MKs talk combating antisemitism in US

The mission's purpose is to bring MKs of all stripes to the US to talk about the most pertinent issues impacting American Jewry.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Updated: APRIL 1, 2017 18:02
CourteA delegation of Israeli parliamentarians engaged in a dynamic Town Hall discussion to weigh in on issues impacting American Jewry (photo credit: COURTESY OF THE RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION)
CourteA delegation of Israeli parliamentarians engaged in a dynamic Town Hall discussion to weigh in on issues impacting American Jewry
(photo credit: COURTESY OF THE RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION)
A delegation of Knesset members arrived in Boston earlier this week to discuss with community members what can be done to tackle the rising threat of antisemitism in the United States.
Spanning the political spectrum, Amir Ohana (Likud), Rachel Azaria (Kulanu), Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin (Zionist Union), Tali Ploskov (Kulanu) and Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid) arrived in Boston as part of the fifth annual Ruderman Family Foundation Knesset Mission. The delegation also made stops in Washington and New York during their week-long trip.
The mission’s purpose is to bring MKs from throughout the political spectrum to the US to talk about the most pertinent issues impacting American Jewry.
“During this crucial time, when America’s entire political culture has been turned upside down and many Jews are feeling threatened, it is so important for members of Knesset to be here in the United States meeting with the one Jewish community that directly impacts Israel’s future,” said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation.
This year in Boston alone, two Jewish day schools and the New England office of the Anti-Defamation League were targeted by antisemitic threats. On Wednesday night, the MKs engaged in a town hall-like discussion to talk about what must be done in order to thwart these threats.
“I think you have an administration in Donald Trump’s that is totally committed to fighting antisemitism and standing alongside Israel,” said Ohana, who also praised the current administration for its take on pursuing a peace deal in the Middle East. The MKs took questions from the audience, which went beyond the issue of antisemitism and touched on topics like the Arab-Israeli conflict and what American Jewry can do to connect with Israel.