Second Gentleman Pool Reports of October 20, 2023

Second gentleman pool report: Jewish day school drop in

Good morning,

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff just wrapped a visit to Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School.

He met with roughly 80 first and second graders in a music room, then a group of 8th graders, and later staff.

At the school, many of the male students were wearing yarmulkes and some younger students were wearing ball caps. The students were already singing along to a guitar, played by one of their instructors, when Emhoff arrived at 9:40 am.

"Good morning!" Emhoff said as they broke out into another song, waving their hands in the air. The song was about peace and students held up the peace sign on both hands as they sang the song in Hebrew.

"You really made my morning. I needed to hear that. I needed to hear a hopeful song about peace and joy, and I could aee the happiness in your faces," Emhoff told them.

He told them he had visited the school before.

"I actually made matzah here. Yeah, I know you weren't here last time," he told a student.

Emhoff said it was the VP's birthday and asked them to tell her happy birthday.

The music teacher asked if they could sing to the VP, who wasn't present. (Emhoff's staff was taping the event. He asked for a quick version and said he'd show it to her.) They sang in Hebrew to the VP.

"That's awesome. I'm probably going to use this instead of a card," Emhoff said.

He referred to "what's going on" without getting into details.

"Just know that I have your back, and the president and the vice president have your back, too. And we're always going to be there for you, I promise," he said.

Press left the room as he wrapped with the students to head to the second stop.

As he entered the second room, Emhoff told the students "happy Friday" with sadness in his voice.

To the 8th graders, the instructor said Emhoff wanted to come and "show solidarity." She noted that he spoke to some of their siblings in this very room last year and prompted them to talk about their emotions.

"It's been a tough couple of weeks," he told them. "My emotions are very raw."

He said it has been intense.

He said Biden's support has been helpful. Emhoff recalled how POTUS came up to him, held his hand, looked him in the eye and asked him how he's doing.

"It really helped me get out there and speak about how horrible the situation is and how I was feeling."

Emhoff told the students it's okay to feel this way and share how they're doing.

A male student said the hostages have been on his mind, and it's been hard to process what's happening in Israel.

Emhoff said it is hard to process and it will take awhile but it's good that they thinking that way.

"You've seen things that you shouldn't have to see. The horror, the violence and the terror," he said.

Another student said he wants to help but doesn't know how and feels "powerless," like there is nothing they can do.

"No one wants to feel alone," Emhoff said. The more you can get behind friends, family and teachers, he said "that's actually helping."

He told them to stay engaged. "It's okay to feel this way. This is normal. It's traumatic."

A young woman said she has been saying prayers for Israel and that they have been trying to make sure that people have information about the attack so they can support Israel.

A second young woman chimed in to say they have been making arts and crafts and sending letters to kids in Israel and it's helpful to know they are contributing in some way.

The instructor asked Emhoff how they can share their support.

Emhoff reiterated many times that it's okay to talk about it and "get it off your chest."

"Thank you for being here for us," the instructor said.

She told the class it's the VP's birthday and the precious class sang to her.

"You all don't have to sing again," Emhoff said, before leaving the room.

His last stop before leaving was with staff.

In the gymnasium with staff, he said the last time he was in this room he was "mobbed" by students. He asked instructors how they're doing. They said it has been tough and they are all depending on each other.

He said he could feel the 8th graders are still trying to "process" what's going on.

One instructor said it has been hard for students to understand why everyone can't just get along.

Another said she heard a a first grader ask, how do you win a war?

Emhoff said they are very exposed to this in the media, and it will take something time to recover.

Another staffer stressed that the students lift the spirits of the staff. She said there is "no words" to express how difficult it is.

He again said it's raw, and the people he works check in with one another, which he said is especially important in positions of leadership.

"I'm really glad I got this opportunity to come back and see you all," he told them.

"Hang in there, stay strong," he said as he told them goodbye.

Asked by a reporter what his message to the children of Israel and Gaza is he said: "Stay strong. Stay strong, and we've got your back."

He then took a group photo with staff.

Visit wrapped after roughly 30 minutes.

*If anyone wants audio, I can share it, although the third one with staff was super rough to hear.*

Second gentleman pool report #2 -- background

ON BACKGROUND FROM A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL: While visiting Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff met with young students who have just arrived from Israel and are taking shelter in the United States. The students spoke with the Second Gentleman about their harrowing experience being in Israel during the Hamas terrorist attacks.