נשיא דרשו הגר"ד הופשטטר במפגש מיוחד עם שגריר הנשיא טראמפ למלחמה באנטישמיות מארק ווקר

Mark Walker here, principal advisor for global religious freedom here at the State Department. It's an honor to have our special guest today with us here at the State Department. Rabbi David Haffner, welcome Rabbi. We're glad to have you here with us today. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be with you. It's always a pleasure to see you and on a personal note as a personal note it's always always great. It's always a great. You you uh you bring a commitment to to your role but also life and enthusiasm and uh the sun is shining in Washington more than one place. Well, thank you. Uh we we've been on the hill already today headed back there a little bit uh meeting with some of the members and uh just hearing some of the concerns there. Obviously, you bring some concerns to Washington D.C. as well. Some of the growing anti-Semitic behavior we've seen throughout Europe and other places. Do you want to care to address some of that as far >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Actually, we've prepared a document for you quite comprehensive about some of the events that have been occurring around the globe around the world and tragically more and more recently in the uptick recently than the occurrence of anti-Semitism. And so I think I think it's an important document. But I wanted to ask you like how do we address this? There seems to be it seems to be an epidemic. It seems to be a plague. It seems to be increasing. And I want to ask you a couple of questions on that. How do we address it? Do you feel as well? Do you feel that the American leadership, the American public that they really comprehend the gravity of the situation? Yeah, I I two things come to mind or two answers come to my mind. Uh the first answer to how to address that is boldly. Uh the the root of this uh is very spiritual in its foundation and I think you cannot uh deal with it with timidity when you're dealing with this kind of cancer. So, it very much has to be able to be pushed back in a very bold, loud manner any kind of any kind of anti-Semitic behavior that must take place. And it needs to happen by our leadership. And we have some great leaders, Secretary Rubio and others, who have taken strong positions on this our ambassador from America to Israel, my good friend Ambassador Mike Huckabee. He is not bashful at being bold in calling this out for what it is. The second thing I would say beyond just being bold is we have to work together collectively. Silo voices are important, but when we're united as far as pushing back on this, whether it's in Europe, whether it's in our country, I think it can have a much greater effect. I'm glad you mentioned Ambassador Huckabee, and I'm glad you mentioned the spiritual nature of it. I had some extensive talks with him on this, and his view is that it's it's a war against God. Yes. >> And therefore, it's a war against his people, the chosen people. And actually, it is um you know, it's it's defined in the Bible that it's the war with Amalek, and it's a war for eternity until the Messiah comes, because it's a war against the throne of the Almighty. Yeah. But I I would add something to that discussion. And I think this is something that we're seeing now in addition to that is that there's the group that is spiritual nature, but then there's the thugs. And then there's the the gangsters. Mhm. And there's the people who will use it to an advantage and try to take advantage of trying to get profit from it and gain from it. And the war anti-Semitism is open. They'll come charging through and try to manipulate it for whatever personal gain they might have, whether it's financial, or their own ego, or their own sickness. Yes. And I think that's part of what we're seeing now is all because the door has been opened somewhat. Yes. And we saw this we we had a great American get assassinated by the name of Charlie Kirk this past year. Somebody who was incredible at the conservative cause, somebody who could speak incredibly with young people, resonate. After he passed there have been some influencers, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and others who have tragically used some of that to that that that horrific situation to try to promote or say that Charlie had moved in a different way than what many of the people who knew him said he was. We know him to be a strong conservative, somebody that supported Israel. It's well documented. So we are seeing this you know having served in Congress, I was the ranking member of intelligence and counterterrorism for our Homeland Security Subcommittee. And we did see an upward spike even 10-11 years ago in the anti-Semitic behavior some of even in our own country. But most of that was coming from and still is the bulk of it coming from over radical leftist you see on the college campuses and some places. But we have to make sure wherever it's coming from, from people who have an R by their name or a D by their name, whatever it is, we must be bold and we must be collective in our voices as far as rooting it out. So what are what are some of the things that can be done because it seems to be that it's only getting worse, it's only escalating and oh more and more people are joining on the bandwagon, more and more people are using politics as an excuse or and and the influence of the people who are enemies of the Jewish people and enemies of America as well. Yeah. Are are manipulating the situation and we don't seem to be able to respond to this in a way that is convincing to the public. >> Well I I I would say that the people that that I adhere to as far as working with whether it's Secretary Rubio or others, I am seeing a boldness. Now I think one of the things, not giving anyone a pass, but I think one of the things is that many people were caught off guard to just how deep-rooted, because it had been masked for so long, that once the radical serpent head came off, it was like, "Oh my goodness, this this this is not just in a silo here or there," as I mentioned. "This is something that we have seen where people have become much more bold in the what the the language they would use, the anti-Semitic behavior." So, I think we're catching up to speed with a little bit. You we'd always address it or condemned it, but I don't think many of us realized just how deep-rooted it