white house.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ distinguished guests, the president of the united states accompanied by the vice president of the united states. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ >> have got a wait for the song to end. good evening. it is my honor to be standing here with the president biden and vice president harris. they have both stood strong with the jewish community time and time again. there is no one fighting harder to combat hate and to unite our country. to all of our esteemed guests, it is so great to join you for eight jewish american heritage month celebration at the white house. [cheering] tonight we have come together to celebrate our heritage and honor our culture. to reflect on the invaluable contributions of our ancestors and jewish leaders of today.

but it is also a challenging time for our community. it's been a dark and difficult seven months. a lot of us are feeling alone, afraid and in pain. there is an epidemic of hate including a crisis of anti-semitism and our country and around the world. we see it on our streets, our college campuses and our places of worship. i know it is difficult to get help and to feel optimistic right now. and to be honest some days it is really challenging for me too put myself out here and do this work publicly. and i know it is hard for you too. we keep fighting because we have no choice but to fight. [cheering]

jewish leaders on the front lines fighting anti-semitism through education, advocacy and building bridges with other communities. it is because of your leadership that we will dismantle prejudice and ensure jewish safety. [applause] i also want to acknowledge the today. [cheering] you have stood up to hate and anti-semitism on college campuses on behalf of our nation thank you for your courage. let me be clear we have your back. ever since the horrific day of october 7, i have been reaching out to jewish leaders and jewish students all across the country just to check in and see how they are feeling. are my message is always the same. we still need to find and embrace the jewish joy.

joy is what i remember most about growing up jewish is what i have felt in some of my favorite moments as second gentleman. like returning to my jewish summer camp and reliving the memory of being voted on most athletic. [laughter] or when i attended. [laughter] [laughter] >> thank you. when i attended international convention and there you go, next generation of leaders about how proud they are of being jewish. when the vice president, my wife the first ever on the door the vice president's residence with our entire family there. i think it's one of the only times i've ever seen my father cry was during that moment.

as a same feeling of joy i want everyone to experience especially our young people because we cannot live in fear. we cannot be afraid. we must always raise our voices openly and proudly as jews. [applause] last year before my trip to recognize holocaust memory state staypresident biden pulled me io the oval office. he showed with me his memories of visiting the concentration camp with his children and grandchildren. how angry his father was the allies had not bombed the train tracks leading to the concentration camps. then in the immediate aftermath of october 7 i stood beside president biden as he condemned the pure evil staunchly proclaimed his support for

jewish people and israel. he reaffirmed ironclad commitment to israel's security and that has not changed. president biden invited -- and vice president harris are steadfast in their support of israel and the entire jewish community. [applause] i am so grateful for their leadership. especially during these challenging times. please join me in welcoming president joe biden. [cheering] [applause] it is an honor to be introduced by the first ever glass of attorney general, members of congress and including majority leader chuck schumer will be here soon representative debbie

scholz is responsible for this occurring having sponsored us early on. back when she was 12 years old. all of you here welcome to the white house six celebrate a coronary contribution of jewish americans and our nation. look, the story of the jewish people is a story of resilience but absent resilience from pain or persecution, to help in the light even the darkest times. the story endures jewish people help to find and expand the single idea that binds us together as americans it's not hyperbole it is freedom, free of the bedrock principle upon which this nation was built they fought for since the 1600s. in newport rhode island goes back a long way. 1790 america was 14 years old the local jewish leader to

president george washington. the nation of religious freedom not just for juice but for all citizens. bigotry no sanction and persecution no assistance. help laid the groundwork in the amendment and our constitution. ever since jews have been in the forefront of helping to recognize the promise of america for all americans. jewish artists, poets help define vision of a liberty for millions of people who come to our shores. look, and advocates fought for women's rights every right we have. my whole career, every fight to increase civil rights and civil liberties were led by jewish communities where i come from. jewish faith and citizens civil rights for all. jewish scientists and engineers and doctors have led

breakthroughs in innovation, technology. cross government jewish governments probably serve our nation. in a civil service in our nation's highest courts. that is why jill and i hope for the first ever high holiday holy reception at the white house. [cheering] it's important first permanent mindoro made with original wood for the white house building. to make clear history and vibrancy of the jewish life is woven into the very fabric of america. and it is permanent. it is permanent. but look, i know today's receptions falls on hard times. the trauma of october 7 the aftermath of the deadliest day the jewish people have undergone since the holocaust is still fresh and growing with many of you. we have parents of stone being held hostage right now we are going to get them home.

we are going to get them home. [cheering] [applause] people were slaughtered, massacred a music festival brutally raped, mutilated, sexually assaulted, taken hostage and thousands more wounded. the scars and memory of what they endure. you all know someone directly or indirectly family, friends, who were stolen from you. they are in harm's way now. on the safety of the jewish people and security of israel's right to exist as a jewish state is ironclad. [cheering] no, really is. working round-the-clock to freee the remaining hostages. hirsh colbert poland he is not here with us but he is being held by hamas rachel and jon are with us. stand up.

[applause] their love compassion inspire the entire world. a pledge both to you i mean it and i know you know, mom, that i mean it. that i will not rest until we bring your loved one home paired with got to bring them home. folks, let me be clear i will always ensure israel has everything it needs to defend itself from hamas. and all around me just i did when iran last month. we stand with israel and the rest of the butchers of hamas. we want hamas to fit it we work of israel to make that happen and consistent with jewish compassion, kindness, dignity and human life my team also critical humanitarian assistance and palestinian civilians were suffering greatly because of the war on hamas. it is heartbreaking.

but to do this to bring in that region together. a two state solution to private security, prosperity and enduring peace for israel. and palestinian. [cheering] let me be clear, we reject the icc application and arrest warrant against israeli leaders. [cheering] whatever the apply the soap silk equivalency between israel and hamas. [cheering] it is clear will do all they can to ensure civilian protection pair but let me be clear, contrary to allegations against israel made by the justice what is happening is not genocide. we reject that. [applause] we always stand with israel with the threats against its security. compounding the pain and the vicious surge of anti-semitism around the world and hear an american well and their streets in the social media and college

campuses. it's amazing what is happening. it's and it must stop. it must stop. in america we were's effect and protect fundamental right of free speech to protest peacefully. that is america. there is no place in any campus in america, any place in america for for hate speech that threatens violence of any kind against jews or anyone else. [cheering] nobody it should fear going to a synagogue, school or walk down the street waking wearing a symbol of your faith. that is wrong, simply wrong. that's by long before october 7 i launched the nation's first strategy to counter anti-semitism. as mobile as a full force of the federal government to crack down on anti-semitism wherever you find it. recently secured additional $400 million a largest increase ever and physical security for nonprofits going to consider god coming jewish to be dissenters, jewish schools, jewish nonprofits.

my department of education for colleges on notice anti- semitism is discrimination prohibited under title vi of the civil rights act. [cheering] the department has to investigate discrimination and an address civilly. that's my special envoy to anti- semitism is deborah here? [applause] deborah, thank you.

>> and you check our troops and thank you for being here. [applause] [applause] ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪

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