U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, who has served New York’s 21st District in Congress since 2015, posted a series of messages on X reflecting on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and commemorating the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel.
On October 6, Stefanik shared two similar posts marking Sukkot. In her first message at 18:59 UTC, she wrote, “Chag Sukkot Semeach! Wishing all who celebrate a blessed Sukkot. May this Sukkot bring the return of the remaining hostages and peace to the Jewish people around the world.” Later that day at 22:04 UTC, she reiterated her wishes with a slight variation in spelling: “Chag Sukkot Sameach! Wishing all who celebrate a blessed Sukkot. May this Sukkot bring the return of the remaining hostages and peace to the Jewish people around the world.”
The following day, October 7, Stefanik addressed recent history related to Israel and its people. At 14:06 UTC, she posted: “Two years ago today, Israel and the Jewish people experienced the deadliest day since the Holocaust as Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists unleashed a barbaric massacre on the people of southern Israel, brutally murdering over 1,200 innocent civilians and taking 251 hostages”.
Elise Stefanik is currently serving in Congress after succeeding Bill Owens in 2015. She was born in Albany, New York in 1984 and resides in Schuylerville. Stefanik graduated from Harvard University with an AB degree.
The messages come as Jewish communities worldwide observe Sukkot—a festival commemorating shelter and deliverance—and as international attention remains focused on ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages taken during conflict events referenced by Stefanik.
