust2973Survivors Today29742975    Holocaust survivors are resilient people who are once again2976having to face hatred and withstand fear because they are2977Jewish. The attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the2978continued captivity of innocent hostages is excruciatingly2979painful to all Israelis, to all Jews, and to all of humanity.2980But for Holocaust survivors, the pain evokes deep torture from2981their past, laced with the sorrow and disappointment that the2982world did not learn their lessons.2983    Holocaust survivors need our continued love and care. They2984need outlets to channel their sadness into action, to help, to2985make a difference. And, importantly, they need to be able to2986access supports, especially those who are living in poverty, so2987they can age and live comfortably at this stage in their lives.2988    This is why JFNA runs the "national resource center for2989older individuals experiencing the long-term and adverse2990consequences of trauma," which is authorized in the Older2991Americans Act of 2020. JFNA's Center on Aging, Trauma, and2992Holocaust Survivor Care improves the quality of care for2993Holocaust survivors like the ones described, and all older2994people in this country.2995    This national resource center, which is funded in part by2996the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP), has developed2997the person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) approach to care,2998using lessons learned from serving Holocaust survivors over2999decades. To be person-centered, trauma-informed means to3000recognize that a history of trauma impacts people as they age,3001and therefore develop services and supports that minimize the3002risk of re-traumatization.3003    Take, for example, a congregate meal serving older adults.3004For this meal to be person-centered, trauma-informed, you would3005have plated meals. You would not have a buffet line, because3006the person at the end of the line may worry there will not be3007enough food by the time he gets to the front of the line. Due3008to ongoing or past experience with food insecurity - or in a3009Holocaust survivor's case, starvation - he may experience3010anxiety or re-traumatization waiting in line, and he may not3011even know why. But if he is uncomfortable, he will not come3012back for the next lunch program. He may go hungry, lack3013vitamins, or become socially isolated, which can lead to falls3014and a host of other health problems.3015    In a PCTI meal program, you would have plated meals, with3016Ziploc bags or containers already on the tables, so that3017everyone knows there will be an abundance of food and you are3018welcome to take it home.3019    This is a low-cost intervention. Plastic Ziploc bags are3020cheap. But the knowledge and training of staff to know to do3021this takes investment.3022    The investment is well worth it - keeping people healthier,3023avoiding hospitalizations, and enabling older Americans to live3024at home with their families and communities. Indeed, if the3025PCTI approach were universal, more older individuals would be3026able to access and thrive with the services.3027    The Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program's (HSAP) role in3028supporting the Center and its work cannot be underestimated.3029    Over the last decade, the Center on Aging, Trauma, and3030Holocaust survivor care has funded over 400 PCTI programs3031across the country. Each of these grants takes a program that3032meets needs such as food, housing, or transportation and uses3033the PCTI approach in every aspect of the program - from intake,3034to service delivery, to program evaluation.3035    Since HSAP's inception, the Center has served approximately303648,000 Holocaust survivors, 19,000 older adults with a history3037of trauma, 9,000 family caregivers, and provided 23,0003038professional service providers and volunteers with training -3039all using the PCTI approach.3040    Indeed, if the PCTI approach were universal, more older3041individuals would be able to access and thrive with the3042services. If services are not person-centered, trauma-informed,3043survivors and others will not access services. They will go3044without, and they will not get their basic needs met. They may3045end up in a hospital or nursing home. This would be costly.3046    We can't afford to offer services that people don't use -3047or don't respond well to.3048    In addition, families and friends who take care of3049Holocaust survivors and other older adults need to recognize3050that past trauma in their loved ones' lives impacts their3051ability to access and accept care today. Families need this3052training to best care for their loved ones. The market value3053for the labor provided by unpaid family caregiving is an3054estimated $522 billion per year, according to an Administration3055for Community Living 2024 report to Congress. If the family and3056friend caregivers are not able to provide care in a PCTI way,3057and if they are not able to receive support for themselves in a3058PCTI way, they