Biden to host Rosh Hashanah call with Jewish leaders next week
President Biden Joe Biden speaks at a reception to celebrate the Jewish New Year on Sept. 30, 2022. Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh September 27, 2024
President Joe Biden is expected to host a conference call with rabbis and other Jewish leaders on Tuesday ahead of the High Holidays, two White House officials confirmed on Friday.
The annual presidential ritual takes on added significance in the wake of rising antisemitic attacks and as Biden prepares to conclude his more than four-decade political career in January.
“President Biden understands that this year’s High Holidays may feel different, as the tragic events of October 7 have left many in deep grief,” said Shelley Greenspan, the White House Jewish liaison. “He is committed to ensuring that the Jewish community feels supported and recognized during this pivotal time of reflection, renewal, and hope.”
The president will deliver opening remarks, followed by a Q&A session where senior staff will answer questions from representatives of each denomination, Greenspan said. It is the same format as Biden’s call with Jewish leaders last year.
In 2022, Biden hosted Jewish leaders for a pre-Rosh Hashanah reception at the White House, a tradition he began as vice president at his official residence at the Naval Observatory in northwest Washington.
In his remarks, Biden boasted about his closeness to American Jews and deep familiarity with their traditions. “I probably went to shul more than many of you did,” Biden told the crowd, referencing his many visits to Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden’s hometown.
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