Today, Jewish leaders from across the country gathered at the Jewish Federations of North America headquarters for a breakfast honoring the late Senator Lindsey Graham ahead of his funeral. He was remembered as a strong partner in the fight for Jewish security, against antisemitism, and as a lifelong supporter of the state of Israel.
“The entire Jewish community feels that Senator Graham was a friend of ours and was with us on every issue—not just on Israel, but also anti-Semitism and security in the Jewish community. There really wasn't anything that we needed to talk about that Senator Graham wasn't the first call, and always responsive and supportive,” said Eric Fingerhut, CEO and President of the Jewish Federations of North America. “It really felt like he was a dear friend and ally of the community and it's a deep loss. It's really a deep loss.”
Members of the South Carolina Jewish community spoke to their close relationship with Senator Graham and what his partnership meant for the safety, security, and religious freedom of South Carolina’s Jewish community. They shared stories and expressed gratitude prior to attending Senator Graham’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.
"If you would ask many in the Jewish community, in Charleston and beyond, how they would describe Senator Graham they would say 'a friend.' He was engaged, he showed up, he picked up the phone when you called, he was always there,” said Tair Guidice, CEO of the Charleston Jewish Federation. “That relationship that he so prioritized meant so much to our Jewish community, and I think that is truly the legacy he leaves behind: those deep relationships that he had with his constituencies in South Carolina, and in particular in the Jewish community. He really took the concerns of the Jewish community seriously, whether around security and antisemitism or Israel, the strategic importance of the alliance between Israel and America, so I think you know he will be deeply, deeply missed.”
Jessie Dowsakul, CEO of the Columbia Jewish Federation underscored the true strength of Senator Graham’s partnership across the state. "The late Senator Lindsey Graham was a great friend to Columbia, South Carolina, to our entire state, to our nation, and to Israel, and he will be deeply missed. He was always available whenever we needed him, and he showed up when it mattered most."
Graham’s passing comes at a time of increased security threats against the Jewish community, which is why Jewish Federations are actively working with congressional partners to advance the Jewish American Security Act. This legislation would fully fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding to $1 billion, with eligibility extended to Jewish organizations, while establishing a separate grant program specifically for houses of worship, and allowing additional funds to be directed towards law enforcement. It would also mandate that the Department of Education appoint a dedicated antisemitism coordinator and introduce new rules targeting antisemitism at federally funded colleges and universities. The bill further requires online platforms to publicly disclose how they handle and moderate antisemitic content on their services.
Additional participants of note included Jewish Federations of North America's Public Affairs Committee Chair Jason Wuliger; Missouri State Rep. and National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL) co-chair George Hruza; American Zionist Movement President Mark Levinson; and Jewish Federation of Greater Washington President and CEO Gil Preuss.