Broad Coalition of 61 National Jewish Organizations Urge Swift Congressional Action on Countering Antisemitism Act

Bipartisan Bill is Most Far-Reaching Initiative to Counter Antisemitism Ever Introduced in Congress

WASHINGTON — Today, a broad coalition of 61 national Jewish organizations sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging them to swiftly bring the bipartisan Countering Antisemitism Act (CAA) to the floor for a vote.

The CAA would strengthen desperately needed federal efforts to counter antisemitism and ensure that the current administration and any future administration are focused on fighting antisemitism.

“This historic bill is the most far-reaching antisemitism initiative ever to be introduced in Congress. It provides a well-rounded, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to countering antisemitism at this delicate and unnerving time for the American Jewish community. We urge you to provide the necessary federal infrastructure and resources to keep American Jews safe by swiftly bringing the Countering Antisemitism Act to the floor for a vote,” the letter states.

The CAA would establish a domestic National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism and a dedicated Task Force to Counter Antisemitism to coordinate efforts across federal agencies, while also requiring the U.S. Department of Education to designate a senior official to advise and oversee efforts to counter antisemitic discrimination at colleges and universities. The bill would also promote Holocaust education, help elected officials better understand the threat of antisemitic violent extremism and online hate, and formally establish Jewish American Heritage Month in law, among other steps.

The letter was organized by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, National Council of Jewish Women, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), and American Jewish Committee (AJC).

The full letter with signatories can be found below and at this link.

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Dear Speaker Johnson and Democratic Leader Jeffries,

The undersigned national Jewish organizations that reflect the depth and breadth of American Jewish life are united in our deep concern over the exponentially rising incidences of antisemitism in this country. We write to urge you to swiftly bring the Countering Antisemitism Act to the House floor for a vote.

As you know, our community is currently facing a historic crisis of antisemitism not seen in a generation. The ADL’s (Anti-Defamation League) recently published 2023 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents across the United States. This represents a 140% increase from the year before and is the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. In fact, ADL tracked more incidents in 2023 than in the previous three years combined. The dramatic increase in incidents took place primarily in the period following the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Between October 7 and the end of 2023, ADL tabulated 5,204 incidents – more than the incident total for the whole of 2022.

This historic rise in antisemitism is being directly felt by Jews around the country. AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report found that 63% of American Jews feel the status of Jews is less secure than one year ago — more than a 20 percentage point increase in just one year. One in four reported they were the target of an antisemitic incident—a physical attack, remark, vandalism or messaging—in 2023, and 46% reported changing their behavior out of fear of antisemitism in the 12 months prior.

The federal government continues to track these trends as well. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence reported that “while faith-based communities across the country face varying levels of discrimination, there is a persistent threat of violence and hate crimes against Jewish communities, primarily by domestic violent extremists.” An intelligence assessment by the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center found that “antisemitism is a persistent driver of transnational violent extremist narratives and attacks.” Additionally, a review of FBI data noted that American Jews account for 2.4% of the U.S. population, but they are the victims of 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes.

In light of this, we urge you to pass comprehensive legislation to address the threat posed by this unique hate. The bipartisan Countering Antisemitism Act (H.R. 7921) would strengthen desperately needed federal efforts and ensure that the current administration and any future administration are focused on fighting antisemitism.

The bill would establish a domestic National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism and a dedicated Task Force to Counter Antisemitism that will help to coordinate efforts to fight this hate across federal agencies.

The Countering Antisemitism Act would require the Department of Education to designate a senior official to advise and oversee the Department’s efforts to counter antisemitic discrimination at colleges and universities. The bill would also promote Holocaust education, help us understand the threat of antisemitic violent extremism, as well as the spread of antisemitism online, and celebrate Jewish life by designating Jewish American Heritage Month in law, and more.

This historic bill is the most far-reaching antisemitism initiative ever to be introduced in Congress. It provides a well-rounded whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to countering antisemitism at this delicate and unnerving time for the American Jewish community. We urge you to provide the necessary federal infrastructure and resources to keep American Jews safe by swiftly bringing the Countering Antisemitism Act to the floor for vote.

Sincerely,

ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
Agudath Israel of America
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority
Alpha Epsilon Pi
Ameinu
American Conference of Cantors
American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
American Zionist Movement
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
B’nai B’rith International
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America
HIAS
Hillel International
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy
Iranian American Jewish Federation
The Israel Forever Foundation
Israel Policy Forum
J Street
JCC Association of North America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Graduate Organization (JGO)
Jewish National Fund-USA
Jewish on Campus
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago
Jewish Women International (JWI)
Jewish World Watch
Keshet
Masa Israel Journey
Men of Reform Judaism
National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ)
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
The Nexus Leadership Project
Olami
PORAT (People for Orthodox Renaissance and Torah)
Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Council of America
Reconstructing Judaism
Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi
Romemu
Secure Community Network
Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma Delta Tau
StandWithUs
Union for Reform Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
World Jewish Congress
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT)
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity
Zioness Movement
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)