Elise Stefanik Receives Theodor Herzl Award, Vows to Combat Antisemitism
Rep. Elise Stefanik has made a powerful statement in her continued battle against antisemitism, accepting the prestigious Theodor Herzl Award from the World Jewish Congress just days after announcing her bid for New York governor.
A Night of Recognition at the Museum of Modern Art
On a significant evening, Stefanik addressed an audience of 400 guests at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan as she received the highest honor from the World Jewish Congress, presented to her by Ronald Lauder, the prominent businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Austria. Established in 2012, the Theodor Herzl Award acknowledges individuals who embody the vision of Theodor Herzl for a secure and self-reliant Jewish community.
Acknowledgments and Expressions of Gratitude
In her acceptance speech, Stefanik expressed heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Ronald Lauder for his enduring leadership and commitment to Jewish unity and security. “Under his leadership, the World Jewish Congress has carried forward Theodor Herzl’s vision — not only of a Jewish homeland, but of a Jewish people strong, self-reliant, and respected among the nations,” she stated.
The Importance of Fighting Antisemitism
Stefanik took the opportunity to reflect on her fight against antisemitism both in Congress and on college campuses. She characterized her recent interactions with the presidents of Ivy League institutions—Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania—during a 2023 hearing as pivotal, focusing on the alarming responses she received concerning antisemitic rhetoric.
Stating, “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your university’s code of conduct?” she recalls the discomforting responses that followed, noting the unsettling trend that institutions grappled with contextualizing such hate speech.
This pointed exchange, she asserts, sparked “a global reckoning and delivered accountability in higher education that we are still just beginning.”
New York’s Central Role in the Fight
Stefanik turned her focus toward New York, framing the state as an epicenter in the fight for Western values. “Eighty years after Kristallnacht, we must not stay silent,” she declared. Her words resonate as she pledges to continue denouncing antisemitism, bigotry, and anti-American sentiments, especially in a state that is home to a significant Jewish population.
Highlighting a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents in New York, Stefanik emphasized the urgency of collective action against hate, reinforcing that “The spirit that built Israel… will save New York.”
Support from Prominent Figures
Just a day after receiving her award, billionaire philanthropist Miriam Adelson endorsed Stefanik’s gubernatorial aspirations at another prestigious event hosted by the Zionist Organization of America. During the evening, Stefanik was also presented with the Mortimer Zuckerman Maccabee Warrior Award for her dedication to combating antisemitism.
Adelson praised Stefanik’s courage in addressing university leaders about antisemitism, highlighting her late husband’s legacy of moral conviction, stating, “Elise is a great leader” and recognizing her efforts in defending “the Jewish people, Israel and the Free World.”
A Political Campaign on the Horizon
With the groundwork laid for her gubernatorial campaign, Stefanik officially embarked on her bid to challenge Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2026 election. Her redefined political stance has seen her transform from an initial critic of President Donald Trump to one of his staunchest defenders in Congress.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hochul’s office for comment on her response to Stefanik’s burgeoning campaign.
