Cause good morning. I am harriet and i have the honor of being the chair of the concertfe of presence of major American Jewish organizations. We gather in ouron nations capitol and sadness and mourning. October 7 was the day in modern israeli history. As news reports last week turned to unimaginable numbers, 1300 dead, 4000 wounded, almost 200 kidnapped our shock turned to fear, anger, disbelief and utter devastation. We mourn the loss of precious life. We for the healing of wounds that will never fully manned and today we wear these blue ribbons and initiative started in the hope for the safe return of our brothers and sisters now held hostage in gaza. Our savior teaches us we should not be daunted by the enormity of thehe worlds grief and instd they are commanded always to shape our world not merely be shaped by it. Today weha gather together as it instructs to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly in to face greece greek with actions. We gather in washington to say to the world we stand with israel. We stand with israel not merely with our words but wither our deeds, with action. Im joined today by the heads of their 50 National Organizations in dozens of local jewishiz federations from across the country representing a broad and Diverse Coalition of American Jewish life. We are eternally grateful for ourr elected leaders who are hee this morning to share their own words of support. Our presence together in this historic synagogue in her nations capitol gives us comfort and strength. Only by working together can we ensure that israel will have what it needs in this war with hamas. Only by acting together can we have a safer, stronger and better tomorrow. That belief in a better day, that hope has carried her people for thousands of years. They carry us through these days together. Now its my honor to welcome Jeffrey Nadal to be this and the singing of Americas National anthem and israels National Anthem of hope. Oh say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hail at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous night for the ramparts we watch were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say kid oh say it does that starspangled banner yet waved for the land of the free and the home of the brave my name is julie platt and i served on the board of trustees of the should Jewish Federation of america representing 146 in the u. S. In cash and hundreds of smaller network communities. Im joined today in the sanctuary by representatives of dozens of federations who have flown in from around the country to participate in this important gathering. For more than a century the Jewish Federation system has participate in the great cause of creating building, growing and protecting the state of israel or jewish homeland. Or israels greatest triumphs and her greatest challenges we have organized and we have mobilized. We have raised funds and we have embraced israel with love and solidarity. Today in israels hour we are determined to working harder and loving even more deeply to help her heal and rebuild. Following last weeks acts of terrorism bipartisan support for the oasis relationship has never been more important. That is why im especially honored to introduce our next speaker the Senate Republican leader and a long time advocate Party Support of u. S. Israel relationship senator Mitch Mcconnell. Form his servers on the Appropriations Committee where he was a leader in the programs of importance to israel too has more than 16 years as Republican Senate leader making him the longestserving party leader in senate history. Senator Mitch Mcconnell has been deeply involved in critical pro israel issues in the aftermath of the recent attacks that have once again tested the strength of h israels people in the Jewish Community across the globe we are proud to be joined a leader who for decades has demonstrated unwavering support for israel during its most challenging time. Please join me in welcoming Senate Republican leader Mitch Mcconnell. [applause] [applause] good morning. Thank you very much for coming to washington. Like everyone here im deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding. I stand with the people of israel in their grief and their pain as they face down existential. I stand with you, and with the jewish communities around the world as you face alarming new varieties of the insidious ageold scourge of antisemitism. My message to you today is about how the United States and the entirere civilized world should respond. We are facing a moment that demands moral clarity. This is a time for choosing in the choice is Crystal Clear. We must stand with americas closest ally in the middle east, the people of israel and those held hostage by and with their families. We must condemn barbaric they are sponsors and the legacy of hatred towards jewish people that have sustained World History for millennia. [applause] todays gathering and their mission in the coming days as a powerful reminder that the burden of standing against terror, defending sovereignty, to turning authoritarian aggression in condemning hate is not israels alone to bear. Israels fight is to fight of the entire civilized world. E [applause] this is americas cause to and it demands leadership. People with the platform need to start by establishing loud and clear who are the victims and who are the aggressors . [applause] we need to push back against the false both sides narrative that you are hearing in the media. We need to denounce antisemitic hate wherever it occurs. We need to show the west of the world by her words and