will not be able to keep giving their free3059labor. Health and quality of life will suffer. Our county3060cannot afford this.3061    PCTI services lead to more affordable aging and enable3062Holocaust survivors and other older Americans to age in place3063in their homes and communities, where people want to remain.3064    Oftentimes, if a provider does not use the concepts of PCTI3065care, the sights and sounds of medical settings and3066institutions can lead to re-traumatization in Holocaust3067survivors. On top of this inadvertent re-traumatization,3068Holocaust survivors and others are dealing with outright3069antisemitism in health care.30703071Antisemitism in the Healing Professions: A Threat to Care and3072Public Trust30733074    Discrimination and bias against the Jewish community in the3075healthcare sector, including medical schools and major hospital3076centers, have grown to new heights since the October 7th3077attacks. Antisemitism in healthcare is a threat not only to3078those directly targeted but also to the entire medical care3079system, impacting medical students, practitioners, and patients3080who face harassment and exclusion based on their beliefs.3081    The Journal of General Internal Medicine found in a survey3082that 88.8% of Jewish medical professionals experienced3083antisemitism in the year after Hamas's October 7th terrorist3084attack on Israel, compared to 40% in the year prior - a3085dramatic and alarming increase. More than a quarter reported3086feeling "unsafe or threatened due to antisemitic incidents." A3087survey from the Journal of Religion and Health also found that3088nearly 75% of Jewish medical professionals had been exposed to3089antisemitism online.3090    In the mental health space, antisemitic bias has become3091increasingly apparent and institutionalized. A notable example3092is the emergence of the "decolonizing therapy" movement, which3093has at times advanced narratives framing Zionism as a form of3094mental illness and depicting Jews as inherent "oppressors."3095Such rhetoric dangerously misrepresents Jewish identity and3096history, while also fostering animosity toward Jewish3097therapists and clients. This atmosphere compromises the safety3098and ethical foundation of therapeutic environments.3099    There have also been reports of Jewish individuals being3100dropped by their therapists following the events of October31017th, and "referral blacklists" have circulated aiming to3102exclude Jewish or Zionist providers. The organizer of a3103Facebook group for "anti-racist" therapists created a list of3104suspected "Zionist" therapists - Jews - to be blacklisted,3105accusing them of "white supremacy." Another Facebook group with310625,000 members requires members to be "Pro Palestine," a3107requirement apparently added after October 7th. These actions3108are clear violations of core ethical standards, professional3109responsibilities, and anti-discrimination principles.3110    Antisemitism within medical institutions remains a3111significant concern. Harmful statements made by influential3112figures have led many Jewish families to question whether their3113loved ones can expect fair and empathetic treatment. Jewish3114doctors and practitioners have felt increasingly ostracized3115within professional associations, prompting the formation of3116groups such as the American Jewish Medical Association, the3117Association of Jewish Psychologists, and Psychologists Against3118Antisemitism.3119    This kind of bigotry not only endangers the well-being of3120Jewish patients including older Americans but also erodes the3121ethical principles at the heart of medical practice, where3122commitment to the patient should be paramount. The presence of3123unchecked antisemitism in healthcare not only endangers Jewish3124professionals but corrodes public trust in medical institutions3125and violates the ethical foundation of the profession.3126    At a time when Holocaust survivors and others in the Jewish3127community are facing antisemitism, they are turning more and3128more to Jewish organizations, agencies, and providers to meet3129their healthcare needs.31303131Honoring The Lessons, Meeting Today's Challenge31323133    In conclusion, Holocaust survivors and others in the3134community are experiencing antisemitism at alarming levels. We3135must listen when Holocaust survivors are telling us their3136experiences. We must fight antisemitism while caring for older3137people who are experiencing it. And our care must be person-3138centered, trauma-informed. Holocaust survivors are our3139teachers, and now their lessons are helping us to improve3140healthcare in homes, communities, and medical settings for3141everyone.3142    Thank you for your leadership and consideration of this3143important issue.31443145Sincerely,31463147The Honorable Eric D. Fingerhut3148President & Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Federations of3149North America31503151Karen Paikin Barall3152Vice President, Government Relations, Jewish Federations of3153North America31543155                               [all]