Please see the below statement that we are sharing with our members, donors and leadership in response to Representative Ilhan Omar's recent tweet. We appreciate the apology made by Rep. Omar but nonetheless we are still concerned about the comments that were made. Hadassah has a long history of speaking out against anti-Semitism and we will continue to address it in all its forms.
Hadassah Condemns Anti-Semitic Tweet by Rep. Omar
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc., (HWZOA) opposes anti-Semitism in any form. We are disturbed by Representative Ilhan Omar's (MN) tweet claiming that financial contributions are the reason our government supports the State of Israel. Using one of the oldest, most common anti-Semitic tropes is unacceptable. When it comes from a member of Congress we, as the largest Jewish women's organization in the world, must make quite clear: We will not accept anti-Semitic rhetoric from our elected officials. Her statement claiming that support for Israel is "all about the Benjamins" is not only untrue, it normalizes anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The United States supports the State of Israel because it is the only thriving democracy in the Middle East; the State of Israel shares our values, our interests, and is our closest ally in the world. At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, we expect to look to our leaders for moral clarity.
Hadassah's two hospitals in Jerusalem that treat and employ people of all backgrounds in a country characterized by conflict earned us a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2005. We invite Rep. Omar to visit our hospitals and see one of the many reasons that the United States supports the State of Israel.
B'Shalom,
Ellen Hershkin
Hadassah National President