Good morning. The committee will come to order. Without objection the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. With that i will recognize myself to give an opening statement. Two days ago the entire world came together to Mark InternationalHolocaust Remembrance Day. In addition, 75 years ago this week, in january 1945, the auschwitz concentration camp was liberated from the nazis. It was one of the most infamous sites of the nazi genocide. More than a Million People were murdered there. The purpose of todays hearing is to commemorate these grave anniversaries to remember those we lost and honor those who are still with us. But it is not enough to sibley recognize these dates. We must also contemplate what led to the atrocities. We must remember the holocaust in order to combat bigotry, hate, and violence of all kind today. I am so pleased to have our distinguished panel here today. Ive asked them to help us come together on todays solemn occasion. Help us rise above issues that may divide us and unify our efforts around a common purpose of hope and inclusion. On this day, i hope we can all do that. One issue we will discuss is what we can do to ensure that future generations never forget the lessons of the holocaust. This may sound hard to believe but the Pew Research Center found that fewer than half of americans knew how many jews were killed in the holocaust. Another report found that only new themerican teens nazis killed 6 million jews and only one third new that heckler was democratically hitler was democratically elected. How i help people remember is to hear firsthand from the people who went through it. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity today. In addition, the Holocaust Memorial museum is an outstanding and gripping institution. Their dedicated to remember the holocaust in order to fight hate today. I am pleased to announce that on monday the house of representatives passed Bipartisan Legislation with 393 votes that i introduced and authored called the never again education act to give teachers Additional Resources to teach about the holocaust. I hope the senate will pass the bill and send it to the president as soon as possible because the lessons of the past must inform our approach to fighting hate today. For example, this morning we will hear testimony about the horrific shooting at the tree of life synagogue in pittsburgh. The most deadly assault against the Jewish Community in american history. Massacre ofand Holocaust Survivors who volunteer at the museum wrote to the pittsburgh Jewish Community in solidarity explaining what they dedicated their lives to sharing the horrors they experienced. They wrote and i quote, we seek to remind people, especially young people, our countrys future leaders, that hate can never be ignored. Complacency is dangerous. Standing up and pushing back is the only way we can make a. Tter future there has been a sinister increase in hate crimes recently not only against jewish communities but against africanamericans, muslims, immigrants and others. In november the fbi released data showing the highest number of reported violent hate crimes in the United States in 16 years. The number of hate groups exploded to more than 1000 in 2018. This was a record high and a 30 increase over the past 4 years. To take one example, when we watch the gruesome video footage of the neonazi attacks linda charlottesville we see in xcruciating detail the evil that poisons our society. Our committee is dedicated to fighting bigotry, hate, and violence of all kinds. The hearing today which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz birkenau is one and a series we are holding on these issues. Fourman raskin has held hearings to confront White Supremacy, religious persecution, and our governments response. Chairman lynch has worked with chairman raskin to investigate the National Security implications of these threats. Going forward, we are planning additional hearings including one on Voter Suppression in minority communities, antimuslim discrimination, antiimmigrant actions, and issues facing the lgbtq community. I have been in touch with many of you over the past weeks and i hope you will come to me with additional thoughts, ideas, or proposals you think our committee should take up as part of the series. We mark this day of remembrance just weeks after a recent state of antisemitic attacks in new york city including one at a rabbis home during the festival of hanukkah. It was heartening to participate in a solidarity march in new york following the attacks and i hope we can Work Together with that same spirit of solidarity today. I want to recognize Ranking Member jordan but before i do, i would like to thank him personally for his support of the holocaust never again education act. Thank you, mr. Jordan, and you are recognized. Thank you, madam chairwoman. Thank you for calling this hearing and thank you to our witnesses for being with us in your testimony. I want to apologize. I have to head the other side of the capital in a few minutes. There is a proceeding in the senate going on and i need to get over there. Monday we recognize the Holocaust Remembrance Day and the liberation of auschwitz. We pause to remember the 6 million innocent lives taken by the evil. Pencesaid we have a said we have an obligation to remember. We must never forget the horse of the holocaust and horros of the holocaust. Schapiro recognize mr. Who is a holocaust survivor. Thank you for