Vance meets with Temple Israel rabbi on Michigan visit, offers support to community

US Vice President JD Vance met with representatives of Temple Israel in Michigan to offer support following a March attack on the synagogue. The meeting, requested by Vance, included a rabbi and a security officer who prevented harm during the incident. Rabbi Jen Lader stated, "This was an important opportunity to ask for the Vice President's support in the fight against antisemitism, and for additional security funding through the Jewish American Security Act." Vance's visit also included a rally where he condemned the attack as "a terrible, antisemitic terrorist attack" and criticized Michigan's Democratic US Senate candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, for his initial comments on the incident. El-Sayed later apologized for his remarks, which had drawn criticism from some Michigan Jewish leaders, leading to a petition pledging votes for the Republican candidate, Mike Rogers.