Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Oppenheimer of Afula Illit, Israel, and Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag of Manchester, England, both drafted replies making key points, which were merged into a single statement for signatures by members of our Rabbinic Circle and others. The combined response makes numerous important points: that all suffering in Gaza is due to Hamas; that Israel’s responsibilities are self-defense, release of the hostages, and elimination of future danger; that “humanitarian aid” has enriched Hamas, prolonged the conflict, and increased the casualties; and that reference to “settler violence” without mention of the continuous, hateful acts of terrorism committed against Jews simply inverts who is the hateful party.

Most of all, our letter rejects the notion that the previous statement was a “Jewish Orthodox Response.” In reality, though it was written by a genuine Orthodox rabbi and has a handful of actual rabbinic signatories, what the JTA depicted as “80 Modern Orthodox rabbis” are overwhelmingly affiliates of “Rabbi” Shmuley Yanklowitz and his “Uri L’Tzedek” “Orthodox Social Justice movement,” people who, as our letter states, “come from the ranks of ‘Open Orthodoxy,’ including nearly twenty women who have adopted the title ‘rabbi’ and several openly gay clergy.” And thus its claim to be a “Jewish Orthodox Response” is no more honest than its depiction of events in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria.

Less than a day later, our letter already has nearly as many signatures as theirs (80), although it is Erev Shabbos and many rabbis had not heard of this issue previously. We look forward to publicizing this letter soon, once we have a significantly larger number of signatories.

The call is hosted by the National Faith Advisory Board, led by Pastor Paula White-Cain, longtime spiritual advisor to the President and Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office. Speakers will include retired neurosurgeon and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty Institute, and Riley Gaines, a leading advocate for preservation of women’s sports. Rabbi Menken will speak immediately prior to the keynote address by Dr. Carson.

The speakers will share their diverse perspectives, leading to a common understanding of the importance of parents and those governing the education of their children.

The story begins with Rep. Ilhan Omar calling Israeli PM Netanyahu a “war criminal” for protecting Jewish lives in the land of Israel:

This is Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to DC this year.

War criminals should not be welcomed by any president or Congress.

He should be held accountable for his crimes, not platformed. Beyond shameful.

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 9, 2025

“This is Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to DC this year,” she wrote. “War criminals should not be welcomed by any president or Congress. He should be held accountable for his crimes, not platformed. Beyond shameful.”

Rep. Randy Fine, the Jewish Republican serving Florida’s sixth district, reposted her with the following comment:

I'm sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists.

The only shame is that you serve in Congress. https://t.co/0BZgRvXd1E

— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) July 9, 2025

“I’m sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists. The only shame is that you serve in Congress.”

Rough language? Certainly. But Omar has distinguished herself with her full-throated support for the Hamas narrative, whitewashing the history of CAIR and its relationship with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, and ongoing demonization of Jews. Calling her a “Muslim terrorist” is not far off.

But House Democrats ran instead to not only defend Omar, but to attack Fine as if he were the racist in this conversation. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued this joint statement:

Our statement in connection with Randy Fine’s Islamophobic attack on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. pic.twitter.com/Wxnlzv1elh

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 9, 2025

The unhinged, racist and Islamophobic comments made by Randy Fine about Rep. Ilhan Omar are bigoted and disgusting. we are just weeks removed from heinous acts of political violence targeting elected officials in Minnesota for assassination. This is an incredibly difficult time for our nation and Members of Congress should be solving problems for the American people not inciting violence. Randy Fine must apologize immediately.

CJV may not be political, but the above is not about politics: it is an immoral attack on Rep. Fine for defending Jews. And thus CJV responded:

This bizarre statement from @HouseDemocrats inverts hater & victim. Expecting a Jewish representative to apologize for calling out a Jew-hater warmly welcomed in the Democratic caucus is well beyond the pale. It is they who owe an apology to Jewish Americans. https://t.co/1z6AXLwF6k

— Coalition for Jewish Values (@cjvalues) July 10, 2025

This bizarre statement from House Democrats inverts hater & victim. Expecting a Jewish representative to apologize for calling out a Jew-hater warmly welcomed in the Democratic caucus is well beyond the pale. It is they who owe an apology to Jewish Americans.