your testimony. One of the most important ways the United States supports the jewish people is through our unwavering support for the state of israel. Since the formation, the United States has had a special bond with the israeli people. Since President Trump took office three years ago he has made it his mission to strengthen this important bond. President trump has worked to ensure the world knows the United States stands firmly with the state of israel. President trump in just three years here is what has happened. He recognized israel, withdrawn from the iranians nuclear deal, taking action to eliminate qasem soleimani, opposed the boycott investment championed by those who want to diminish israel, issued an executive order to curtail antisemitism on college campuses, and just yesterday President Trump released a groundbreaking peace plan. Most importantly President Trump fulfilled a decade promise in recognizing jerusalem as the capital of the state. Past president have made this promise and failed to deliver. President carter said we support jerusalem as the capital of israel. The embassy should be moved to jerusalem. Said as soon as i take office, i will move the and bessie to the city of embassy to jerusalem. In 2008 barack obama said jerusalem will be the capital of israel. I have said that before and i will say it again. President trump fulfilled that promise last year. Recognizing jerusalem as the capital and moving the embassy shows the israeli people they have the support of United States of america. We should be proud of this close friendship and the work the president has done to solidify the relationship. At the committee continues to address hate crimes we would be wise to listen to, and learn from, the testimony today. Thank you, madam chairwoman. I would like to recognize two of my colleagues representative lawrence and representative schultz. Members. Founding thank you for holding this hearing and drawing attention to the antisemitic acts and hate crimes. Im glad to see our committee will use authority to sign innovative ways the government to combat antisemitics and the rise in White Supremacy. Last year i formed the congressional caucus on blackjewish relations to discuss the relationships between africanamericans and jewish communities. Also to highlight our shared and ry of combating racism how the two groups can Work Together. Our shared history of slavery in the holocaust has given us a heightened sensitivity to hatred and racism in our country. Cochairs of the caucus are john lewis, lee selden, will d, and debbie her Wasserman Schultz. Actstunately, antisemitic have become too prevalent in our society. Since the beginning of 2020, already there have been at least three reported antisemitic incidents in my home state of michigan and more than 25 across the United States. The last few years have seen a disturbing spike in antisemitic attacks. More than 1800 reported in 2018 alone according to the antideclamation league. The most recent audit of a incidents had a 57 increase. Government must assist state and local government and Law Enforcement entities to develop ways to combat a rise in identity based hate crimes. Hate illustrates a disturbing trend in our country that must be reversed. Acts will not be tolerated and i will not stand by idly as predators of these senseless attacks seek to so fear across our country. All americans have the right to freedom of religion and we will not let that be hindered by a small fraction who use their agenda to spread hate. I look forward to working with the leadership of this amazing chairwoman, members of the caucus on black and jewish relations, and all the members of congress. In the words of Martin Luther injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair. I thank you for convening this important hearing. I served as the first jewish woman to represent florida in the congress. I just returned from israel and. Uschwitz over one million men, women, and children lost their lives at auschwitz alone. We walked train tracks that transported innocent people to andivity, the gas chambers, this reaffirmed for me we cannot ignore the resurgence in hate we see. To live the moral imperative of never again we must hold hearings like this and shine a light on bigotry and white supremacist ideology. It is important to underscore for this hearing that the fight against antisemitism and bigotry is about more than support for the state of israel. The story must be clear. The systematic mass extermination did not happen overnight. It began with hate speech, harassment, and attacks on vulnerable communities. As the symptoms reemerge, we must speak out and act. Today, we will do that. We must educate the American People by highlighting the amazing accomplishments of persecuted communities in the United States. During a porton defense what the black History Month and Jewish American heritage month which we celebrate in may. Educating one another about cultures, traditions, and accomplishments when so many across the country are unfamiliar with minority communities achievements and traditions is essential. I bet if each of us thinks there are many of us who have populations of communities in our own districts that are either tiny or minuscule, and the first time we interact with minority communities is when they joined the United States congress. That is why it is important to hold hearings like this one. I appreciate our ability to make sure we can rid our nation of every