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December 12, 2019 |
Your
weekly look at the latest news, analysis, and RJC activities around
the country. |
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President Trump holds up the signed executive
order.
Trump
Signs Executive Order to Protect Jewish
Students
Yesterday at the White House Hanukkah party, President
Donald Trump signed an executive order (text
here) that provides the Department of Education with an important
tool for helping Jewish college students who are facing anti-Semitism
on campus. It directs executive branch departments and agencies to
utilize an expanded definition of anti-Semitism when interpreting
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The expanded definition of anti-Semitism, adopted in 2016 by
the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) offers examples of
anti-Semitism that include: denying the Jewish people their right to
self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of
Israel is a racist endeavor; applying double standards to Israel by
requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other
democratic nation; drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy
to that of the Nazis; and holding Jews collectively responsible for
actions of the state of Israel.
These examples are precisely the kind of attacks that Jewish
students face on college campuses today.
The RJC strongly praised the move. RJC National Chairman
Senator Norm Coleman said:
This is a truly historic and important moment for Jewish
Americans. President Trump has extended to Jewish students very
strong, meaningful legal protection from anti-Semitic discrimination.
Sadly, every day, Jewish students on college campuses face
outrageous attacks on their Jewish identity and beliefs. The rapid
increase in such incidents in recent years is of great concern.
…Today’s executive order will have a real, positive impact in
protecting Jewish college students from anti-Semitism.
After the
New York Times initially
misreported the executive order, saying that the President was
classifying Jewish Americans as a separate nationality, the
left wing went crazy. The actual executive order did not
redefine Judaism or Jews. It reiterated guidance for the executive
branch issued in 2010 and expanded it to address anti-Semitism
disguised as “anti-Zionism.”
The unhinged fury aimed at the President was so bad that the
leftwing outlet Vox published
an “explanation” of the order, to clarify for its readers that the
world wasn’t ending.
The President took the step of issuing an executive order
after legislation to effect the same change to public policy –
including the expanded IHRA definition of anti-Semitism in civil
rights law – was stymied by Democrats in the House. The Anti-Semitism
Awareness Act was passed by the Senate in 2016, but the House
failed to follow suit. This year, the bill has bipartisan support in
the Senate but was boycotted by Democrats in the
House.
Austin Polansky meets Robert Kraft while on the podium
with President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Jared Kushner and
others at the White House Hanukkah party.
The President used the opportunity of the White House Hanukkah
reception to demonstrate his strong connection with our community by
signing the executive order there. The party was also an opportunity
for Jewish Americans to show their support for the President. Many of
those at the White House Party showed their support by wearing
RJC/Trump kippahs to the event.
When President Trump invited a special guest, young
Austin Polansky of San Francisco, up to the podium,
he noticed Austin's red RJC/Trump kippah and said, "Is that a Trump
yarmulke? A Trump yarmulke, I like that! Can I have that,
Austin?"
See
the video here.
You
can still get your RJC/Trump kippah - order one
today!
Police near the shooting scene in Jersey
City.
Real Anti-Semitism in Jersey
City
While the crazy Left tried to paint President Donald
Trump as an anti-Semite, real anti-Semitism was playing out
horrifically in Jersey City, NJ, where three innocent people were
murdered by two people who first killed a police officer and then shot
up a kosher grocery store in the city’s Hasidic neighborhood. City
officials say the attackers targeted the Jewish
store.
We mourn the losses of: Moshe Hersh Deutsch, a
customer of the store who was the son of a leader of the Satmar
Hasidic community; Leah Mindel Ferencz, who owned the
grocery store with her husband Moishe Dovid Ferencz;
Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, a store employee; and
Detective Joseph Seals, a 13-year veteran of the
police force, a husband and father of five
children.
May their families be comforted in this difficult
time.
Greenblatt on Trump and the Jewish
Community
In an interview with the Jewish Insider, former
Assistant to the President Jason D. Greenblatt spoke
about the unfair criticism President Donald Trump
receives. Greenblatt
said:
I deal in facts — not conjecture, not rumors and not
manipulation. I have a 23-year history as an observant Jew working for
President Trump. Only a very small group of people in the world have
the deep experience that I do as a Jew who worked very closely for
Donald Trump over two decades. I have the real inside scoop on who
Donald Trump is vis-a-vis the Jewish community. He has always been
tremendously respectful of me and my observance and of Judaism.
Greenblatt also mentioned his new role as a member of the RJC
Board of Directors:
I am on the board of the Republican Jewish
Coalition and am honored that they asked me to join. I think
they do excellent work and hope to be able to pull my weight.
Mexican President Pena Nieta, President Trump, and
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau sign the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in
November 2018.
The Washington Examiner reports:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a
breakthrough Tuesday in the negotiations for the US-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA) on trade, paving the way for a House vote on the
trade deal negotiated by President Trump that he has long lobbied
Congress to approve.
RJC Legislative Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Karen
Tandy and Isaac Applbaum said:
The USMCA will enact much-needed reforms to our trade with
America’s near neighbors, Mexico and Canada. The new agreement will
benefit American car manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses, to
the ultimate benefit of American consumers.
Mexico and Canada have both acted to move the agreement
forward. It is time for Speaker Pelosi to allow the USMCA to come to a
vote in the House of Representatives.
The RJC spoke out publicly on several issues recently,
including the President’s executive order. Here are a few more
examples:
REGISTER NOW FOR THIS SPECIAL
EVENT
March 13-15 in Las Vegas: RJC National Leaders
are invited for a terrific weekend of politics, policy, and poker at
the fabulous Venetian/Palazzo Resort and Hotel. Attendees will have
the opportunity to hear from – and be heard by – some of the country’s
foremost politicians, policy makers, and leaders, including featured
speaker Ambassador Nikki Haley. It’s time to reserve
your spot! Visit RJCVegasMeeting.org
for details and reservations. (This event is open to RJC Leaders;
Leadership dues begin at the $1,000 donor
level.)
• The
Republican Jewish Coalition is hiring field staff for our advocacy
efforts in support of President Donald
Trump’s reelection in various battleground
states. CLICK
HERE for details and application
information.
• The RJC PAC
has endorsed a terrific slate of House and Senate incumbents, and we
need them to continue their work on Capitol Hill!
CLICK
HERE to donate through the RJC PAC portal and show your support for
our great candidates!
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And
don't forget your RJC/Trump kippah!
Our extremely popular
red Trump kippah is now for sale for just $18. This includes shipping
and handling. Supplies are limited.
BUY YOUR KIPPAH HERE.
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Trump has strong support among Orthodox Jews, poll
shows
AMI Magazine reported it polled more than 700 Orthodox
Jews across 15 states and found that President Donald
Trump had a whopping 89 percent approval rating while only
five percent disapproved. Six percent were undecided… On fighting
anti-Semitism, over 92 percent said Orthodox Jews trusted the
president and Republicans over House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA) and Democrats. When asked which president has
"accomplished the most for the security of Israel," over 80 percent
said it was Trump, followed by former Presidents Ronald
Reagan and George W. Bush. See
the poll here.
New book reveals how Israel helped Singapore establish
SAF
A new book, Beating the Odds Together, commemorates 50
years of Singapore-Israel ties. The book details how Israel helped
Singapore establish the Singapore Air Force when other countries
declined the latter's calls for help. It also shows how that
relationship has developed beyond security to fields such as business
and technology.
If you like the work we’re doing, consider joining us on
Facebook and Twitter, and renew or upgrade your RJC
membership. Ensure that your voice is heard in our party
and our community!
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