Special Envoy Letter
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May 18, 2018 Dear Secretary of State Pompeo: We are a diverse group of religious leaders from across America who have joined together to call upon you to swiftly appoint a new State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This congressionally-mandated position has remained unfilled since January 2017, during a time of heightened concern about the resurgence of anti-Semitism worldwide. Around the world, violent and even lethal attacks have been made on Jews and Jewish institutions; physical harassment of Jews who wear a kippah in public is all too common. In far left and far right political parties in Europe and elsewhere, anti-Jewish rhetoric is on the rise as is the demonization of Israel and intimidation of its supporters. New campaigns of Holocaust distortion have been waged and there are proposals in some countries to ban central Jewish religious practices. Mr. Secretary, anti-Semitism starts with Jews, but doesn’t end there: when any minority is threatened, everyone is less safe. The world looks to America for leadership on this as on so many other matters. America can and must lead, beginning with the appointment of the next Special Envoy. Mr. Secretary, please take a stand against the oldest of hatreds and fill the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti- Semitism. Respectfully, Religious Leaders of America Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, Professor Paul Alexander, Dr. John Armstrong, Mr. Len Bebchick, Rabbi Stacy Bergman, Congregation Chaverim Visiting Scholar, President, ACT3 Network AJC Regional Board, DC Temple Shaaray Tefila, Mr. Paul Abamonte, University of Birmingham Rabbi David Asher Mr. Paul Beck, Bedford, NY The Church of Jesus (UK); Founder, The Church of Jesus Cantor Elizabeth Berke, Pentecostals & Rev. Susan Auchincloss, Christ of Latter-day Priest Associate, Christ of Latter Day Anshe Emet Synagogue Saints Charismatics for Saints Peace & Justice Episcopal Church Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, Rabbi Joel Abraham, Rabbi Craig Axler Ms. Lisa Beers, Assistant Rabbi, B’nai Temple Sholom, Cantor Sheri Allen Executive Board Member Israel Congregation Ms. Gail Baer Scotch Plains, NJ Professor Mark Allen, Rev. Jim Bell, Ms. Cathy Berkowitz Rabbi B. Elka Chair, Biblical Studies, Rabbi Chava Bahle Associate Executive Liberty University Rabbi Marc Berkson, Abrahamson Mr. Robert Bajefsky Director for Global Congregation Emanu- Rabbi Moshe Abramowitz Rabbi Morris Allen, Rabbi Andrew Baker Mission, International El B’nei Jeshurun Beth Jacob Congregation Ministries Ms. Batya Abramson- Rabbi Adam Baldachin, Rabbi Lauren Berkun, Goldstein, Board member Pastor Terry Allin Hamlin, Shaarei Tikvah, Rabbi Lisa Bellows, Director of Rabbinic AJC St Louis Executive Director / Scarsdale, NY Congregation Beth Am Programs, Shalom All-In Ministries Ms. Susan Abravanel, Rabbi Michael Balinsky, Mrs. Tamar Ben-Simon, Hartman Institute of Board Member, American Rev. Enid Almanzar, Executive Vice President Students and Parents North America Jewish Committee, DC Primitive Christian Church Chicago Board of Rabbis Against Bias and Anti- Rabbi Harold Berman Semitism, Scarsdale, NY Rabbi Ruth Abusch- Rabbi Robert Alpert, Rabbi Sharon Ballan Father James Bernauer, Rabbinical Assembly Mrs. Joan Benas, Magder Pastor Gregory Balluzzo, Kraft Family Professor, Holocaust Commission Ms. Ellen Alpert, President of Commission Boston College Rev. Joanna Adams, of Tidewater retired Presbyterian USA Executive Director, Ministries/Life Skills Inst. Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard National Council of Ms. Karolyn Benger, clergy Ms. Judith Balsam Jewish Women, St. Louis Executive Director, Rabbi Allison Berry, Rabbi David Adatto, Most Rev. Joseph Newton MA Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, JCRC Phoenix Shaarey Yerushalayim, Bambera, Bishop of Congregation KTI, Rabbi Alfred Benjamin Rabbi Cecelia Beyer Valley Village, CA Scranton, Chairman of Portchester, NY Mr. Abel Mordechai Mr. Steven Adelman, the Committee on Mr. Zachary Benjamin, Ms. Marilyn Altman Executive Director, Bibliowicz, Author and AJC Chicago Intergroup Ecumenical and Researcher (retired) Commission Co-chair Deacon Humberto Alvia Interreligious Affairs, Jewish Federation of New Mexico Dr. Duane Bidwell, Rabbi Yitzchok Adler, Rabbi Neil Amswych USCCB Ms. Dottie Bennett Professor of Practical Beth David Synagogue Rabbi Spike Anderson Rabbi George Barnard Theology, Spiritual Care, Rabbi Benjamin Adler, Ms. Roslyn Barney Rabbi James Bennett, and Counseling, Ms. Cheryl Anderson, Congregation Shaare Adath Israel Congregation Rabbi Richard Baroff, Claremont School Garrett-Evangelical Emeth, URJ Rabbi Yosef Adler, Seminary President, Guardians of of Theology Rabbi Joshua Beraha Congregation Rinat Ms. Kathleen Anderson, the Torah Rabbi Amy Bigman, Yisrael President, Unitarian