RJC’s Matt Brooks Delivers Powerful Speech at the Republican National Convention; Highlights Critical Moment for American Jews

RJC’s Matt Brooks Delivers Powerful Speech at the Republican National Convention; Highlights Critical Moment for American Jews

Edited by: Fern Sidman

At an unprecedented time for American Jews, Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), took a significant step by addressing the Republican National Convention. This event marked a notable shift in the political landscape, emphasizing the Republican Party’s commitment to tackling the pernicious scourge of anti-Semitism and promoting the safety of Jewish Americans.

In his impassioned speech, Brooks highlighted President Trump’s commitment to restoring “law and order,” asserting that this would enable American Jews to freely wear a kippah and walk the streets without fear, as was reported by The Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He also addressed the issue of safety on college campuses, promising that Trump would combat the mobs that make Jewish students feel unsafe. According to the information provided in the JTA report, this marked the first time in decades of attending these conventions that Brooks was invited to address the audience, underscoring the party’s heightened focus on Jewish protection under Trump’s leadership.

The backdrop to Brooks’ speech is a troubling surge in anti-Semitism in the United States. Historically, violent anti-Semitism has been linked to far-right extremists who propagate racist and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, the JTA report noted. However, the landscape of anti-Semitism has evolved. Since the October 7th massacre by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in brutal murder of over 1200 Israelis and others as well as 251 people taken into Hamas captivity in Gaza, there has been a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. This attack not only sparked the ongoing war in Gaza but also triggered a wave of pro-Hamas protests across America, heightening tensions and fear among Jewish communities.

In terms of the skyrocketing violent crime statistics in the United States, the JTA reported that Brooks said “For the first time I can ever remember, there is true insecurity in the Jewish community. People are afraid to walk the streets.” This comment reflects the heightened anxiety among Jewish Americans.

Jewish organizations have increasingly turned their attention to college campuses, where pro-Hamas demonstrations have been particularly intense. As per the information contained in the JTA report, these protests have sometimes led to violent confrontations between pro-Israel and pro-Hamas students, further exacerbating the sense of insecurity among Jewish students.

The Republican Jewish Coalition’s focus on campus safety aligns with broader concerns about the escalation of virulent anti-Semitism that Jewish students face. These concerns are not unfounded. Reports of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses have surged, ranging from verbal harassment to physical assaults, the JTA report confirmed. The hostile environment has prompted calls for more robust measures to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

The Republican Party’s decision to highlight anti-Semitism at its national convention reflects a strategic move to position itself as the protector of Jewish Americans. This approach aims to garner support from Jewish voters who feel increasingly threatened by the most egregious manifestations of anti-Semitism that have erupted across the US and the world.

New York Representative Elise Stefanik also delivered a powerful address, highlighting the increase in anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses. She referenced her questioning of the Harvard and University of Pennsylvania presidents, which led to their departure after they failed to unequivocally condemn calls for genocide. The JTA report indicated that Stefanik criticized the response from the “radical left” on campuses, citing chants of “Death to Israel, death to Jews, death to America” as evidence of prevalent anti-Semitism.

“This is Joe Biden’s Democrat Party,” Stefanik declared, asserting that President Trump would restore moral leadership to the White House and unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism.

The convention saw former primary rivals of Trump, such as former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, endorsing him without hesitation. Haley’s endorsement was particularly notable as she had previously stated she would vote for Trump but not support him. Her shift in stance was attributed to the rising dangers faced by the Jewish community.

“The Jewish community is facing an obscene rise in anti-Semitism,” Haley said, underscoring the urgent need for strong leadership. The JTA report noted that Brooks echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Trump was essential to curbing hatred against Jews. “Here at home, under Donald Trump, we will put a stop to the rising tide of anti-Semitism,” he asserted.

Speaking to reporters prior to delivering his speech at the convention, Brooks was asked about Trump’s calls for Israel to quickly wrap up its war against the Hamas terror group—interpreted by some as a pressure tactic to end the fighting without achieving Israel’s stated objectives, according to a report on the Jewish News Syndicate web site. Brooks said that view was off base.

“Everybody misinterprets that statement. What he’s basically saying is, you have a blank check. You need to carpet bomb in the air? Do it. Just get it done, rip the band aid off, finish the job,” said Brooks. “Because Hamas needs to be destroyed. But this is just taking months and months.”

