U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Thank you, Rabbi, for your opening remarks. And before I begin, I want to say that we're prepared for another hurricane to hit Florida, and that's what I've been doing and why I've had to postpone these meetings several times. And I apologize.
I've instructed my team to do everything we can to save lives and help communities before, during and after a hurricane - the one that just passed and the terrible one that is about to hit.
My most important message today to those in the affected areas is: please, please, please listen to your local authorities, follow all safety in- - instructions and evacuation orders. This is serious -- very serious.
But now to the events of today. You know, as my - my friends can tell you, - the rabbis in Delaware that I've been friends with over the years, that I've been involved with, I was one of those lucky Christians who was raised - a Christian who was - had - understood what was going on.
My father was what we would call a "righteous Christian". My dad literally raised us to stand up for - any persecuted community, and at dinner he would get upset - he would get upset about why we didn't bomb the railroad tracks in Auschwitz and why we - and this is God's truth, as the rabbis back home might tell you.
And he talked about how we didn't let the - that one ship land and - and - with the Jewish refugees on it at that time, under - under - under Hitler. And, you know, he - he talked about how important it was for people to know what happened and not forget.
And one of the things that he taught me was that I - each of my children and grandchildren, when they turned 14, we put them on a plane and I flew them to Dachau because I wanted them to see - they wanted to see that nobody could pretend that it wasn't happening.
You go through - you go through the gate and you will be liberated. Well, stand there - you see the beautiful houses along the outside of that gate, and you know they must have known. They must have known what was going on. And - and I wanted them to understand. I wanted them to see where the furnaces were. I wanted them to know what was going on, and - because I wanted them to be aware - aware.
And I think one of the things I'm going to talk about is - you know, the country has been kind of - I don't know how to put it - has paid almost no attention to our hi- - the history that has brought us -
But when I went there shortly after the second, smaller holocaust, but the whole world saw even more vividly the seventh, it was because I wanted to let the world know where I stood and where America stood. And I saw the remnants of what had happened ten days before. I saw - and I saw - and you all know this; you understand this.
But now, on this occasion today - I want to thank you for joining this call, and I apologise for having to translate it.
You know that at my direction last week, the United States military again took unprecedented action to actively assist in the successful defense of Israel. You've - you've heard me say that as a young senator, I was highly criticized for saying, "I'm a Zionist." That's true. You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. It's not necessary.
And the idea - I am firmly convinced of this - without Israel, the security of every Jew in the world is less stable. I'm serious. It doesn't mean that Jewish leadership doesn't have to be more progressive than it is, but it means that it has to exist, and that's what concerns me most about what's happening now.
You have heard me say that my commitment to the security of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as a right to exist is independent - independent of - of everything else. The Jewish state must be preserved. It must be preserved - that ironclad commitment to it.
For the past three years, I have been honored to share this Great Holiday with all of you from the White House in a season of joy and pain. And that is what we have been going through: a season of joy and pain.
You know that you are a support for your people. I want to thank you for all that you do every day for your congregations, for your communities, for our country.
You know, I know that this year's challenge is very different, and it's a very - it's a difficult time for the Jewish community and for Jews around the world. In the midst of the High Holidays, two days ago we marked the first anniversary of 7 October, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
And a year later, after the trauma and loss of that day and its aftermath, it's still rough. It's hard to remember and mourn a tragedy that is still ongoing. The hostages are still in captivity - some of them American Jews; their loved ones are still in danger; the survivors carry visible and invisible wounds that will never go away. The families and friends left behind will never, ever be the same.
I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for about an hour this morning and expressed my condolences on this sad anniversary.
Throughout this year, my wife Jill, Kamala, Doug and I have mourned with all of you, even after the horrific execution of six hostages, including American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 24-year-old young man who just turned -- would have turned 24 last week.
My administration is redoubling our work to secure the release of the remaining hostages, just as we have already freed the hostages. And we won't rest until they're all home.
As you saw just last week, the United States fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Iran and all its proxies - Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. We are doing everything we can to alleviate the suffering of all people from this war against Hamas that Hamas has started.
As the Israeli ambassador to Washington said at a memorial event two days ago, and I quote: "We remember the Jewish commandment that we are all created in the image of God" and "the loss of an innocent life - Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese or otherwise - is a tragedy." Well, I feel the same way. Too many civilians have suffered during this year's conflict.
I also want you to know that I see you, I hear you, and I feel your pain about the wild rise of anti-Semitism in America and frankly around the world - absolutely disgusting. And I hope we have learned from our parents' generation. We need to stand up. We have to shout it down. We have to stop it.
In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. But nowhere in America is there a place - I stress, no place - for anti-Semitism, hate speech or threats of violence of any kind against Jews or anyone else.
Long before October 7 - long before that - I launched the first national security [strategy] to combat anti-Semitism in American history - the first time in American history. Vice President Harris, myself and our entire administration are aggressively implementing this commitment.
Since we took office, we have secured a record of more than $800 million for the physical security of nonprofit organizations, including synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish day schools across the country.
As of October 7, '23 - in 2023, we have secured an additional $400 million, the largest single increase in funding - ever.
And we have concrete evidence that our historic aid is having an impact and that this investment is making a difference.
The Department of Education has alerted our colleges to something that should be clear to everyone - that anti-Semitism is discrimination. Repeat: Anti-Semitism is discrimination and is prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
And the Department of Homeland Security did - it provided funds to train university law enforcement, administrators, on how to ensure the safety of Jewish students on campus. And we will continue to work to ensure - to ensure that Jewish students can get an education without intimidation and harassment.
The Justice Department is also moving quickly to investigate and prosecute anti-Semitic hate crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.
As members of your community, we urge you to report cases to local law enforcement.
My administration is calling on social media companies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against anti-Semitism and other hateful content, including the vile anti-Semitic attacks online that we have seen in recent days against public officials leading the response to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
You know, it's scary, but we - it has to stop immediately. We need to speak up and end this now.
Globally, our nation's first ambassador at the level of special envoy and to monitor and combat anti-Semitism is Deb- - Deborah - Deborah Lipstadt - Lipstadt. And Deborah has mobilized more than 40 countries and international organizations to support our new guidelines to combat anti-Semitism around the world. And that's important, but I know there's much more to be done.
And let me assure you, as your President, that you are not alone. You are one of them, always - always have been, always will be and always must be protected.
Americans of Jewish descent have enriched every part of American life since the beginning of our nation. Let me repeat that. Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life since the beginning of our nation, and you will continue to do so for many years to come.
Let me conclude with this. I reflect on the wisdom I have learned from the Jewish communities in Delaware and across the country that I have come to know over the years. It seems to me that there is a delicate but profound balance between joy and pain in the High Holidays.
Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration in the Jewish Yesh - of - for the Jewish New Year. However, it is also a day of judgment.
Similarly, Yom Kippur is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, but according to Jewish scholars, it is also the happiest day because it is a time - for forgiveness and restoration.
And in two weeks you celebrate another holiday for singing and dancing - for - for Torah. You know, I know you will do so with deep sorrow in your soul, because last year this holiday was destroyed on October 7th.
From my perspective, the Jewish people have embodied this duality of pain and joy for generations. It is your strength. The Jewish people have always chosen to find joy, happiness and light, despite centuries of suffering, persecution and pain.
This is the end and - of what - of what - look, this is - this is - this is a lasting - this is a lasting lesson and legacy for the Jewish people and for all of America to understand.
So thank you for continuing to find joy in the darkness and to shine your light on the nation and on the world.
God bless you all. And I wish you a happy new year.
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