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New York, NY, August 5, 2021 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) applauded today’s announcement that Chanan Weissman has been selected to serve as the White House Liaison to the Jewish American community. ADL worked closely with Weissman when he previously served in this role during the Obama Administration. He also has a strong record on human rights and technology issues.
“Especially in light of the recent rise in antisemitic incidents, we're pleased the White House has chosen Chanan Weissman to finally fill the position of liaison to the Jewish American community,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “This will improve the Biden Administration's ability to foster relationships with the Jewish community and work with stakeholders to address concerns such as antisemitism and extremism. ADL and other Jewish organizations have been advocating for someone to fill this critical role for several years, and we look forward to working with him.”
With antisemitic incidents on the rise in recent years, official positions that specifically address the needs of the American Jewish community are essential. For example, during the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas, ADL tracked twice as many antisemitic incidents compared to the same period in the previous year. From May 11 through the end of the month, ADL logged 251 incidents, an increase of 115 percent. A total of 305 incidents were tallied across the U.S. for the entire month of May 2021.
ADL has been a longtime advocate for the liaison position along with other Jewish organizations, and has consistently called on the Biden Administration to fill the role.