House establishes bipartisan task force on anti-Semitism

Congress members set to share ideas with executive branch, foreign leaders in hopes of promoting tolerance worldwide

A bipartisan task force to combat anti-Semitism around the world was established by the US House of Representatives.

The task force launched Tuesday is designed to educate Congress about anti-Semitism, which its members referred to as “the 21st century face of this age-old bigotry.”

Congress members will share ideas with the executive branch, foreign leaders and other organizations on combating anti-Semitism. It also will promote Holocaust remembrance through teaching tolerance and confronting hate.

“Jewish populations are facing increased levels of hatred, frequently under the guise of political differences or other alibis, but in reality it is solely because of their faith,” task force co-chairs Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Steve Israel (D-NY), Peter Roskam (R-Illinois) and Ted Deutch (D-Florida) said in a statement.

“It is the responsibility of everyone who believes in basic universal liberties and freedoms to condemn this trend and work together to root out the hatred which underlies anti-Semitism,” the statement said.