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Senior American Jewish Committee (AJC) experts on antisemitism briefed FBI executives on the continuing threats antisemitism poses to Jews and American society.

In 2010, when 150 people from 57 countries gathered in Washington for Access DC’s 10th Annual Young Diplomats Reception, the buzz was all about WikiLeaks — the unauthorized publication of some 250,000 classified State Department cables from 270 overseas postings.

That evening’s theme was “The Intersection Between Technology and Statecraft: Social Media and its Global Impact.”

Ten years later, Access DC — an arm of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) — hosted the same event. Only this time, there was no reception, no drinks and no handshakes. Held Dec. 21 via Zoom, its theme was “A New Frontier: Diplomacy in a Virtual World.”

In this week's Shabbat Table, we reflect on how the Nile River helped shape Moses into a leader who understood the importance of every interaction with the world around him. We remember Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon 18 years after the launch of the doomed space shuttle Columbia. And we provide some talking points and resources for a discussion about far-right extremism in America.

We denounce the violent riots that took place on Capitol Hill and condemn the display of religious symbols used to disturb the democratic process. Faith rejects violence. We call upon elected officials, the government, and all Americans to end insurrection and promote a peaceful transition of power. 

In this week's Shabbat Table, we reflect on the quintessentially Jewish story of the biblical midwives Shifra and Puah and how it can inspire us to be agents of hope as we close the door on 2020 and embark on a new year. We mourn the loss of Joan Micklin Silver, the Jewish-American filmmaker behind Jewish classics such as “Crossing Delancey” and “Hester Street.” We then open a discussion about rebuilding American democracy after the terrifying siege at the U.S. Capitol this week.