Congressional Leaders Lambast Iran And Antisemitism At ZOA Washington Mission
{IMG U.S. Department of Justice Task Force on Antisemitism Chair Leo Terrell, Esq. with ZOA National President Morton Klein
{Caption U.S. Department of Justice Task Force on Antisemitism Chair Leo Terrell, Esq. with ZOA National President Morton Klein
As attacks against Jews in Israel and the United States proliferate, the Zionist Organization oof America (ZOA) recently brought together almost 200 Jewish leaders from throughout the nation to hear from almost two dozen Congressional leaders from both major parties call for tougher measures to combat antisemitism and stronger measures by the Trump Administration to defeat Iran in the current war.
“Antisemitism is a gateway drug that unless eradicated, will ultimately lead to the diminution of the democratic values we cherish. We need to stand and fight because what has happened is staggering and dangerous,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to a standing ovation from the group.
Cruz exhorted both major parties to stem minority voices in their camps who have been fanning the flames of antisemitism.
“The Democratic Party thought it would just go away. But today there is a real contingent of antisemitic sentiment. But it also pains me that we see antisemitism grouping on the right. I couldn’t imagine that would be the case two years ago, but it is and it must be stopped,” he added.
Cruz thanked the ZOA for its “inimitable, fearless, and inspiring commitment to speak and advocate for the truth and the clarity of its message.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) also roused the attendees with his fervent message and commitment to sponsoring new laws against antisemitism. “Let me be clear. Antizionism is antisemitism! It is rooted in Jew hatred. We are living in a moment that at times feels like 1930s Germany where the dehumanization of Jews is leading to physical attacks. But not on my watch! All of us as Americans should be appalled by this and take action to stop it,” he said.
Other members of Congress addressing the group in the Hart Senate Office Building included: Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND); Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ); Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL); Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY); Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ); Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA); Rep. George Latimer (D-NY); Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY); and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), and many more.
“Coming to Washington as proud Jews and Zionists sends a powerful message to Congress. We are right, the antisemites are wrong. We are truthful and just, our enemies are full of lies,” ZOA National President Morton A. Klein told attendees. “Iran and antisemitism are the main reasons we are here. We must stop Iranian aggression and its ability to make nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles; and fund and arm Islamic terrorist groups.” It is a serious issue for Americans. If Israel didn’t exist, America would have to fight this war anyway. First, they want to kill Jews, then they will come for the Christians. They are evil haters who believe these things in their hearts. They are not lunatics, they are region fanatics who believe in the literal interpretation of the Koran.”
Following the luncheon, ZOA delegations fanned out across the Capitol, meeting with dozens of additional members of Congress and key staff to urge them to fight for these critical issues. The meetings centered on three critical issues:
First, ZOA underscored the growing danger posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran as an existential threat to Israel and a serious threat to the security of the United States and the world. The ZOA is firmly opposed to allowing the Islamic terrorist regime, which hates Jews and America, to acquire a military nuclear capability and strongly supports any steps to prevent that outcome. As a result, the ZOA is very supportive of Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025, Operation Epic Fury in 2026, and Operation Economic Fury in 2026.
Another key agenda item is violence and irrational hatred against Jews have become common occurrences in the U.S. and around the world since the October 7th atrocities in Southern Israel. American universities, cities, and increasingly, even K-12 schools are experiencing frightening levels of Jew-hatred. ZOA demands that existing laws be enforced and new laws be passed to fight this deranged irrational hatred.
The other key message for delegates was the ZOA strong position of support for the legal, political, historic, and religious rights of Jews to live anywhere in the land of Israel, and including Judea (“Yehuda” in Hebrew) and Samaria (“Shomron” in Hebrew), the territory that was illegally occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967. International Law strongly supports the claim of Israel to the territory between the “green line,” which marked the cease-fire locations of 1949 and the Jordan River. There is a movement in several states and in proposed legislation to adopt the historically accurate terminology for this region that is the heartland of the land of Israel.
The program kicked-off the evening before with a large reception featuring U.S. Department of Justice Task Force on Antisemitism Chair Leo Terrell, Esq. who announced the launch of a 15-city tour to fight antisemitism.
“Antisemitism is local. It’s a failure of prosecutors to prosecute. It’s a failure of teachers when they teach antisemitism in schools,” he shared. “We are bringing the message that either they prosecute or we will file a lawsuit against them.”
“Fighting antisemitism is a 24/7 commitment. I am there for you, the Justice Department is there for you, and President Trump is there for you,” he added. “And I will never say no to my great friend Morton Klein.”
“Leo Terrell will go down in history as one of the best friends the Jewish people ever had,” said Zionist Organization of America National President Morton Klein. “We were honored to have him join us tonight and bring his important message to us on the eve of our Washington Mission.”
Teach NYS Hails Buffer Zone Legislation as Major Win for Jewish Schools
Teach NYS advocates with Governor Kathy Hochul during Teach NYS Mission Day
Photo courtesy of Teach NYS
For families at Jewish day schools and yeshivas across New York, protests and intimidation outside Jewish institutions have added a layer of worry to the ordinary routines of drop-off, pick-up, and getting to shul on time. As part of the final state budget passed on May 27, Albany moved to ease that worry, approving new buffer zone protections for schools, community centers, and houses of worship.
The law draws a 50-foot perimeter around places of religious worship—a category it defines broadly to include not only sanctuaries but community centers and religious schools such as yeshivas and day schools used for education and observance—and makes it a class B misdemeanor for a protester to knowingly place someone accessing those sites in reasonable fear for their safety. And because the protection was enacted at the state level rather than by New York City, it applies to Jewish communities from Brooklyn to Queens to Westchester and cannot be undone by a mayoral veto.
That distinction matters. In April, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed a City Council bill that would have established similar buffer zones around schools, citing free speech concerns, leaving Jewish families in the five boroughs without the school-level protections their community had been asking for. Governor Hochul’s state-level measure now fills that gap and reaches well beyond New York City.
The practical effect for families is direct. Parents can walk children into school, and congregants can enter for services or a simcha, without passing within feet of a crowd shouting slogans at the entrance. Because the rule is now spelled out in state law, schools, and shuls finally have a clear, predictable standard to plan around, and police have an enforceable line to hold rather than an improvised perimeter. Schools and shuls are also spared the choice several were recently forced to make: canceling programs, dismissing students early, or closing their doors to avoid a confrontation.
Those incidents are written into the legislation itself. At Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side last November, demonstrators gathered outside a community event and blocked attendees from entering, a confrontation severe enough that the NYPD commissioner later apologized for not doing more to secure the entrance, and the direct catalyst for the bill. The Park East Day School, which shares the synagogue complex, was forced to dismiss students early to ensure safe pickup for families. Months earlier, protesters targeted an event at Young Israel of New Rochelle in Westchester. And in January, a demonstration outside Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills in Queens forced the shul to cancel evening services and prompted nearby schools to dismiss students early to keep children away from the scene.
The budget pairs the new protections with major investment in nonpublic schools: $90 million for the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment program to help hire guards and strengthen security, $35 million for Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes, $85.5 million for STEM instruction, $5 million for arts and music education, and $243 million for mandated services reimbursement. For the first time, annual state support for nonpublic school students will hit half a billion dollars.
“This budget represents a historic step forward for New York families,” said Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition. “We were proud to work alongside Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to make these protections a reality, and grateful to our partners who stood with us every step of the way.” Altfield thanked UJA-Federation of New York for leading the buffer zone effort, and coalition partners including Agudath Israel of America, the Catholic Conference, and the Islamic School Association, for their collaboration throughout the legislative process.