More will be coming, because it is House Democrats who made an unhinged statement. Nothing Fine said about Omar was racist, but Omar certainly is one. And their statement proves our contention that the “Islamophobia” charge exists primarily to demonize critics of antisemitism and radical Islamic terrorism.

Shabbos Kestenbaum, who received a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School this past June, is currently suing Harvard University for its tolerance and even support for hateful acts of antisemitic bigotry on campus. He has shared his experiences on prestigious platforms, including both the Republican National Convention and the Republican Jewish Coalition Leadership Summit, and has spoken numerous times on behalf of President Donald Trump’s candidacy at rallies and in other forums.

His efforts at Harvard, as well as his ongoing legal journey, have been both challenging and inspiring to many. His dedication to advocating for Jewish rights and his insightful perspectives on policy issues make him an exceptional speaker to launch our new series.

As mentioned, these webinars will be exclusively for members of our Rabbinic Circle, Amud-level donors (those who have contributed $1000 in the past year), and members of our Chai Society.

The Chai Society is our monthly recurring giving program, where members commit to a minimum of $18 per month. By joining the Chai Society, you not only support our vital work but also gain access to exclusive events like this webinar and the entire lecture series that we expect will follow.

We believe that this series will provide valuable insights and foster a deeper understanding of critical issues. We hope you will join us and consider becoming a member of the Chai Society to enjoy these enriching experiences.

Please learn about and join the Chai Society to receive an invitation to this and other upcoming webinars, while supporting the ongoing efforts of the CJV.

Months ago, I commented that you can tell the difference between a Hamas protest and a pro-Israel protest without mentioning politics or the Middle East. Just ask a few simple questions:

Are they thanking police, or fighting police? Are the police there to protect them, or to protect others from them? Are they cleaning up after themselves, or committing vandalism? Are they flying American flags, or burning them? Are they calling for peace, or violence?

Seeing this play out at Union Station was painful to watch—for all Americans, not just Jews. They tore down and burned the American flag, erecting in its place the flag of the genocidal Holy War Army (rebranded as the flag of “Palestine”). The Freedom Bell, a bicentennial gift from the American Legion, was defaced with the slogan, “Hamas is coming.”

That was a lie. Hamas is already here.

It’s not just Hamas headbands. The keffiyeh that Rashida Tlaib wore in the chamber is not a symbol of the Islamic religion, or even of nationalism. It is the symbol of Arafat’s Jew-hatred and genocidal aims. The keffiyeh is the new swastika, and if America fails to act, the United States could be the next Germany.

This is why the voice of CJV is so critical, speaking with moral clarity not just on Israel, but the entire range of social norms, values that Americans derived from our Bible, that progressives seek to tear down. 

We are changing how the Jewish community is seen. The loudest voices combating antisemitism are those of the American leaders regularly pilloried by Jewish leftists—CJV proves to pro-values Americans that they have strong, vocal Jewish allies. Would it not be tragic, for both Jews and America, if CJV were not here?

What happened October 7 rocked the Jewish left, as so many of its idols were torn down. CJV was always here, delivering principled, non-partisan commentary—and now many are realizing that CJV always spoke for them and their interests. Elevating CJV’s voice helps all of us.

In Pirkei Avos, Rabbi Hanina, the Deputy High Priest, said: “Pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive.”

It is crucial that Americans fear those who punish law-breakers, more than they fear the law-breakers.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Yaakov Menken

Photo Credit: Andrew Leyden on X

Some of the congresspeople included Rep. Mazzie Christensen,  Rep. Adam Schwadron, Sen. Caleb Rowden, Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Rep. Hardy Billington, Rep. Jonathan Patterson, and Rep. Dean Plocher.

Left to right: Daniel Lefton, Rep. Mazzie Christensen, CJV-MO Chairman Rabbi Ze’ev Smason, Dov Axelbaum, Howard Loiterstein, House Majority Leader Rep. Jonathan Patterson, Sarah Glickfield, Suri Botuck

CJV Members observe voting on SCR 24 & 25 urging “full and unequivocal support of Israel” in U.S. Congress. The resolution passed 30-0.

