Posted on 03/31/22
Agudath Israel of America applauds Senate confirmation of Dr. Deborah Lipstadt as the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, an ambassador-level position.
Agudath Israel endorsed President Biden’s pick for Special Envoy early on.
“Dr. Lipstadt is a unique blend of scholar-activist,” observed Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Washington Director. “She is a prominent historian and thinker on the Holocaust and antisemitism and that puts her in a position of being able to turn her knowledge and understanding of these issues into informed and creative thinking about how best to fight this scourge, which is plaguing countries around the world.”
Agudath Israel joined other Jewish groups, and worked with Capitol Hill leadership, to encourage swift nomination. The group also supported earlier congressional efforts to raise the prominence, influence, and funding of the position to ambassador-level.
“The fight against antisemitism is never-ending, and particularly critical at a time when we are witnessing open and increasing verbal and physical attacks against Jews in foreign countries. We are gratified that Dr. Lipstadt can now assume the helm and take on this vital work and we look forward to working closely and cooperatively with her in these efforts,” Rabbi Cohen concluded.