NCSJ - 01.31.2007

NCSJ Co-Hosts Reception Honoring Anti-Semitism Envoy

Ron Sachs/CNP


Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) speaks at a reception, held in the U.S. Capitol Building, in 
honor of the appointment of Gregg Rickman, U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring 
and Combating Anti-Semitism. 

(l.-r.) Cardin, Rickman, Sen. George Voinovich (OH), Rep. Chris Smith (NJ), NCSJ 
President Lesley Israel and Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Washington Representative of 
American Friends of Lubavitch

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JTA: Global Jewish News - 02.02.2007

Saudi envoy attends Jewish event

(JTA) — The Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington attended a Jewish community reception for the U.S. special envoy on anti-Semitism. 

Turki al-Faisal, who is completing his term in Washington, appeared Wednesday at the event in the Capitol building honoring Gregg Rickman, who has since May been the State Department's top official combating anti-Semitism. 

It was the first such appearance at a public event sponsored by Jewish groups, in this case United Jewish Communities, World Jewish Congress American Section, B'nai B'rith International, American Friends of Lubavitch and NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia. Al-Faisal met privately in recent weeks with two dovish pro-Israel groups. 

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who heads the Lubavitch-Chabad office in Washington, appealed to Al-Faisal and other Arab ambassadors in the room to recognize that anti-Semitism ultimately posed as much of a threat to their nations as it does to Jews. 

Al-Faisal announced his sudden resignation last month; it's not clear if he is bidding to become foreign minister, or if he has angered Saudi Arabia's ruling elites by not promoting a more aggressive posture against Iran.