Left to right: Joel Ehrlich, Dan Swindell, Richard Senturia, CJV-MO Exec. V.P. Rabbi Yonason Goldson, Sarah Glickfield, Dov Axelbaum, Suri Botuck, Howard Oppenheimer, Sam Freedman, MO State Senator Bill Eigel, MO State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Daniel Lefton, Rabbi Ze’ev Smason

CJV-MO contingent meeting with State Senator Bill Eigel, a strong friend of the Jewish community and Israel. Between Sen. Eigel and Rabbi Smason: Jim and Linda Conrady.

Following a meeting with Rep. Brad Hudson, a fervent supporter of Israel and sponsor of important child-protection legislation.
Left to right: Sarah Glickfield, Suri Botuck, Rep. Hudson, Rabbi Smason, Howard Oppenheimer, Dan Swindell.

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason thanking Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman for sponsoring SCR 24 & 25, as described above.

CJV meeting with Rod Jetton, Chief-of-Staff of Rep. Dean Plocher, House Speaker and sponsor of the House pro-Israel resolution.

Meeting with Rep. Hardy Billington, House Majority Whip.

Rabbi Smason and Howard Oppenheimer meeting with Rep. Jonathan Patterson, House Majority Leader and House Speaker-elect for 2025.

We started the morning by meeting with His Excellency Michael Herzog, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, at the Israeli Embassy. The Ambassador briefed the group on the ongoing conflict in Israel, Israel’s goal of permanently eliminating the Hamas threat to its citizens, and its vision for Gaza’s future. He continued to take questions even after staff had said the Ambassador needed to move to his next obligation.

Lunch was at the Capitol Hill Club, a social gathering point for conservatives directly opposite the House office buildings. Afterwards, we met with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Executive Director of the House Values Action Team, which now helps set values policy for over 100 Members of Congress. She was eager not only to share their efforts in the values arena, including combating antisemitism, but to hear from CJV and to welcome a vocal Jewish presence in this space.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and his staff reassured our delegation that leaders will continue working on a bipartisan basis to defend and protect Jewish students, institutions, and life in all corners of the county. The same sentiment was echoed in breakout meetings with Congressmen Jack Bergman (R-MI), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and David Kustoff (R-TN), all of whom are grateful for CJV’s for its advocacy on Capitol Hill.

Our afternoon concluded with a 150-person reception honoring Congressional Staff. We provided Kosher Mediterranean hors d’oeuvres and fine Israeli wines, both to general acclaim, while Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) of the House Education and Labor committee gave remarks on the critical work being done to combat on-campus antisemitism from preschool through college.

Last on the agenda was a friendly dinner with Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL)  and Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI), where we discussed the critical role CJV plays on Capitol Hill and the shared experiences of all religious Americans.

Advocates and pubic affairs professionals alike remarked that CJV enjoyed an outstanding level of access for a new organization, from meeting the Israeli Ambassador, to the House Majority Whip, to having two Members of Congress join CJV at a kosher restaurant twenty minutes from Capitol Hill.

CJV would like to thank all who participated in this landmark advocacy day, especially our Platinum Sponsor, Stacey E. Burke, and sponsors Richard Senturia, Aharon Friedman, and Rabbi Meir Melnicke, without whom the day’s activities would not have been possible.

Stay tuned—we are already making plans for our second event during the summer!

The letter falsely accused Jewish synagogues and Hebrew schools of misleading their Jewish members about Zionism and Israel’s true character. Signed by seventy-five local community members, it demanded an immediate ceasefire to halt the “atrocities” committed by Israel.

Contrary to its dishonest presentation as a native community effort, the letter was drawn from the rabidly antisemitic IfNotNow group’s “You Never Told Me” campaign, in which misinformed Gen Z-ers solemnly pledge, one after the other, to “end our community’s support for the occupation.” Never mind that Gaza, far from being “occupied,” was Judenrein since 2005 until Hamas launched its unprovoked massacre.

