American Jewish Leaders Demand Hamas Release Hostages


 

 

 


American Jewish Leaders Demand Hamas Release Hostages

July 22, 2024, New York, NY – Harriet P. Schleifer, Chair, and William C. Daroff, CEO, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement:

As the families of the US hostages held in Gaza arrive in Washington this week, we, leaders of major American Jewish organizations, once again demand that Hamas release the hostages and emphasize that the hostages remain top of mind for the American Jewish community. Pidyon shvuyim, the mitzvah of redemption of captives, is a core value of Jewish communities everywhere.

The American Jewish community will always stand with Israel as she defends herself against existential threats. Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Israel – those serving in the IDF, those evacuated from their homes, those awaiting their family member’s return – and we pray to celebrate the release of the hostages together soon.

May all soon live in safety and peace.

On behalf of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the following organizations:

Alpha Epsilon Pi Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Ameinu Jewish Women International
American Friends of Likud Maccabi USA
American Israel Public Affairs Committee Mercaz USA, Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement
American Jewish Committee NA’AMAT USA
American Jewish Congress National Council Supporting Eurasian Jewry
American Sephardi Federation National Council of Jewish Women
American Zionist Movement National Council of Young Israel
AMIT ORT America
Anti-Defamation League Rabbinical Assembly
ARZA Rabbinical Council of America
B’nai B’rith International Religious Zionists of America
BZ Media UJA-Federation of New York
CAMERA-Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis Union for Reform Judaism
Cantors Assembly Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Central Conference of American Rabbis United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Emunah of America WIZO USA
Greater Miami Jewish Federation Women of Reform Judaism
Hadassah, Women’s Zionist Organization of America Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
Iranian American Jewish Federation World Zionist Organization Executive – North America
JCC Association of North America Zionist Organization of America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs Israeli American Council
Jewish Federations of North America Simon Wiesenthal Center
Jewish Labor Committee StandWithUs
Jewish National Fund World Jewish Congress North America