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This Week:

Sen. Norm Coleman

RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman at the 2023 RJC Leadership Summit.

Dayenu - Reflecting on President Trump’s Historic Achievements

In 2019, RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman led the crowd at the RJC Leadership Summit in Las Vegas in a rousing "RJC Dayenu" that listed many achievements of the first Trump administration. (See the video here.) In the first weeks of the second Trump administration, the American Jewish community and the State of Israel have even more to be grateful for. Sen. Coleman listed them in a new "RJC Dayenu" that includes:

Had President Trump only ordered a whole-of-government strategy to combat antisemitism in the United States and around the world…Dayenu.

 

Had President Trump only secured the border and brought illegal immigration to a halt…Dayenu.

 

Had President Trump only unleashed American energy to help reduce the cost of living…Dayenu.

 

Had President Trump only championed school choice for our children and pushed back on four decades of government education failures…Dayenu.

 

Had President Trump only authorized the deportation of foreign pro-terrorist radicals from our streets and college campuses…Dayenu.

Read the full text of the new "RJC Dayenu" here.

Yehuda Kaploun

Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun was interviewed by JNS at the Trump election night watch party in 2024 / YouTube screenshot

Trump Nominates Yehuda Kaploun as US Envoy to Combat Jew-Hatred

President Donald Trump nominated Yehuda Kaploun, Orthodox Jewish businessman, Chabad rabbi, and Trump campaign surrogate to be US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, an ambassador-level position.

 

The Jewish Insider reports that President Trump described Kaploun as a "successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE."

 

The JI report continues: "The RJC is excited to congratulate Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun on his nomination to serve as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, and we thank President Donald J. Trump for his unwavering commitment to forcefully confront antisemitism at home and abroad," Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks said in a statement. "We look forward to working with Rabbi Kaploun to continue fighting against the world's oldest hatred."

Harvard shield

Harvard University shield

Harvard v. Trump

President Donald Trump's Joint Task Force to combat antisemitism is announcing a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60M in multi-year contracts to Harvard University. Harvard University President Alan Garber announced in a Monday statement that the institution had rejected a series of demands in a Friday antisemitism task force letter that conditioned continued financial relationships with the government on specific reforms.

 

"Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws," the antisemitism task force said in the statement.

 

Former President Barack Obama doesn't approve of the Trump administration's actions. He tweeted, "Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let's hope other institutions follow suit."

RJC in the News

NBC News: Some Jewish Americans wrestle with Trump's sweeping crusade against antisemitism

Matt Brooks, the chief executive of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said his organization "enthusiastically applauds the Trump administration for taking bold, decisive action to combat anti-Americanism and antisemitism in higher education after years of weakness and appeasement of the campus mobs by the Biden-Harris administration."

 

"There's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Donald J. Trump," Brooks added.

RJC Delivered - report

Read our exclusive report for details about how the RJC moved voters across America to President Trump and the GOP.

Trump kippah

Short Takes

Berger: I Kept My Freedom in Hamas's Captivity
Former hostage Agam Berger writes in the Wall Street Journal about how she kept her moral freedom and her religious belief while in Hamas's captivity. Every word is infused with her strength and her faith. She writes: "I was kidnapped by Hamas, taken to Gaza and held hostage for 482 days... I learned, as my forebears did, that imprisonment can't overwhelm the inner spiritual life. Our faith and covenant with God, the story we remember on Passover, is more powerful than any cruel captor. Even as Hamas tried to coerce me into converting to Islam—at times, forcing a hijab on my head—they couldn't take away my soul."

Republicans speak up: Arson attack on Gov. Shapiro is "disgusting violence"

An arson attack on the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) on the first night of Passover caused serious damage to the building. The governor and his family were safely evacuated. A mentally unstable man who wanted to harm Gov. Shapiro has been arrested and is being held without bail.

 

Prominent Republicans condemned the attack. RJC CEO Matt Brooks tweeted, "I am disgusted and appalled by this horrific attack on Gov Shapiro and his family. Thank G-d no one was injured."

 

Vice President JD Vance tweeted, "Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack. Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice."

 

Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted, "I am deeply relieved that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe, thankful for the first responders who arrived on the scene, and applaud the police work that resulted in an arrest just hours ago."

Sen. Dave McCormick: The attack on Gov. Shapiro was an assault on democracy

Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), responded to the arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's residence on Saturday night, just after a seder was held there. McCormick writes: "No matter the motivation, it's important for all Americans to recognize that the demonization of political opponents and those with whom we disagree must stop. I made this same argument after witnessing the terrible near-assassination of President Trump and murder of Corey Comperatore in Butler, Pennsylvania.

 

"Shapiro is a Democrat. I'm a Republican who supports President Donald Trump. But this isn't a moment for partisanship. It's time for all Americans to disown, condemn, and make every effort to stop political violence. And we must likewise call on our political leaders to avoid language that vilifies those on the other side."

Newly elected Rep. Randy Fine’s top priority is passing Trump’s agenda

[Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), who won a special election on April 1] has been in perpetual campaign mode, appearing on election ballots five times in the last nine months, including primary, general, special and state committee elections.

 

..."My first priority is to make sure President [Donald] Trump’s agenda gets passed," Fine told JNS. “I was pleased to see that my being elected allowed the big, beautiful reconciliation bill to be passed this week."

 

...Beyond supporting Trump, Fine’s priorities are the US-Israel relationship and fighting Jew-hatred. He told JNS that no member of Congress will take a harder line than he on antisemitism.

Tweets

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Events

Happy Passover!

The Officers and Staff of the Republican Jewish Coalition wish you a Chag Kasher v'Sameach. Happy Passover!

 

12

Jun.

DC: National Leadership Meeting

RJC Leaders are invited to join us to talk politics and policy with top GOP officials. Sen. Dave McCormick and House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain are confirmed, with many more speaker announcements to follow!

RSVP

 

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