Lots To Celebrate, But…

By: J. Philip Rosen

Phil Rosen with Senator Ted Cruz

This past weekend was, for Republican Jews, a massive celebration. Over 1,000 people (far more than ever before) descended on Sheldon’s house in Las Vegas, commonly known as The Venetian Las Vegas to celebrate lots of good tidings since last year’s annual conference. The Republican Jewish Coalition was celebrating President Trump’s victory last November, and all of the amazing achievements he has made for Jewish people in the state of Israel. They were also celebrating many of the people responsible for those achievements, including the Israel Defense Forces, which fought and wiped out many of Israel’s longtime enemies. And Floyd Mayweather, who has made five trips to Israel to visit the destroyed communities, families, and soldiers. Also, on hand for a giant celebration was Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and his wife, Rhoda, who deserves much of the credit for the end of the hostage episode and, together with the U.S. leadership, setting Israel on a path toward possible peace with almost all of its neighbors.

Friends of Israel and the Jewish people were there in abundance, including politicians such as Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, and all four Republican Jewish congressmen. And commentators and activists, Jewish and Christian, many of whom were ignited by the horrors of October 7. We had zooms from President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu wishing the RJC success as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. We honored the Alevy Family, who annually sponsor hundreds of high school and college activists from across the country, from UC-Santa Clara in California to Stern College and Yeshiva University in New York. 

But not all was perfect. Antisemitism has reared its ugly head in the Democratic Party, in the form of politicians like Zohran Mamdani, who supports the Global Intifada movement, and many others, including candidates for president of the United States. Antisemitism that has been allowed to grow and flourish in and out of government. But perhaps more important for this crowd is the antisemitism that’s becoming obvious in fragments of the Republican Party, such as Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene. This crowd was insistent that it would weed out the bad before it becomes harmful to the party and embeds itself in the government.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke out against Tucker Carlson for giving a friendly platform to Nick Fuentes, the neo-Nazi influencer, on his podcast this week, calling it “a wake-up call” for the Republican Party as it grapples with rising antisemitism within its ranks. “How many times does he have to play footsie with this antisemitic view of the Jewish people and Israel until you figure out that’s what he believes?” said Graham of Carlson. The loudest call to confront and remove Carlson came from Mark Levin, who called on everyone to stop talking and start confronting. He called on everyone to lobby legislators to remove the antisemites from the party before they take or share control as they have in the Democratic Party.

I was impressed. They screamed loud and clear. Now we need action. We need people who have influence to talk to the President and the Vice-President and raise bloody hell about Carlson and his crew. Meeting with a Nazi like Fuentes is unacceptable. Wholly unacceptable. And don’t tell me it’s just a meeting. It’s much, much more! n

J. Philip Rosen is Chairman of the board of World Jewish Congress-American Section and a Member of the Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University.