was throughout Europe and even some pockets here in the US. >> Absolutely. You know, what you're saying reminds me very much of what we just heard from the chairman and the Congress and on the discussion about the war. Yes. And that they somewhat caught off guard about how much they have to ramp up the war effort and and the armament uh effort because there are so many smaller countries that have now the capabilities and technology to launch war to attack attack US. And now they really have to pick up their game. Well, I think on this area as well. I mean, we weren't we weren't aware weren't aware of how deep-rooted and how widespread it is. Yeah, we weren't aware of it but we you know, grateful that President Trump has not been bashful about calling some of this out for what it is. Hasn't been bashful as far as going after Iran and I think one of the things not to try to put too much of a silver lining on this, but I think the rest of the world has really seen how Israel and the US really are when it when it comes down push comes to shove, when when those bombs start going off, just how much and how well our two countries have aligned when it comes together of attacking this Islamist radical behavior. If I can propose Please some suggestions first of all, on legislation. On because there's so much hate that's flying around on social media and print media. And to legislate against it. Have watchdog committees that are are vigilant and calling it out. And and fighting against it. Have people active in the legislature. Enforcing laws against it. Enacting laws and enforcing enforcing them to combat this. But also to your point to galvanize influencers, political leaders that when these things come up to to speak forcefully against it and and and call it out for what it is. >> We're at the today we're at the State Department and the what we came from the legislative side. Our job is to enforce the law. Uh B'nai B'rith America has always been a big believer in the First Amendment, uh the freedom of speech. And I think part of the thing that we need to do is for those who do not aspire to such hatred, we need to be bold as I talked about in our speech, uh not to be intimidated by some of the tactics there. But but we are a place that believes in speech. We just want to put the spotlight on those that are the most radical that are doing damage to our country. Well, there is a line between free speech and inciting violence. Yes, you know, if you're if you're you know, that's one of the reasons of the old adage you can't yell fire in a movie theater, right? Uh there is a problem if you're inciting vio- uh violence. And so and I believe uh anytime it reaches that place where uh we've seen even on some of the students on college campuses being targeted, that does cross a line and it breaks the law and those people should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. So are there watchdog agencies that are looking at this and and surveilling it and then uh really looking into to see that if that is the case. Oh, absolutely there are. There are There are many different Some in the non-profit world, some on the government side, that is monitoring that kind of behavior. And I think, one of the great people that we have in the DOJ, specifically, is somebody named Harmeet Dhillon, who is who is making sure that she is walking back and forth, making sure that any of such behavior is called out immediately. The DOJ is not what it was now under the Trump administration what it was under the bad administration. They take religious liberty very important this administration. One of the reasons that we, even though mine is more international, but we have that in our country. President Trump even created a religious commission. Some of those examples led by the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick from Texas, who is the chairman, also the co-chairman, my good friend Dr. Ben Carson. They are specifically citing some of the issues and the examples that you're wanting to talk about and and naming here in our country. That is their job to be able to put the spotlight, to be that watchdog as you talked about, to make sure that that the president understands it, but the American people will also pay attention just the level of these atrocities. Do you you feel that the American people appreciate and understand that this is a threat not only against the Jewish people, but this is threatens America, threatens democracy, and threatens America, and it threatens the the free world. The more majority of Americans, yes, I believe that. But But there's always been, and now sometimes larger than others, a thread in this country through sometimes our education system that has taught a generation that Americans is inherently evil. It's inherently racist. This is the same group that many times is going after our friends in the Jewish community. And that's where you have to be able to say, "Well, what's their ultimate agenda? What's the ultimate motive?" And that is to tear down, not to build up. And as you talked about, that's what we've got to be ever diligent making sure that we call such behavior out in a very bold manner. In um in certain jurisdictions, they have instituted mandatory mandatory education Holocaust education that that in grade school and middle school that this part of the curriculum and it's mandatory that they're taught the history of the Holocaust. What do you feel about that in America? >> I think well, first of all, in America, we want to make sure that President Trump does that we have strong American principles that our students know the Constitution, they know what the Bill of Rights, they know the history of our country. But but anytime there's there's an example where there's been such a travesty as the Holocaust, I do believe it's part of the history and it should be taught in all of our schools. But there's no way of enforcing something like that. >> No, it's the reason it's difficult it's it's because it's teacher by teacher sometimes. And you know, I'm a I'm a small limited government guy and I want to make sure that when we put out mandates out there that that we want to make sure that we are not setting up a precedent for other administrations to come by and create mandates of what they want taught as well. It's a slippery slope sometimes. Yes. Is there a forum on a or form of education educate the American public