Jewish-Affiliated Organizations Jointly Condemn Pennsylvania Lawmaker’s Offensive Nazi Analogy

  • May 4, 2020

Today, a coalition of Jewish-affiliated organizations issued the following statement: 

ADL, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburghthe Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, the Community Relations Council Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition strongly condemn Representative Cris Dush’s invocation of the Nazi party during his remarks about actions of Governor Wolf and his administration in addressing COVID-19.  Such rhetoric diminishes the horrific atrocities committed by the Nazis and is offensive and wrong.  

While we appreciate that Rep. Dush did issue an apology on the House floor several hours later, we are deeply disappointed that he did not immediately retract his comments when the vice-chair of the Committee requested that he do so, and that in his Floor remarks he did not directly acknowledge what he had said and why it was wrong.  We are grateful for the House members who recognize that even in — especially in — heated political debate, this rhetoric is unacceptable.  We fervently hope we will never hear such thoughtless language used by a Pennsylvania leader again. 

Contacts:

Shira Goodman, Regional Director, ADL Philadelphia

James Pasch, Regional Director, ADL Cleveland

Batya Glazer, Director, JCRC of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

Josh Sayles, Director, Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Jennifer Ross, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg

Aaron Gorodzinsky, Director of Campaign and Security Planning, Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

Hank Butler, Executive Director, PA Jewish Coalition

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ADL is the world’s leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of bigotry, its timeless mission is to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL is the first call when acts of bigotry occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia educates and advocates in Greater Philadelphia, in Congress and in our state capital, on behalf of Jewish interests and issues throughout our region, in Israel and around the world. More at https://jewishphilly.org/get-involved/public-affairs/ 

The Community Relations Council is the liaison from the Jewish Community to all other diverse communities throughout the city of Pittsburgh. Our mission is to build harmonious relations and mutual understanding within and beyond the Jewish community and to support the State of Israel. More at https://jewishpgh.org/crc/. 

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg is to ensure that the Jewish community of Greater Harrisburg flourishes by serving as its central unifying communal organization, and by strengthening the bonds within our community and with Israel and Jews around the world. More at https://jewishharrisburg.org/. 

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is focused on addressing the most pressing issues facing our community every day. More at https://jewishlehighvalley.org/. 

Formed in 1981, the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition represents Jewish Federations throughout the Commonwealth, through advocacy, education and coalition-building. More at http://www.pajewishcoalition.org/.