The Jerusalem Post featured B’nai B’rith in its coverage of U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address, noting our disappointment in the president’s failure to mention the rise in anti-Semitism.

Read at JPost.com.

B’nai B’rith International leadership expressed disappointment in President Biden’s State of the Union address for not mentioning the rise in antisemitism, President Seth Riklin and CEO Daniel Mariaschin said in a statement.

Riklin and Mariaschin called on the Biden administration to codify the principles of the 2019 White House Executive Order on Combating Antisemitism. They also renewed their call for a domestic antisemitism czar who would serve as a counterpoint to Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Deborah Lipstadt.

Riklin and Mariaschin noted Biden’s statement that Israel has a right to go after Hamas. They said any ceasefire agreement must not allow for Hamas to rearm, and Israel must be able to continue its mission to remove Hamas from Gaza.

Positive response to Biden 

“Former hostage Mia Schem—along with families of some 17 hostages still in captivity, recently released, or killed in captivity—was a guest in the gallery. Their presence during the State of the Union address was an especially fitting and meaningful way to call attention to the hostages’ plight, and to remind the world that Hamas started this war,” according to the statement. “The yellow ribbons and dog tags that some members of Congress chose to wear in honor of the hostages are a powerful reminder that those captured by Hamas are not forgotten.”

Riklin and Mariaschin praised the Biden administration’s policies pertaining to Social Security and Medicare programs as well as the Affordable Care Act.

“B’nai B’rith has a long history of engaging with Congress and the White House on areas of mutual concern. In the year ahead, we remain committed to calling on the president and other elected leaders to speak out against anti-Semitism and advocate for policies that bolster the security and prosperity of Israel,” the statement said.

*****

Read the full article at JPost.com.