This week Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg, on behalf of the Lakewood Vaad and the entire Kehilla of Lakewood, travelled to Washington to convey a personal Thank You to Lakewood’s long-time Congressman, Rep. Chris Smith.

The first issue of discussion was the United States’ continued and unwavering support for Achenu Bnai Yisroel who are literally fighting for their lives against the brutal Arab terrorists of Gaza and the rest of Eretz Yisroel. Chris has been an outstanding leader in Congressional efforts to keep needed military and logistical support following unimpeded during this ongoing Aid Tzorah.

Additionally, on November 8. Congressman Smith chaired a Congressional Hearing concerning the United Nation’s systematic and long-standing hostility of Eretz Yisroel, stating that “Anti-semitic bigotry is at the root of the UN’s hostility to Israel”. He specifically singled out UNRWA – the United Nation agency set up in 1949 to provide for refugees, which is still going full-blast spewing its hatred of Jews to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original refugees.“UNRWA deliberately and systematically hires teachers who publicly praise Hitler [ymach shemo] and glorify terrorist attacks against Israeli children and spread Goebbels-like conspiracy theories against the Jews’.

Congressman Smith also condemned the troubling and growing anti-semitism being blatantly displayed at the nation’s ‘elite’ college campuses and in various public spaces across America.

This hearing was no isolated event as Chris has chaired 14 congressional hearings focused on worldwide anti-semitismgoing back 43 years. He is also well remembered by the international Jewish community for his brave trips to the former Soviet Union, including the infamous Perm 35 labor camp in Siberia, and his nonstop advocacy of Soviet Jewry and especially ‘prisoners of conscious”.

Rabbi Weisberg also discussed current Pidyon Shevuim issues and acknowledged Congressman’s Smith advocacy on behalf of federal assistance to many Lakewood Chessed organizations. A sincere thank you and compliments were also conveyed to Rep. Smith’s outstanding staff for their exceptional responsiveness and courteous professional assistance on a wide range of issues to the Lakewood Kehilla over a period of many years.

Congressman Chris Smith is truly a cherished friend of the Lakewood Kehilla and we are fortunate, grateful and proud to have him represent us in Congress.