A senior delegation from the World Jewish Congress (WJC) visited Washington, D.C. last week, meeting with high-level officials at the State Department, the White House and Congress. Delegation members called on the U.S. government to strengthen protections for Jewish communities worldwide and to take action against Iranian proxies in South America.
The delegation was led by attorney J. Philip Rosen, the newly appointed chair of the WJC American Section. It included representatives from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and presented a series of requests to U.S. policymakers — among them, expanding efforts to counter rising Iranian influence in South America, especially in the tri-border area between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
Delegates also urged increased funding for security at Jewish institutions, stronger efforts to combat campus antisemitism and continued U.S. participation in UNESCO — the only international body with a dedicated Holocaust education mandate. While on Capitol Hill, the group met with Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has been a stalwart supporter of the Jewish community in the wake of the October 7 attack.
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The visit concluded with a joint event hosted by the Spanish Embassy, marking ten years since the enactment of Spain’s citizenship law for descendants of expelled Sephardic Jews.
Speaking at the event, which was attended by members of Congress, Rosen warned against ignoring the dangers of modern antisemitism:
“Those who carry the memory of exile know what happens when ties begin to fray. In such moments, moral clarity is needed once again. Europe is hesitating in the face of antisemitism — and the price may be high.”