Carr’s career

“US searches for new antisemitism monitor” (April 9) correctly states that the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism position was elevated recently to ambassadorial level, but fails to note that this change was passed by a Republican Congress and was signed into law by president Donald Trump. The article also notes that groups on the Left “want the antisemitism monitor to focus on white supremacists and deemphasize Israel.”

Deemphasizing Israel is a serious mistake worthy of a letter of its own. Focusing on American white supremacists would be inconsistent with the position’s statutory mandate: “The Special Envoy serves as the primary adviser to the US Government… relating to monitoring and combating antisemitism and antisemitic incitement that occur in foreign countries.”

The article fails to recognize the manifold accomplishments of outgoing Special Envoy Elan Carr, one of the most highly respected of the many international Special Envoys fighting the world’s oldest hatred. He met with numerous foreign government leaders (including several Israeli ministers), and was instrumental in the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism by over 35 countries. He personally negotiated a groundbreaking MOU with Bahraini leaders on fighting antisemitism well before the Abraham Accords became a reality. An eloquent defender of the Jewish people, he was (and is) in high demand – appearing before nearly 100 domestic and foreign audiences (either in person or on-line) in the past year alone and one of the headliners at two Jerusalem Post digital conferences.

Carr was the first special envoy to focus on the danger of online antisemitism. He initiated a cutting-edge two-day online conference bringing together leaders of government, religious and civil society, social media platforms, and academia to devise effective counter-strategies that combat antisemitism while upholding America’s longstanding commitment to free speech.

Carr recognized that it was not enough to decry antisemitism. Working with outside Jewish organizations, he set out to develop a philo-semitic school curriculum that highlights the many contributions made to modern society by the Jewish people.

Carr developed close working relationships with officials at the very top of the White House and State Department, resulting in unparalleled support for the cause. His replacement will build on the foundation established through Carr’s dedication and hard work. EFRAIM A. COHEN

Zichron Yaakov