Editor’s E-Mail Box: October 12, 2018 (4 items)

Danes, Israelis, WJC celebrate 75th anniversary of Danish rescue of the Jews

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder took part Thursday in Denmark’s official ceremony commemorating 75 years since Danish Jewry were rescued from the Germans and their accessories and sent to safety in Sweden. In his address, Ambassador Lauder thanked Denmark for its “rare courage” during the years of the Holocaust, and for its continued commitment to the security and well-being of the Jewish community in Denmark today.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Crown Prince of Denmark, Frederik, Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

“Today we remember an unusual event during World War II. Not the killing of Jews, but the saving of Jews,” Lauder said in his address, noting: “Sadly, that rarely happened, but it did here in Denmark, and I think the major question is why? It’s what you here in Denmark call ‘Mod’. We call it courage.”

“Between 1939 and 1945, men and women throughout the world had to find courage in the face of unbelievable evil,” Lauder said. “Soldiers had to find it on the battlefield, mothers and wives, who waited at home, faced constant fear every day and night. Whole cities had to summon courage in the face of brutal attacks. But during that entire war, we rarely saw an entire nation demonstrate courage for someone else.”

“We rarely saw that kind of self-sacrifice, yet that is what we saw here in Denmark, and that is what we celebrate today. The courage of a nation. The courage of the Danes,” Lauder said.

“What Denmark did here 75 years ago was incredibly courageous. It was a kind of courage we just didn’t see throughout Europe. This country saved over 7,000 human beings,” Lauder said. “In Judaism, we say when you save one life, you save the world. You here in Denmark saved over 7,000 worlds. And for that, the Jewish people are so grateful, and we will always be grateful.”

Lauder also took the opportunity to acknowledge Denmark’s ongoing commitment to protect its Jewish citizens in the face of extremism and adversity, and for protecting the right of Jews to continue the age-old covenant of Brit Milah: “Once again, Denmark has taken responsibility for protecting its Jewish citizens and again, we thank you.”  — From World Jewish Congress

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U.S. Senate approves two measures to combat Middle East terror

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has commended  the U.S. Senate for adopting the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act (H.R. 3342) and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 (S. 1595).  In a statement about the legislation dealing with human shields, AIPAC made this statement:

The bipartisan legislation —authored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) with an amendment by Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN)—mandates sanctions against members of Hamas and Hezbollah responsible for the use of human shields as well as agencies of foreign states that support these groups in this heinous practice.

Hamas and Hezbollah are blatantly violating international law by placing their terrorist infrastructure among civilian populations. In any future conflict in Gaza or Lebanon, the lives of innocent civilians will be endangered because of the reckless and illegal behavior of these terrorist organizations.

We urge the House of Representatives to adopt this important legislation.

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AIPAC had this to say about the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 (S. 1595), which seeks to cut off the flow of resources to the terrorist group. In September, the House of Representatives adopted this important legislation.

This bipartisan measure is particularly important in light of Hizballah’s destabilizing regional actions and its massive arms build-up in Lebanon. The legislation strengthens and expands the scope of economic and financial sanctions imposed by previous legislation: the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015. It targets foreign governments that knowingly provide significant arms, combat or financial support to Hizballah, as well as foreign individuals and companies that aid its fundraising or recruitment activities.

Key provisions:

Imposes sanctions on foreign government agencies or instrumentalities that support Hizballah combat operations, or provide significant financial support or arms support to the terror group;

Imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and companies that aid Hizballah’s fundraising or recruitment activities, including the provision of support to its media outlets;

Requires a biennial report on banks that knowingly provide significant assistance to Hizballah and are tied to countries deemed State Sponsors of Terrorism;

Imposes sanctions on Hizballah by reason of its significant transnational criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking;

Mandates a biennial report on jurisdictions outside Lebanon that allow their territory to be used by Hizballah for terrorist activity, including training, financing and recruitment;

Authorizes the president to strengthen oversight procedures for U.S. banks that maintain specific relationships with foreign banks that operate in areas where Hizballah is located; and

Mandates a report on estimated net worth of senior Hizballah members, including any senior foreign political figures of the terrorist group.

AIPAC appreciates the leadership of the authors of this important legislation, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY).  — From the American Israel Public Affairs Committee

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United With Israel collecting thank you’s for Nikki Haley

The United With Israel organization issued the following appeal:

We are proud to express our deep appreciation and thanks to US Ambassador Nikki Haley for her unwavering support of Israel and the Jewish People and for her courage and strength in confronting anti-Israel hypocrisy at the UN.

She stood up for what is right and staunchly defended the State of Israel in the halls of a hostile, biased, anti-Israel United Nations.

Ambassador Haley is a true friend of Israel who greatly improved the US-Israel relationship as well as Israel’s standing in the eyes of the world.

Click here to say thank you to Nikki Haley

We are sorry that Ambassador Haley is leaving her position but wish her well in all future endeavors.

Please join United with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu in wishing the best to Nikki Haley and in thanking her for leading “an uncompromising struggle against the hypocrisy of the UN and the truth and justice of our country.”  — From United With Israel

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Jewish Democratic Council of America announces endorsements

The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) has  announced its sixth round of endorsements, bringing JDCA’s total number of endorsements to 46 in this election cycle. JDCA is specifically targeting races in which the Jewish vote will be critical in determining the outcome of the race in support of the Democratic candidate. In this latest round, JDCA is endorsing Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for reelection to the U.S. Senate. JDCA is also endorsing Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Lauren Baer (FL-18), Donna Shalala (FL-27), Andy Levin (MI-09), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Susie Lee (NV-03), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), as well as JDCA’s first gubernatorial endorsees, Rep. Jared Polis (CO), J.B. Pritzker (IL), and Andrew Gillum (FL).

JDCA Executive Director Halie Soifer stated, “We are laser-focused on November 6th and have clear objectives: to flip the House and the Senate to Democratic control, and lay the groundwork for a Democratic win in 2020, including by supporting gubernatorial candidates whose policies are critical at the state level. Jewish Americans overwhelmingly reject Trump’s policies because they are antithetical to our values, and Republicans who have silently acquiesced to the Trump agenda will pay the price at the polls in November.”  — From Jewish Democratic Council of America