Today, we mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. This solemn occasion should be a chance to reflect on the horrors of the past, and the worst crimes of an era gone by. Sadly, however, those of us committed to fighting anti-Semitism wherever it occurs do not have that luxury. We must remain vigilant here and now, in the America of the 21st century.

Just this morning, a disgusting display of hate was discovered at a synagogue in my Congressional district in South Florida. This cowardly act of vandalism included three spray-painted swastikas on the walls of the Chabad of Parkland. The words “Heil Hitler” were also painted on the synagogue walls, and a nearby stop sign was defaced to read, “Stop 4 Hitler.”

This crime was not only perpetrated against the congregation of Chabad of Parkland, but against Jews and people of faith everywhere.   If we are to live up to our mantra of ‘never again,’ we must not sit by silently in the face of any anti-Semitic attack. It is our solemn responsibility to speak out against such hateful speech.

That is why I am proud to chair the Congressional Task Force Against Anti-Semitism with my friend and colleague, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. The task force is the bipartisan voice of Congress against anti-Semitism worldwide, and on this Holocaust Remembrance Day, we pledge to continue our awareness and action campaign in Congress, around the country and throughout the world.

Our work is not yet finished, but we look forward to the day when anti-Semitism will only live in museums and in our distant memories.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 10:19 am and is filed under Politics .