their actions that there simply is no moral i equivalence between terrorism and selfdefense. [applause] our country needs to lead by calling on countries with relations with hamas to push immediately and forcefully to release the hostages. [applause] we need to lead countries with influence in the region that deny safe haven to those who aid and abet violence and we need to make it clear that america, israel and their allies will be watching closely how they answer thehe call. America needs to reestablish credible deterrence against iran. We need to show the regime on pursuing the extension of israel and the United States that our resolve is rock solid. That means giving maximum support for israels counterterrorism operation for as long as it takes. [applause] it also means getting back to investing in a sort of american strength that can protect our people with our allies and leave the coalition to destroy the who threatened the entire civilized world. This is what i will be fighting for in theth coming weeks as the Senate Considers the resources we put into our defense in the additional assistance we need for israel and other democracies facing authoritarian aggression from europe to the pacific. As a you embark on this essentil decision i want to thank you all for your leadership. May god bless you and keep you safe and may god bless israel and the United States of america. [applause] [applause] good morning. Im Jonathan Greenblatt ceo and National Director of the Antidefamation League. I want to thank leader mcconnell for his clear and unequivocal remarks in support of the state of israel. I [applause] at a time when moral clarity seems to be in short supply at many s universities, in many newsrooms, and many boardrooms. Lets be thankful for speaker mcconnell. Lets be thankful for the other members of congress who are here today for the leadership of the frustration there presence remind us america in israel are rock solid together and bipartisan. [applause] and they are rock solid together because hamas is a hate group a Terror Organization that is a product of the republic of iran. As a we think about the 1400 people who were murdered, who were mutilated, the women raped and children brutalized some children executed in front of their parents. Some. Parents executed for their children. These were barbaric atrocities. They were committed not just against israelis although that would be more than enough but also against americans. Again this isnt just israels fight, this is americas fight and this is the fight of the free world against terror and thats what this is actually about. [applause] i would just say to those who have any doubt and hope this will finally put to bed but we all know to be true antizionism and antisemitism is wrong and should not be tolerated anywhere under any circumstances. [applause] again i want to thank the extraordinary unwavering leadership in congress on both sides of the aisle who joined us today. We are fortunate to have them in their unflinching support. I hope they will consider they contemplate what they can do in this moment to support our allies and as our ally, israel. I hope it includes support for a new 500 milliondollar lifesaving Nonprofit Security Grant Program request that canfe help secure the American Jewish community against the tidal wave of antisemitism thats coming. Let me tell you its not just coming, its here. Since the attack, since the massacre, since the slaughter the adl has tracked a more than 40 increase in antijewish harassment vandalism and violence and thats just in the first week. We know this will intensify. Our counterparts in london reported 580 increase in antisemitic attacks across the uk put our counterparts in france report 200 incidents in the past week alone, 65 arrests so something isnt coming, its already here and my friends on capitol hill you can help to protect the Jewish Community. Thank you for your leadership and thank you for what you will do. [applause] our next guest has an exemplary career of service to the people of israel a diplomatic peace negotiator excessively involved in the development of the Abraham Accords and today he serves as Israels Deputy ambassador to the United States. Today he is sitting for dear friend Michael Hartzog who would haveve been here were it not for the fact thatt President Biden s preparing to depart for israel and professor hartzog needed to be there in advance. In this moment of crisis, in this hour of need his voice is absolutely critical. Mr. Deputy ambassador each of us here today want to express our profound shared grief for the people of israel. All of us, all of us have family, friends, colleagues, loved ones who have been directly affected by this grotesque crime and all of our hearts arsep garden grove can. Equally important is much as we are hurting we are resolved and we want to share with you and the nation you represent a message of strength and solidarity from the American Jewish community. Read we the combined leadership stand here t together with you d so with all of our brothers and sisters in israel and as you fight to protect the jewish state we stand with you every step of the way so friends please join me in welcoming the deputy ambassador his excellency [applause] thank you jonathan for those more warm words thank you senators for being here and members of congress thank you secretary mayorkas, thank you dear friends and colleagues. Brothers and sisters. That like to thank this united solidarity gathering. Together we are one of the leading jewish organizations United States and across the country and over 100 representatives across the country. As jonathan said mr. Hartzog is on his way to join President Biden and he wished he could be here and to send his gratitude to all of you for your ongoing support. 