Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, addressed the recent Hamas attacks in relation to the Jewish High Holiday season, urging the Israeli community to engage in profound reflection on the events of October 7. Speaking at a somber Rosh Hashanah ceremony at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Herzog emphasized the need for soul-searching to identify mistakes that led to the attacks. He stated that as a people, Israelis must seriously contemplate what went wrong and commit to learning from those errors to forge a better future.
Herzog characterized the current conflict as Israel’s most challenging and prolonged since its independence, highlighting that Israel is combating both Hamas and an international movement that undermines the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. He expressed gratitude to the U.S. administration, Congress, and the American public for their unwavering support.
Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, affirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to backing Israel amid threats from Iran and its proxies. She assured that President Biden is dedicated to facilitating the release of the remaining 101 hostages while also working to allow residents of northern Israel to return home.
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the State Department’s special envoy tasked with combating antisemitism, spoke on the link between the October 7 attacks and ongoing assaults by Hezbollah, attributing these actions to prevailing antisemitism. She criticized the international community’s inadequate response to the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas, suggesting it highlighted a broader antisemitic sentiment.
Lipstadt also pointed to rising antisemitism domestically, noting recent attacks on Jewish students at the University of Michigan, who have resorted to creating their own security measures due to distrust in local authorities. She warned that antisemitism not only threatens individual communities but also undermines the foundations of democracy.
The event, hosted by Zioness founder Amanda Berman, included prayers and songs from local rabbis and cantors, alongside traditional Israeli cuisine. Attendees were informed that the Embassy and the Jewish National Fund would plant trees in Israel in memory of lives lost since the October 7 attacks.