JCRC executive director Steve Hunegs (left) and JCRC board member Stephen Rosenthal (sixth from right) with Gov. Kristi Noem, Sen. John Thune, and other community leaders at an Israel solidarity gathering in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in October 2023.

Nov. 14, 2024

Steve Hunegs, executive director of Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), released the following statement:

“The Jewish Community Relations of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) congratulates Senator John Thune, the Senior United States Senator from South Dakota, for his election as the next Senate Majority Leader, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for her nomination to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security.

“Representing three states and more square miles than any JCRC in the United States, we are proud of our lay leadership in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, including our longtime board member and executive committee member Stephen Rosenthal. A well-respected leader in both Sioux Falls’ Jewish community and South Dakota politics, Stephen exclaims, ‘having worked with Senator Thune for nearly thirty years and Governor Noem nearly fifteen years, the Jewish community is blessed to have such great friends assuming even greater responsibilities for our nation, for Israel and for democracy.’

“I had the pleasure of traveling to Israel with then Rep. Noem in 2013 (along with former Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner and Sean Duffy). She absorbed a tremendous about of information quickly and asked incisive questions to the many people with whom we met — including Prime Minister Netanyahu. Last October, I was in Sioux Falls for the community’s solidarity gathering in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks. I was grateful to hear the powerful words of support of from Sen. Thune and Gov. Noem. South Dakota is a deeply patriotic state with a keen appreciation of the importance of a robust United States-Israel relationship in protecting democracy and freedom and American interests.

“In alarming contrast to Senator Thune’s election and Governor Noem’s nomination — as well as the nomination of Senator Marco Rubio, who has been consistently supportive of a strong US-Israel relationship and was opposed by the isolationist wing of the Republican Party, to be the next Secretary of State — is the nomination of Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be the next Attorney General.

“As aptly described by AJC, ‘[a]t a time of historic levels of antisemitism, we need someone at the helm of the Department of Justice who will tackle antisemitism — not peddle in it. Matt Gaetz’s history of problematic remarks — including perpetuating antisemitic conspiracy theories — should be disqualifying for anyone seeking to be America’s top law enforcement officer. We urge President-elect Trump to reconsider this nomination, otherwise the Senate has a responsibility to reject it.’

“Similarly, the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt accurately observed that ‘Rep. Matt Gaetz has a long history of trafficking in antisemitism — from explaining his vote against the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act by invoking the centuries-old trope that Jews killed Jesus to defending the Great Replacement Theory and inviting a Holocaust denier as his 2018 State of the Union guest. He should not be appointed to any high office, much less one overseeing the impartial execution of our nation’s laws.’

“Our JCRC delegation agrees with our national colleagues and therefore urges our full delegation of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Senators to strongly oppose Rep. Gaetz’s nomination to become the United States’ chief law enforcement official.”