Agudath Israel of America commends Secretary Rex Tillerson and the Trump Administration on their decision to retain the State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-Semitism, a position our organization is pleased to have had a role in creating. Since before President Trump assumed office, and during our meeting with White House leaders in March, Agudath Israel made this a priority item on its foreign affairs agenda.

The increase over the past several years – in Europe and in many parts of the world – of the most vile expressions of anti-Semitism points to the continuing need for an active Special Envoy, not only as an important symbol or useful resource. Having worked closely with the individuals who occupied this position in different Administrations since the office’s inception, Agudath Israel has seen first hand the effectiveness of its advocacy on behalf of endangered Jewish communities and their ability to exercise their Judaism freely. It has, indeed, been a bulwark against the rooting and flourishing of anti-Semitism, in both word and deed, in lands where Jews are most vulnerable to hostility and hatred.

Agudath Israel also applauds the Trump Administration for retaining the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues and the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. We look forward to continuing our work with them as it is surely vital to the past, present and future of our Jewish brethren and others.