Democratic House lawmakers voted on Thursday, in a long-gestating but still unexpected move, to create a formal Jewish caucus for the first time, launching an official forum for long-standing informal work and discussions among Jewish members of Congress.

The caucus’ formation comes at a time of, and partly in response to, record-high antisemitism in the United States. Leaders say it will help give members a greater and collective voice, as well as a seat at Democratic leadership meetings with other caucuses.

The group was organized through negotiations between Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) — a driving force behind the group — and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) — the senior-most Jewish member in the House and initially a skeptic of forming a caucus. It will be chaired by Nadler and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), leaders among progressive and moderate Jewish members, respectively. 

While the group will be open to any member who self-identifies as Jewish and supports its mission, no Republicans attended the meeting. Wasserman Schultz nominated Nadler and Schneider, the latter of whom also chairs the New Democrat Coalition, to lead the group.

The caucus, according to a release from Nadler and Wasserman Schultz, will “serve as an official forum for Jewish Members of Congress to exchange ideas and advocate for the issues important to the American Jewish community, while also serving as a bridge to other members and organizations within the House.”

Nadler said in a statement that the “need for this caucus is understandable” given the “unprecedented rising antisemitism in the United States and the challenges the American Jewish community has faced.”

He said that he had negotiated with Wasserman Schultz to create the proposal for the caucus, and credited her for her efforts that “successfully brought her long-time vision to a reality.”

“Education, understanding and strengthening relationships with other communities is critical to advancing Jewish community priorities,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. “With antisemitism reaching record levels in the United States, it is more important than ever before that Jewish Members of Congress have a formal Caucus to represent the unique perspective of the Jewish American community,”

Schneider also said in a statement that he sees the caucus as critical at the current moment.

“For more than a decade, I’ve fought for the Jewish American community in Congress — not just as an advocate, but as a builder of bridges, strengthening relationships across the aisle,” Schneider said. “With antisemitism surging and the challenges facing our community growing more complex, now is the time for a dedicated, united voice in Congress. This Caucus isn’t just overdue — it’s essential. I’m grateful to Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership and honored to help lead it alongside my friend Jerry Nadler.”

The prospect of launching a formal caucus was a controversial one among Jewish lawmakers when efforts first began to develop more than a year ago, particularly among progressive members. The group held an organizing meeting and received official recognition in late 2023 but public chatter had since died down.

Nadler was among those initially opposed to forming a caucus, expressing concerns about highlighting divisions among Jewish members, especially on Israel policy, as well as about launching a faith-based caucus. He also said he and other members hadn’t been consulted initially, and called the effort unnecessary.

In his statement, Nadler said that the group would not necessarily work to create unified opinion among all Jewish members.

“I am confident this caucus will bring Jewish members together to strive to achieve unity not unanimity, and will be a productive forum to discuss issues of import to the American Jewish community,” Nadler continued. “I look forward to our discussions and exchanging our many perspectives. After all, as the old adage goes: two Jews, three opinions.”

Nadler has long worked in an informal fashion to bring Jewish lawmakers together in both private meetings and in rare public statements.

Early proponents of the caucus were largely moderate and pro-Israel Jewish lawmakers. Proponents have seen it as a way to give Jewish lawmakers a more formalized voice in congressional discussions.

“I have long believed that a Congressional Jewish Caucus will enhance our ability to advocate for the Jewish American community, so I am honored to have partnered with my dear friend Rep. Jerry Nadler in bringing together our colleagues to make this vision a reality,” Wasserman Schultz said in her statement. “Rep. Nadler’s fierce and long-standing leadership within the U.S. House of Representatives and the Jewish American community is unparalleled. I am thrilled to congratulate both him and Rep. Schneider for being elected as the Caucus’ founding co-chairs.”  

Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Becca Balint (D-VT), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) were seen by JI entering or leaving the organizing meeting.

Wasserman Schultz told JI after the meeting that she’s wanted to create a Jewish caucus since she entered Congress 20 years ago, and said, “My heart is full. We will now have an organized way in which we can more effectively advocate on behalf of the Jewish community.”

Schneider said, “Having a Jewish caucus gives us a collective voice at a time where there is … rising antisemitism, not just in the United States, around the world … I think it also gives us a forum for Jewish members to talk to each other and share ideas, share opportunities, but also talk about how we’re addressing some of the challenges the Jewish community faces.”

Nadler likewise cited the rise of antisemitism post-Oct. 7, and said that the formal caucus — as opposed to the previous informal one — gives the group more strength, as well as formal representation in Democratic leadership meetings with other caucus leaders.

Nadler said that the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks led him to change his mind about the need for a caucus.

Wasserman Schultz said the group had come together to work through questions that mattered to members and ensured the caucus would be maximally effective, given the rise of antisemitism and the “need for us to represent Jewish values, especially given the Trump era.”

Nadler said the caucus would provide a “greater voice for the Jewish members and more unified voice for the Jewish members and a bigger voice in leadership.”

According to a mission statement obtained by JI, the caucus aims to “bring the unique perspectives and lived experiences of the Jewish members of Congress to the important issues of the day.”

“United by common history, heritage, culture, and values, including a long-standing commitment to democracy, equality, diversity, civil rights, and civil liberties, the CJC is a forum where Jewish Members of Congress can gather to share experiences, exchange ideas and advocate for the issues important to the American Jewish community,” the mission statement continues. “The CJC also serves as a bridge to the other members and organizations within the House.”

Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), the senior-most Jewish Republican, has told JI in the past that he does not, as a rule, join caucuses, while Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) had expressed interest. Miller and newly elected Jewish Republican Craig Goldman (D-TX) were not present at the meeting.

Democratic Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) was not in attendance, and Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) did not respond to requests for comment. A source familiar with the situation said all three plan to join the caucus.