Second Gentleman to Jewish leaders: Like all Jews, I feel deep connection to Israel

“Like all Jews, I feel a deep, visceral connection to Israel and its people, “US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff tells American Jewish leaders during a roundtable meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden.

Emhoff — who is the first ever Jewish spouse of a president or vice president — says he and Vice President Kamala Harris are outraged by the Hamas attacks and are sending “strength, love and unwavering support for the people of Israel.”

“We witnessed a mass murder of innocent civilians. It was a terrorist assault. And there is never any justification for terrorism. There are no two sides to this issue. The images that we saw will be seared in our brains forever,” he says.

“We also need to acknowledge and address how these events will impact all of us as Jews. I know many of us feel a deep fear that these attacks will, and unfortunately already have, led to a rise in hate and antisemitism,” Emhoff adds.

The second gentleman has played an active role in the administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism in addition to often serving as a liaison to the US Jewish community.