SUPPORTING TEMPLE ISRAEL AND MICHIGANDERS

SUPPORTING TEMPLE ISRAEL AND MICHIGANDERS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)] [House] [Page H2488] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUPPORTING TEMPLE ISRAEL AND MICHIGANDERS (Ms. Stevens of Michigan was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Jewish community in West Bloomfield, Michigan, narrowly avoided a fatal act of anti-Semitic terrorism. The temple may be burned and battered, but every single life inside that sacred space was saved and spared. Michigan is forever grateful to the private security guards who sprang into action and put their lives on the line to avoid serious tragedy. Because of their bravery and training, as well as the quick response of law enforcement, the congregants of Temple Israel are alive and safe. We saw the images on our television screens. Dozens and dozens of police vehicles showed up immediately. We thank Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard, along with the West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township Police Departments for answering the call. In far too many houses of worship--in synagogues, in churches, in mosques--Americans now find themselves praying under the watchful eye of armed guards. No one should have to fear gathering at a synagogue, sending their kids to religious school, or simply practicing their faith. Tragically, this appears to be our new normal. Anti-Semitism is at its highest levels in decades. Driven by hate and vitriol and stirred up by social media, it has become widespread and all too common. It has consequences. Anti-Semitic incidents are up 900 percent over the last decade. In just one year, we have seen deadly attacks in Boulder, Colorado, as well as Washington, D.C. A temple in Mississippi burned down. America's only Jewish Governor and his family were victims of arson. America's Jewish community is scared by what this means for them and their place in our society. There is nothing like it when we see this hit our own community. When I got that first phone call on Thursday afternoon, I nearly fell to the ground. Michigan's 11th District is home to one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in the United States. They make our State and our country better in every way, and I am proud to represent them here in the Halls of Congress. I spent the last few days speaking with parents, religious leaders, and community members. I was honored to join the congregation for Shabbat services on Friday night. They are shaken, but they are resilient. They are grateful for the outpouring of support the world has shown their community in recent days. Mr. Speaker, we must call out anti-Semitism wherever we see it. It is no longer just enough to condemn it, though. We must root it out everywhere, and Congress must act. We have to fund Holocaust education programs. We must invest in efforts to combat anti-Semitism. We must urgently fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to ensure that houses of worship, regardless of faith, can keep their congregations safe from acts of terror. Congress has fallen short. The security guards who saved Temple Israel were only there thanks to private grant funding from the Jewish Federations of North America. We must make sure we never come this close to tragedy again. I want to offer a glimmer of hope. In the worst moment, we saw the best of Michigan. In the aftermath of the attack, the 140 students-- young children--and the staff inside this building were escorted safely across the street to the Shenandoah Country Club, founded by the Chaldean Iraqi immigrants who escaped persecution themselves. In a world of division, lies, and fear, the Chaldeans welcomed their Jewish neighbors with open arms. They offered them shelter, food, and safety. They gave the kids coloring books and M&M's. Chicken tenders and fries were brought out. The parents were given the space to process and call loved ones. Then 24 hours later, this Iraqi Christian country club hosted the whole congregation for Friday night Shabbat services. This is America, and this is Michigan. That selflessness, that patriotism, and the love for thy neighbor makes me so proud to be a Michigander and the Congresswoman for Oakland County. We come together in times like this because that is who we are. Mr. Speaker, Jewish families in Michigan and around the world are rightfully shaken, but they will do what they have done for centuries. They will endure. They will keep going. Temple Israel will reopen. We will rebuild. In Michigan, we write our own story. We will not be defined by one act of extremism. Our Jewish community should be proud of who they are. We want them to know that we see them and we stand with them from the neighborhoods of West Bloomfield to the Halls of Congress. We will be alongside them in times of celebration and in times of difficulty. They are resilient, they are unbreakable, and their Congresswoman is with them. ____________________