BRIEFING ROOM
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PRESSING STATEMENTS
JAC Statement on the Hostage Return
We recoiled in fear. We cried in pain. We mourned. We felt helpless. We fought. We used our voices when we couldn’t hear theirs. We waited and waited. And now we finally feel some joy.
The hostages are finally free, reunited with their families and friends in a world that has changed dramatically for the Jewish community since that fateful day more than two years ago. But one thing has stayed constant — our unwavering hope that this day would come.
These brave men and women embody the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people. Their courage and endurance serve as a shining beacon of hope, symbolizing that even in the face of unimaginable darkness, light and good will always shine through even if it takes days, months, and years.
We pray for their strength in the days ahead as they continue their long journey of healing. We will always stand with them. They will never be forgotten, nor will any of the other victims of this horrific massacre and war. May their memories be for a blessing.
There are still bodies of hostages that have yet to be returned. For those families, their anguish continues. We will not rest until “bring them home” becomes “we brought them all home.”
Am Yisrael Chai.
WHAT'S ON OUR MIND
Fillibuster or Bust?
October 31, 2025
When the rules don’t suit Trump, he wants them changed. This week it’s the filibuster; surely next week it will be something else. As the shutdown painfully stretches into its 31st day, legislation to reopen the government remains stalled over a Senate rule—the filibuster—that requires 60 votes. To reach that critical threshold, they would need to compromise with the Democrats, which they refuse to do.
Now Trump wants to abolish that rule. If Trump gets his way and the Senate caves in to him, it will be another power grab for the GOP at the expense of our country. The filibuster currently remains the only guardrail we have in the Senate. Currently, the GOP controls 53 seats in the Senate. Without the filibuster, just 51 votes would be enough to pass most bills. Republicans would be able to “govern” by excluding the Democrats from any meaningful governance role.
The filibuster is imperfect. It can slow urgent legislation and has historically blocked civil rights laws, frustrating Americans and diminishing trust in government. Yet it also protects the minority party, ensuring their voices are heard and that major laws have broad support. In these unstable times, removing it could enable the rapid passage of dangerous bills. Bi-partisanship should be a hallmark of our Congress and lead to a more robust democracy.
Over the course of the years, even Democrats have championed changing the filibuster. But it must be done for the sake of good government, not political gain. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), for example, has favored reforming the filibuster and creating certain exemptions, such as for voting rights.
Congress can change rules, which it has done over the years. But the rules will always fall victim when Members of Congress' loyalty is to a dangerous, vindictive, and out-of-control president instead of our country. Tinkering with rules isn’t the answer. But changing who sits in Congress and the White House is.
Elections have consequences.
THE JAC EZ READ: OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
-Nelson Mandela