10 days ago on the morning of october 7, 2023, hamas initiated a war against the state of israel. This aggression marred what should have been aio festive thn joyous day for the jewish people. Instead we are confronted with the devastating reality of hamas unprovoked actions, over 1400 lives lost in more than 3500at wounded, about 200 kidnapped and we dont know the final numbers in thousands of families and lives forever changed. These victims are not just they were individuals with hope, with dreams and aspirations. Taken from us in the most cruel way imaginable. The scenes, reports and images from the many communities are horrifying. Victims were tortured and executed in the most gruesome ways m at the hands of inhuman. Why these mutilated hands tied behind the victims back, bloodsoaked bed sheets and about 200 hostages. We still dont know the exact number in this moment id i placed a call and everyone in this room and everyone who cant be here to do their utmost to demand and bring about thehe Immediate Release of those kidnapped. [applause] like most israelis we have all been personally impacted by this. My own brother lives adjacent to the crossing. For 12 hours he sheltered in a safe room with his wife and his four Young Children without contact with the outside world. He survived. Hamas is a barbaric organization worse than i says that incites violence and attacks civilians and takes its own people hostage. Since saturday, october 7, hamas has fired and is continuing to over 6900 rockets as of this morning into israel targeting homes, hospitals and cities all across the country. These word densely plotted it buildings including schools, hospitals and mosques come putting innocent civilians and children at risk. Israel continues to upset evacuation and with consistent warnings civilians about incoming rockettia attacks. Israeli is working hard to get innocent people out of harms way while hamas is working hard to put people in harms way. Hamas has been actively preventing its population from leaving portions of the gaza strip. Indeed hamas is using its own palestinian population as a human shield. Lets be clear, hamas are not Freedom Fighters who act represent the aspirations and ambitions of the Palestinian People. Their fundamental goal is to annihilate the state of israel and kill every jewish man, woman and child. My friends israel is at war. Israel did not choose to start this war but we will end b it. As we respond to ypf one of the most moral militaries will act in accordance. Make no mistake that every other nation in the world israel has the right and in fact the duty to defend its citizens against the brutality of terrorism. We will ensure that the hamas war machine is in the limit eliminated entity that we will not end we shall not apologize. [applause] this is the message we are sending a to any possible soul t there who as President Biden stated in a message as one word, dont. Right now thousands of israelis who lived in the gaza strip for decades have been displaced from their homes and cant go back. This reality we are seeing now. They are refugees in their own land. The ceiling is one that is sadly my brother family and their friends have experience for too many years. For the past 10 days have demonstrated the strength and resilience of israel and that the israeli people. In these difficult times our unity prevails. We have each others backs. [applause] much like the people of israel the Jewish Community here in america remains united. It doesnt matter whether we are reformed conservative, orthodox religious or this is a test of the strength and resilience of the people who have overcome adversity practice. And they are determined to prevail. There are raising concerns for the security and the safety of jewish communities also here in america. We are iner close dialogue with the administration here and i know you are as well and that like to take this w opportunity and to thank secretary mayorkas and your team and all the Law Enforcement agencies and authorities across the country to doing their utmost to allow for the safety and security of the Jewish Community throughout the country. [applause] as we look ahead in the coming days and weeks the medias portrayal of this war will and actually already is, shifting. Therell be images and reports to change the narrative. We have already seen demonstrationsdy. If paramount the United States continues to support and stand shouldertoshoulder with israel but our two countries are founded on the bedrock of freedom and democracy and a shared commitment to oppose terrorism. Tomorrow President Biden will arrive in israel. He will be the first United States president to come to israel during a time ofo war. And this sends a very Crystal Clear message of deterrence of the faux and support and solidarity to the people of israel. [applause] the show of solidarity resonates deeply with myself and with that the people of israel. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his unequivocal and lifelong support of the country and the state of israel. Id also like to thank all of you for being involved in caring deeply about our stay. We continue carringer nrda throughout the boards of government and congress. This war is good versus and is a nonpartisan issue. [applause] since our independence 75 years ago and even before israel and jewish people have been forced to live by art but w