Mr. Jeremiah Baronberg Dr. Marc Berenzweig, Congregation Shaarey Jewish International Zedek, East Lansing, MI Ms. Mehnaz Afridi, Universalist Community Rabbi Robert Barr, Healthcare Holocaust, Genocide and of El Paso Congregation Beth Adam Rev. Kathleen Black, Interfaith Education Rabbi Peter Berg Professor, Claremont Rabbi Avi Anderson, Ms. Joanne Bartosik, Center School of Theology Young Israel Aish Assistant Director Rabbi Aviva Berg, Mr. Ijaz Ahmad, Dr. E. Gail Anderson AJC New Jersey Temple Beth David, Rev. Philip Blackwell, APPAC Rochester, NY Retired, United Holness, Senior Pastor, Rabbi Israel Barzak, Methodist Church Ambassador Akbar Christ Our Redeemer Hazzan, Mohel - Sister Dianne Bergant, Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun AME Church (DC) floridamohel.com Professsor Emerita, Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Chair of Islamic Studies, Catholic Theological Senior Rabbi, Dr. Michael Anisfeld Rabbi Sarah Bassin, American University Union Westchester Temple Emanuel of Rev. Jim Antal, Minister Reform Temple Rabbi Rachel Ain, and President, Mass. Beverly Hills Rabbi Kenneth Berger Sutton Place Synagogue Pastor Randall Blakely, Conference UCC Dr. Lofty Basta, Rabbi Matthew Berger Executive Pastor Professor Scott Rabbi Charles Arian, Coptic Christians Rabbi Aliza Berger Alexander, Professor of Mr. Gary Blakely, Kehilat Shalom Ambassador Michael Islamic Studies and Dr. David Berger, Temple Recorder, Battle Christian-Muslim Rabbi David Ariel-Joel Dean, Bernard Revel The Church of Jesus Relations, Catholic Ms. Lisa Armony, Mrs. Elena Baum Graduate School of Christ of Latter-day Jewish Studies, Theological Union Director, Rose Project, Rabbi David Baum, Saints Yeshiva University Rabbi Aaron Alexander, Jewish Federation & Congregation Shaarei Professor Kate Co-Senior Rabbi, Adas Family Services Kodesh, Boca Raton, FL Rabbi Aaron Bergman Blanchard, Professor of Israel Congregation, DC Religious Studies Rabbi Yosef Blau, Mrs. Ellie Brooke Father Edward Carpenter, Rabbi Holly Cohn Ms. Maia Daniels, Senior Mashgiach Mr. Lonnie Brooks, Roman Catholic Rev. Jeanie Collins, ACCESS DC Ruchani Yeshiva United Methodist Layman Bishop Christopher Presbyterian Church USA Rabbi Faith Joy University Rabbi Sharon Brous Carpenter, Presiding Ms. Jackie Congedo, Dantowitz Rabbi Michael Bleicher, Bishop, Reformed Director, JCRC Cincinnati Rabbi Judah Dardik Elmora Hills Minyan Rabbi Rachel Brown, Catholic Church Co-director/Co-founder, Rabbi Shoshanah Rabbi Braham David, Rabbi Marci Bloch, Camp Timbrel Dr. Nick Carter, Conover, Temple Sholom Temple Shalom Senior Rabbi, Temple President, Andover of Chicago Medford MA Beth Orr Mr. Andrew Brown, Newton Theological AJC Chicago Mr. David Conrad, Rabbi Joshua Davidson Rabbi Barry Block, School Rabbi Randall Brown Coordinator of Dr. Andrew Davis, Congregation B’nai Israel, Rabbi Jonathan Case Ecumenical & Interfaith Little Rock, Arkansas Rabbi Jeffrey Brown, Boston College School of Mr. Edward Casper, Dialogue Catholic Theology and Ministry Rabbi Bruce Block Scarsdale Synagogue, SGI-USA Archdiocese of Detroit Scarsdale, NY Father James De Fillipps, Rev. Carol Bloom, Pastor Barbara Cathey, Rev. Victor Conrado Rev. Belva Brown Jordan, Chaplain, United Methodist Clergy Edgewater Presbyterian Rev. Walter Contreras, Rutgers University Associate Dean Church Ms. Terry Bloomberg, Curriculum and Vice -President of NaLEC Rabbi Marc De Roca, Board Member- Assessment Associate Professor Robert Cathey, West Coast National Temple Emanu-el, AJC St. Louis Professor Practice of Professor of Theology, Latino Evangelical Miami Beach, FL McCormick Theological Coalition / Associate Ms. Paula Blumenfeld, Ministry Rabbi Steven Denker, AJC Westchester/Fairfield Seminary Pastor of Pasadena Ms. Keeley Bruner Presbyterian Church Temple Emanu El, Interfaith Committee Mr. Robert Center Orange Village Ohio Rabbi Aaron Brusso, Sister Mary Ellen Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, Bet Torah, Mt Kisco, NY Rev. Dr. Ken Chalker, Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis Senior Rabbi, Retired Senior Pastor, Coombe, Congregation Shaare Torah Dr. John Buchanan, University Circle United of Our Lady of Sion Pastor Amandus Derr, Former Editor/Publisher, Methodist Church, Rev. Michael Cooper, Evangelical Lutheran Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Christian Century: Pastor, Church in America Congregation Agudas Cleveland Jesuit Priest & Professor The Fourth Presbyterian of Theology Ms. Celia Deutsch Achim, Austin, Texas Church of Chicago. Rabbi Adam Chalom, Kol Hadash Humanistic Rabbi Mark Cooper Bishop Frank Dewane, Professor Darrell Bock, Professor James Sr Research Professor of Congregation Cantor Melanie Catholic Diocese of Buchanan, University Venice Florida NT, Dallas Theological Professor and Director, Ms. Alicia Chandler, Cooperman, Community Seminary Brueggeman Center JCRC/AJC, President Synagogue of Rye, NY Rabbi