(Jewish Group) At the vice president's house, a hot and muggy celebration of Jewish pride

Vice President Kamala Harris quoted from the Talmud. The Marine Band played klezmer music. Queer rabbis mingled alongside black-hat ones. And for once, Rep. Adam Schiff tried to avoid the spotlight.

On a hot and muggy Tuesday evening, Vice President Harris and Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, hosted a pre-Rosh Hashanah reception for around 150 Jewish leaders and celebrities at their residence in Washington, D.C., which proudly sports a mezuzah on the front door. It was a lively reminder that, despite our cynicism, we don’t have to let Judaism be defined by those who hate us.

Our sacred task of repairing the world “is a fight for something, not against something,” the Vice President reminded us. “It’s a fight for enlightenment. It’s a fight for justice, fairness and kindness, knowledge.”

Speaking over what sounded like a thousand cicadas, Emhoff gave his usual talking points about combating antisemitism. But he also fondly recalled his recent visit to his Jewish summer camp, where he was awarded “best athlete” decades ago.

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