denial of one anothers humanity. I want to thank the panelists for being here and being in the fight every day to make sure we continue to shine a spotlight. I want to thank my colleague and friend, brenda lawrence, for her leadership and vision to establish the congressional caucus on blackjewish relations and im proud to join her. I yield back. I would like to welcome our witnesses and i recognize representative raskin to introduce our first witness. Thank you, madam chair for calling this hearing and giving me the opportunity to introduce a remarkable constituent from my district. Shapir was a little boy when policeman arrived to arrest him, his sister, and his parents to take him to a ghetto for being jewish. Remarkably, they survived the mr. Shapir lost others. Since the holocaust ended, the civilized world came together with one phrase never again. We live in a time of authoritarianism, propaganda, mass psychological manipulation, human rights violations, antisemitism, racism, and religious persecution, fanaticism and violence. Just yesterday the Civil Liberties of communit committeed at global persecution under the guise of the apostasy laws including the internment of millions of muslims in the genocide against the row hinda in burma. The last decade of dirty work with Vladimir Putin injecting racial poison into the social most has activated the white supremacist violence and terror against lecture just, synagogues, jews, hispanics, and anyone deemed to be an outsider. Thee got to get a hold on white supremacist violence. We must pressure the federal government to devise a Strategic Plan to combat White Supremacy and mystic terror. Today, we can focus on mr. Should fear. Ir. Shaf he was the only survivor known to scale mount kilimanjaro. A feet he accomplished a feat by keeping in mind what his father told him which was never give up. We are honored by mr. Shapiros presence. We are honored to have you. Congratulations on your achievement. We look forward to your testimony. We are fortunate to have brad orsini. The National Security advisor for the secure Community Network and the former director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh i want to thank representative doyle for putting us in touch with him and we look forward to his testimony. Welcome dr. Edna friedberg who is a historian the United StatesHolocaust Memorial museum. Jonathan greenblatt is the chief executive officer for the Antidefamation League. Hillary shelton is the director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for advocacy and policy for the National Association for the advancement of colored people. Doreenome ambassador gold was the president for Public Affairs and the Jerusalem Center and the israeli ambassador to united nations. Former director general of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you would all rise and raise your right hand, i will swear you and. Do you swear to affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god . Show theecord witnesses answered in the affirmative. Please be seated. The microphones are sensitive so speak directly into them. Your statement will be made part of the record. Shaffir, you are recognized. Thank you. I am honored to be here today and share with you a little bit about the personal experience pulled the microphone just a little closer so we can hear you better. Im honored to be here and share my personal experience as to what happened to me and my family during the holocaust years. In 1924, my father established a farm in romania. For 18 years, he and my mother worked the farm. My two sisters and myself were born there. I went to kindergarten, i started first grade, everything was ok for a child. One of our neighbors was a priest. We used to come by once a week donation father for a and products for his constituents or congregation who could not afford it. In 18 years my father never wants refused such a request. November 1942, the same priest showed up but this time he showed up with an armed Police Officer and two armed guards. We did not know why that happened this time so we went out to find out what was going on. When we came close to the priest, he was looking at the officer pointing at us and saying, these are jews. We returned into the authorities by a priest. Us,Police Officer said to we have four hours to vacate the farm because he has orders to relocate us to a different part of the city. At this point my father and mother tried to convince him perhaps he can forget the order for relocating us but that did not help. We did not know where we were going. In 1941, the ghetto was established. Packme into the house, whatever valuables we had, and when the four hours were over the policeman said it was time to leave. We were escorted to the ghetto. Were turnedved, we over to the Ghetto Police where he received our orientation, what we can cannot do. We could not do school, jewish people could no longer ,articipate in public prayers we were given ration cards, and we were given five yellow stars with the word jew on it that we always had to wear on her left lapel. Man between the ages of 18 and 50 had to go to work on a daily basis. My fathers job was to sweep the streets in the summertime and shovel the snow in the wintertime as well as clean the market. My mother was an orderly in a hospital. Point, we did not know what we could do to survive. There was a mode of survival that you tried to focus on. My father used to go to work and a big sign was posted in the