This, of course, was unacceptable, both regarding Israel and the besmirching of Missouri’s own Jewish institutions. It was CJV Missouri that crafted the response.

Chairman Rabbi Ze’ev Smason and Executive Vice President Rabbi Yonason Goldson authored a letter, in consultation with other rabbis and community leaders, supporting Israel’s actions and, without even mentioning it, dismantling the lies and slanders of the original letter. Whereas the IfNotNow-inspired letter referred to the writers’ participation in b’nai mitzvah celebrations, youth groups, and camps, the response referred to Yeshivas, seminaries, a love for Torah study, and critical thinking. And it proceeded from there.

CJV Missouri’s original goal was to obtain 500 signatures, enough to demonstrate the true opinion of the Jewish community of St. Louis, and especially those who chose yeshiva education over leftist indoctrination. But the letter was so well-written, so powerful, and yet so uncontroversial to the mainstream of the Jewish community, that over 1000 community members and alumni signed the letter—with Rabbi Smason’s signature at the end the only hint of CJV’s leading role.

Thanks to the generosity of several members of the community, CJV secured the centerfold of the January 11th issue of the St. Louis Jewish Light to publish the letter as a two-page ad.

Her press release mentions only six by name—five of which are massive groups, representing millions of Americans and having multi-million dollar budgets. The sixth, of course, is Coalition for Jewish Values.

This has happened frequently over the last year. When Rep. Anne Wagner (R-MO) introduced the “Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act” this year, she quoted ten organizations—eight with long histories and great resources, the Abortion Survivors Network, and CJV.  When the ADF wanted to show widespread opposition to the “Respect for Marriage Act” that passed last year, their letter with eighty signatures featured just ten—and again, all represented storied, large organizations, the upstart being CJV.

In just six years CJV has come to the top echelon, affecting votes in Congress and public perception in a way few could have predicted.

Missourians support Biblical values, families, and children. And sadly, some of the loudest opposition in Missouri comes from Jewish institutions. A pro-values Jewish voice was lacking, and that is why CJV Missouri came to be.

Jewish Leftists are, to put it mildly, apoplectic. A rabbi at one of the largest Reform congregations in St. Louis Reform Congregations declared how “tolerant” he really is: “I’m all for these folks representing their fringe, politically-motivated conservative Jewish values in the public square. It’s just important that they not pretend that their positions are anything other than that: fringy.”

I'm all for these folks representing their fringe, politically-motivated conservative Jewish values in the public square. It's just important that they not pretend that their positions are anything other than that: fringy. https://t.co/m1qDOIpsvC

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) March 22, 2023

And the head of T’ruah—a national organization of 2,300 anti-Israel, pro-terror rabbis and cantors—tries desperately to convince her followers that unless we list the names of our rabbinic supporters for them to target individually, why, they must not exist. [For good measure, she also states that Jewish values are “exemplified” by a woman advocating for trans procedures for preteen children.]

1. If you want to meet an Orthodox Missouri rabbi who exemplifies Jewish values, check out @roripn

2. CJV claims 2000 rabbis but there are <20 rabbis on their site. They say that's because membership is private, but @truahrabbis has 2300 rabbis who are proud to be known. https://t.co/GiM6u6wig5

— Rabbi Jill Jacobs (@rabbijilljacobs) March 22, 2023

In this, they simply echoed the leader of the Reform movement, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, who called CJV a “fringe group” two years ago.

The overwhelming majority of North American Jews support ⁦@JGreenblattADL⁩ ‘s principled stand against Tucker Carlson’s outrageous support of the white nationalist replacement theory. The orthodox rabbis who are defending Carlson are a fringe group. https://t.co/z35fEc3Suc

— Rabbi Rick Jacobs (@URJPresident) April 20, 2021

But in reality, CJV represents the overwhelming consensus of America’s rabbis… and when Rabbi Menken had the temerity to point this out, Rick Jacobs blocked him. Better to avoid the bad news!

You really would have imagined the President of the URJ would have thicker skin. pic.twitter.com/ssL3ZKxZMM

— Rabbi Yaakov Menken (@ymenken) April 20, 2021