JEI Advocates for Right to Worship

September 25, 2026

September 23, 2026


The Honorable Mike Johnson

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515


Dear Mr. Speaker:


I submit this statement for the record in support of H.R. 10052 and S. 5289, the Right to Worship Act.


I am grateful to Representatives Brad Knott, Tom Suozzi, Michael Lawler, and Josh Gottheimer and Senators Ted Cruz and Elissa Slotkin for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation to protect the fundamental right of Americans to worship without fear, intimidation, or deliberate disruption.


For Jewish Americans, this protection is particularly urgent. Synagogues should be places where Jewish families can gather in prayer, celebrate Shabbat and holidays, educate their children, and sustain their communities. No one should have to approach a synagogue wondering whether protesters will block the entrance, intimidate worshippers, prevent families from entering, or deliberately disrupt religious services.


The Right to Worship Act recognizes a basic principle of religious liberty: Americans must be able to enter their houses of worship and participate in religious services without being subjected to conduct that meaningfully interferes with their ability to worship. The legislation establishes a narrowly tailored 100-foot protection zone around entrances to houses of worship during scheduled religious services and prohibits knowing conduct that disrupts services or hinders, deters, threatens, or intimidates people seeking to attend.


This protection is not about preventing peaceful expression or legitimate public debate. The legislation specifically distinguishes protected expression from conduct that interferes with the ability of people to worship. That distinction is essential. Americans have a constitutional right to express their views, including views with which others strongly disagree. But that right should not be used as a justification for preventing another person from exercising the equally fundamental right to freely practice their religion.


The need for this protection is especially clear for Jewish communities. In recent years, Jewish Americans have faced protests, intimidation, threats, and security concerns at and around synagogues and other Jewish institutions. Jewish families should not have to choose between exercising their faith and avoiding confrontation at the doors of their houses of worship.


The right to worship is a foundational American freedom. It belongs to Jews, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Americans of every faith. Protecting houses of worship therefore is not a special accommodation for any one religious community. It is a protection of religious liberty itself.


We also recognize the importance of maintaining the careful balance between religious freedom and the First Amendment's protection of speech and peaceful assembly. The Right to Worship Act addresses that balance by focusing on conduct that actually disrupts religious services or prevents or intimidates individuals from attending them, rather than on the viewpoint or content of someone's speech. We support continued careful consideration of the legislation to ensure that its protections remain clear, appropriately tailored, and consistent with constitutional rights.


For Jewish Americans, the ability to walk through the doors of a synagogue and worship openly is not an abstract principle. It is an essential part of Jewish communal life and religious freedom. A Jewish family should be able to attend services on Shabbat or a holiday without being blocked, threatened, intimidated, or made to feel that entering their synagogue is itself an act of confrontation.


Religious freedom cannot exist if people are technically free to worship but are effectively prevented from doing so by intimidation or deliberate disruption at the doors of their houses of worship.


We strongly support the goals of the Right to Worship Act and urge Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation. Protecting the right of Americans to gather, pray, and practice their faith is a constitutional responsibility and a fundamental American value.


The freedom to worship belongs to all of us. Congress should ensure that every American can exercise that freedom without fear.


Sincerely,

Barbara Goldberg Goldman

Chair

Jewish Electorate Institute



cc: The Honorable Mike Lawler, U.S. House of Representatives

cc: The Honorable Dan Goldman, U.S. House of Representatives

JEI Advocates for Jewish American Security

September 23, 2026
September 23, 2026 The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker of the United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: I submit this statement for the record in support of H.R. 9211, the Jewish American Security Act. I am deeply grateful to Representatives Dan Goldman and Mike Lawler for leading this important bipartisan effort to confront antisemitism and strengthen protections for Jewish Americans. At a time when too many Jewish families, students, educators, houses of worship, and community institutions face fear and intimidation, their leadership brings moral clarity and urgently needed Congressional attention to a crisis affecting communities across the country. I also thank the bipartisan group of House members who joined them in introducing this legislation and the chairs, ranking members, and members of the committees of jurisdiction who will guide its consideration. Their engagement reflects a basic but essential principle: protecting Jewish Americans and confronting antisemitism should command the attention of Congress and the conscience of the country. The Jewish American Security Act addresses the realities Jewish communities confront every day. Antisemitism now reaches into schools and campuses, threatens houses of worship and communal institutions, spreads online in ways that can contribute to real-world violence, and requires federal agencies to respond with coordination, consistency, and seriousness. The bill also brings needed attention to an important and often misunderstood issue. Its findings recognize that antisemitism can arise when others hold Jewish individuals responsible for the policies of the Israeli government or attack, disparage, or demonize them because of their real or perceived connection to, affiliation with, or support for Israel as a Jewish state. That recognition matters. Anti-Israel campaigns can cross the line into antisemitic discrimination, harassment, and exclusion when they target Jewish Americans because of who they are, what they believe, or how others perceive their relationship to Israel and the Jewish people. At the same time, language touching on Israel, antisemitism, civil rights, campus life, and protected expression requires careful drafting. We welcome continued work with the sponsors, committees of jurisdiction, civil rights experts, Jewish communal organizations, constitutional scholars, educators, and other stakeholders to refine the bill and ensure it protects Jewish Americans while respecting constitutional rights and legitimate policy debate. The central issue before Congress remains urgent. No Jewish American should face discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence in schools, houses of worship, workplaces, public spaces, or online because they are Jewish or because of their actual or perceived connection to Israel and the Jewish people. Combating antisemitism requires more than statements after attacks occur. It requires prevention, enforcement, education, data, accountability, and resources. It also requires Congress to recognize that Jewish safety and American democracy stand together. A pluralistic democracy cannot thrive when hate forces any community to live with fear, hide its identity, or question whether public institutions will protect them. I strongly support the goals of the Jewish American Security Act and urge Congress to continue refining and advancing this legislation in a bipartisan manner. Protecting Jewish Americans is not a partisan question. It is an American obligation. Sincerely,

PressTV:Over half of US Jews say Netanyahu’s actions have intensified anti-Semitism in US, poll finds out

September 20, 2026
According to the Mellman Group poll conducted for the Jewish Electorate Institute , 56% of Jewish voters in the United States hold an unfavorable view of Netanyahu. This concern splits along party lines, as among Jewish Democrats, 65% share the view, compared with 46% among independent voters and 34% among Republicans.  The survey also revealed that 60% of respondents would like Netanyahu to be replaced as the head of the Tel Aviv regime, while 16% would support his re-election.

Middle East Eye - Poll:US Jewish voters concerned Netanyahu policies fueling antisemitism

September 20, 2026
The survey, conducted by the Mellman Group for the Jewish Electorate Institute and published on Thursday, found that 56 percent of respondents had a “great deal” of concern that “Israel’s actions under Netanyahu have increased antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the US”. The view varied sharply by political affiliation, with 65 percent of Jewish Democrats expressing a high level of concern, compared with 46 percent of independents and 34 percent of Republicans. Other Findings:  • 86 percent of those surveyed described themselves as pro-Israel, while 65 percent said they were pro-Israel but critical of some or many Israeli government policies. • 71 percent viewed Israel favourably, compared with 25 percent who viewed it unfavourably. • 61 percent viewed Netanyahu unfavourably and 34 percent favourably; 67 percent wanted to see him replaced in Israel’s upcoming election.