JNS also reported that Brooks said Trump is correct in his assessment that “time is not Israel’s ally. The longer this continues, the more public support erodes, the more international support erodes. And Trump’s point was, do what you have to do, get it done and get out.”

During his speech, Brooks asked for the crowd to cheer if they support Israel, then contrasted that ovation with what he thought would be the result at the Democratic party convention, saying if someone asked for a cheer for Israel there, “they’d be booed off the stage.”

Reporters peppered Brooks with questions about the reliability of a Donald Trump/JD Vance administration.

Brooks said on Tuesday that after speaking with Vance late last week and looking at the content of his speeches, “he is going to be an absolute stalwart friend of Israel,” according to the JNS report.

Brooks said Vance would be “vice president to the most pro-Israel president in history. The president sets the foreign policy agenda, and I don’t think there’s any daylight between Donald Trump and JD Vance when it comes to Israel and making sure Israel is safe and secure.”

Asked by JNS whether that would remain true should the individual interests of Trump and Vance suddenly lie elsewhere, given what seems to be their transactional foreign affairs policies, Brooks countered that the party base would serve as a line of defense.

“As you heard in the room here today, this is a fundamentally pro-Israel party,” said Brooks, pointing to the intensity of the cheers for Israel and the enthusiasm for the bipartisan relationship at the grassroots level, as was indicated in the JNS report.

“When you have a strong base of support in the party, it means our elected leaders, by definition, follow the will of where the party is,” Brooks added.

According to the JNS report, while attempting to dispel notions of a rift between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Brooks said he had spoken separately with both men, and while declining to discuss the content of the conversations, added, “I can assure you that the two of them will have a very positive and productive working relationship.”

Brooks insisted on Tuesday that any daylight between the two still beats the alternative of a Democratic victory. He expressed dismay at the fact that American Jews still voted decidedly with Democrats, though in steadily dwindling numbers.

“There is literally not a day goes by where somebody doesn’t call me, whether they’re Jewish or not Jewish, or I have a conversation with somebody here at the convention, where somebody says, ‘I don’t understand the Jewish community. How can they continue to vote Democrat with all the stuff?’” said Brooks, as was reported by JNS.

Historically, American Jews have predominantly supported Democrats in national elections. However, recent trends indicate a shift. While a clear majority of American Jews still plan to vote for President Joe Biden in the upcoming election, the proportion voting for Democrats has declined over the past decade, as was noted in the JTA report.

This evolving political landscape was evident at the convention, where concerns about Israel and anti-Semitism were front and center. The JTA reported that Jewish Democrats, some of whom have traditionally been staunch supporters of the party, expressed unease with its current stance on these issues.

One of the convention’s scheduled speakers, Shabbos Kestenbaum, exemplifies this shift. A Harvard University graduate who voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary and remains a registered Democrat, Kestenbaum feels abandoned by the party in the wake of October 7, according to the JTA report.  He is currently suing Harvard for failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Kestenbaum’s presence at the convention calls attention to the growing disillusionment among some Jewish Democrats.

Linda Stoch, a 71-year-old from Palm Beach County, Florida, also reflected this sentiment. Stoch, who actively participates in voter registration, observed a noticeable change among Jewish voters. “The Jewish people are switching their votes because they don’t like the way Biden is treating Israel,” she told the JTA from her seat in the Florida delegates section, where she cheered every mention of Israel and held a large placard reading, “We Are Jews for Trump.” Stoch’s enthusiasm was palpable as she shouted over a recorded message from Trump, who decried the decline of law and order—a recurring theme throughout the evening, the JTA report said.

Trump’s message of restoring law and order resonated with many attendees, particularly those concerned about rising anti-Semitism. His supporters argue that his administration will take a stronger stance against anti-Semitism and protect Jewish communities more effectively than the current administration.

Amid the convention’s hustle, a Chabad booth was set up among various market stalls selling Trump merchandise and gifts. This booth, managed by Rabbi Dov Lisker, served a dual purpose: providing kosher food and religious services for Jewish attendees and offering a space for solidarity, as was explained in the JTA report. Rabbi Lisker noted a significant number of non-Jews stopping by to express their support and sympathy.

“They’ll say, ‘So sorry for what you and your people are going through,’” Lisker shared with the JTA.

The convention’s focus on security and anti-Semitism, juxtaposed with its stringent immigration policies, encapsulates the broader debates within American society. The coming months will reveal how these issues influence Jewish American voters and their political alignments in the lead-up to the next election.