WASHINGTON (VINnews) — Lawmakers, diplomats and Jewish community leaders gathered on Capitol Hill this week for the annual Jewish American Heritage Month luncheon honoring the contributions of Jewish Americans to public life, medicine, philanthropy and religious leadership.

The event, held Tuesday in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building, honored Nobel Prize-winning physician Dr. Harvey J. Alter, philanthropist Elliott Broidy and Rabbi David Baron.

The bipartisan gathering included several members of Congress, among them Sens. Richard Blumenthal, John Fetterman and Jacky Rosen, along with Reps. Randi Fine and Ken Calvert.

In remarks accepting the Visionary Award, Broidy spoke about the importance of giving back to family, community and country, while warning about rising antisemitism in the United States and abroad.

The luncheon was co-chaired by Malcolm Hoenlein, CEO emeritus of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Eric J. Gertler, executive chairman of U.S. News & World Report.

Organizers said the annual event traces its roots to the creation of Jewish Heritage Week during the Reagan administration and has since evolved into the nationwide observance now recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month.