ADL, AJC congratulate Biden on election victory

The Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee congratulate US President-elect Joe Biden on his election win.

“This has been an election year without precedent in American history, not only due to the challenges of the pandemic, but also because it took place in the shadow of record levels of anti-Semitism and rising hate, the mainstreaming of online conspiracy theories such as QAnon, and attempts by domestic extremists to undermine the voting process,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt is quoted saying in a statement.

He adds: “And yet, despite the challenges, Americans turned out in historic numbers. The unprecedented level of civic participation is a powerful testament to the enduring strength of our democracy and the right of every American to have a voice and a vote.”

Greenblatt also issues a call for unity, saying he hopes “all Americans — liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, affiliated and unaffiliated — can unite after this bitter season and find common ground in working together to solve the myriad challenges that face our nation and the world.”

David Harris, the head of the AJC, says his group looks forward to working with Biden on issues important to it.

“For 36 years as a US senator, and eight years as vice president of the United States, Biden has demonstrated a profound interest in advancing many of AJC’s concerns. AJC has long known Biden and worked closely with his office while he was a senator and then as the vice president,” Harris says in a statement.

Nearly two dozen progressive Jewish groups also release statements hailing his victory in the race against incumbent President Donald Trump.