Still mourning the loss of two Israeli embassy employees, whom a gunman killed the night before outside a Jewish museum less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol, the Senate unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday designating May as Jewish American Heritage Month.
The action came as the resolution’s sponsors, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), marked the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, who were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum as they left an American Jewish Committee event on May 21.
“As we continue to see a disturbing rise in antisemitism following Hamas terrorists’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and in the wake of the tragic killing of two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night, this resolution reaffirms America’s strong and united commitment to stand with Jewish Americans and against hatred in all forms,” Scott stated.
The Senate took up the resolution shortly before beginning its Memorial Day recess. The House had approved a similar resolution earlier in the month, recognizing the contributions of Jewish Americans and calling out Jew-hatred. U.S. President Donald Trump followed with a proclamation of his own.
In a speech on the Senate floor on Thursday, Rosen called the shootings “another unspeakable act of antisemitic violence” and said that it was “vital that we all stand up together and send a clear and forceful message” that “we will not be afraid.”
“We are not just celebrating the numerous accomplishments and contributions that Jews have made to our country, we are sending the message back, a message that Jewish people have a place in America, that this is our home as well,” Rosen said. “That our lives—well, that they have value and they have meaning, just like anyone else, and that our country stands with it.”
In his floor speech, Scott called Wednesday night’s murders “a sickening, violent and antisemitic attack.”
“This antisemitism and hate for Israel is disgusting, unacceptable and must be condemned on every level,” he said. “The United States must always stand with Israel and the Jewish people.”