through social media, through television, through the media? And as far as just the overall as far as the dangers of anti-Semitic behavior? Yeah, and specifically and generally whatever the message may be, but specifically for our discussion. >> Yeah, there there are you know, there's there's I don't know how many is from a government standpoint that that they're funded to be able to specifically target those areas. But I do believe there are commissions and things that President Trump has created like the aforementioned religious liberty commission that are addressing some of these issues, whether they're in education. In fact, I attended one recently that did talk about some of the education examples where discrimination was put on religious first for religious liberty or violation against religious liberty. So, yes, it's a work in progress as we as we've seen some of this grow over the last decade and our job is to address it not just in the legal sense, but as everyday Americans as well. Is it a possibility to propose that there should be funded commissions to educate It could be. That's not my area of government there, but but anytime that that you can have something that pushes back on some of the evil that we've seen be adapted over the years. I would I would be certainly supportive. And who would would this fall under? Which area? >> This would fall under the legislative branch. Is is whether it's state level or whether that's federal level. The State Department it falls under the executive branch to enforce the laws that Congress is passing or has passed. So, this is taking it to Congress? Yes, absolutely. Yes, taking it Congress, having Americans go to DC, meeting with your congressman, advocating for things that are important to them. Is it individually and sometimes some of the best ideas when I served on the hill came from members of the community that I represented in North Carolina. And be a strong voice. Call your congressman, call your senator on these issues. So, you would recommend that Jewish people around the country, around the world, but specifically in America call their congressman, write, call I would I would say it's absolutely critical. Not only call, but come visit your member of Congress. Call and get an appointment. Come and say, look them in the eye and say, this is why it's important or this is what's happening in our community. Emails and phone calls are are good, but it but I don't know it's sometimes it costs resources, but the fact that you're taking the time to come to Washington D.C. to visit your member of Congress or a member on his team to be able to raise these issues has an impact unlike any other aspect of communication. So, you would strongly recommend that they come down, they meet, they Come to D.C. and meet. This is This is the It's the people's house for a reason there. Uh show up and talk to the team of the member of the Congress. If you get all the member of Congress, if not, somebody on his legislative team to be able to share what's important to you as an American voter. And you think that this is a good a valid and important proposal? It's It's the American way. It's the way we raise our voices. It's why freedom of speech, as we talked about, is so important to us. Americans need to raise their voices, and part of the problem, Rabbi, is that Americans have become complacent. They have sat on their hands because it didn't It didn't come down their street. It wasn't on their door. Well, now it is. So, now we collectively and boldly have to be able to be willing to engage in a way that maybe we didn't have to or didn't see our parents have to. It's here upon us, and we've got to push back if we're going to salvage the history that we've been able to for our children and our grand children. And do you believe that this is a valid proposal and something that's very very worthwhile to try to push for funding, for education to combat racism? >> Anything that can push back on the hate in in this growing spike, this It's literally like a guys are coming out of the ground as we've seen over the last few years. It's empowered the haters to be even more bold cuz now they don't have to worry about having a cover because their favorite influencer's talking the same way. But unless you push back, unless you advocate for education, unless you are willing to engage in a way that maybe have in the past, I I don't know that we can overcome it like we need to. You know, it's uh I when I was growing up as a kid, I was very fortunate that I had a grandfather. Uh my uh my wife has no grandparents. My my mother lost both parents. My father lost his mother in the Holocaust almost. But I I had a grandpa. Yes. And many a time, and this was on the Sabbath, you know, we used to visit and talk and and he used to open up his heart and say and with great pain and and with pain and bitterness, he said, "He could not understand what was the world doing when 6 million were perishing? What what were Jews What were the Jews in America doing when 6 million people were of their brethren were being killed? What were they Were they going to the ballgame?" Yeah. Well, I well, many of our uh soldiers, young men, uh answered the call during that time. Yes, as a collectively, yes, we uh I think the world was in shock just that a country uh would have a leader that would be so bold and do that. I believe we uh committed about 400,000 lives along with our allies. And so so I think at the end of the day, whether it was 80 years ago, World War II, or recently with Iran, I believe it's more evidence that Americans want to stand against such behavior. And uh obviously, you know, Iran, their their their motto for the last few years has been death to Israel, death to America. And so we we we pay attention to those things. And so uh so yeah, we want to partner continue to partner as we move forward. So the message to be should be to the Jewish people that don't ever be in a position where you're going to have to explain to your grandchildren or great-grandchildren that that you didn't do anything. Yeah, you can pay a small price now or a greater price later to engage. And then And I think that's why it's important. It's the message that we're constantly trying to preach. Yes. Well, I thank you so much. It's always a pleasure and keep up your great work, your God's work. Thank you, Rabbi. It's an honor to know you. Thank you so much.