In his speech to the Shoah Foundation Wednesday, President Obama emphasized the need to continue to “combat” anti-Semitism and intolerance and declared "America’s unshakeable commitment to Israel.”

Obama was honored Wednesday in part for his recent appointment of a new special envoy for the Holocaust Survivor Services, which Shoah Founder Steven Spielberg said demonstrated the president’s “staunch commitment to honoring the past while building a better future.”

In his introduction of the president, Spielberg stressed the importance of the foundation's work and the continued vigilance against the rise of genocide and violence globally, saying, “Everywhere from Syria to southern Sudan, the world has yet to learn the lessons... This program exists because we know the future can be re-written.”

In what The Hollywood Reporter called perhaps "one of the most powerful speeches of his presidency on Israel and genocide," Obama focused on combating intolerance and violence, particularly highlighting anti-Semitism and the importance of Israel in the Middle East.

After praising Spielberg’s efforts in reminding us "that the Holocaust was not a matter of distant history" and providing a means for Holocaust survivors to share their testimonies, Obama charged the attendees to continue to “forcefully condemn” denials of the Holocaust, combat anti-Semitism, and “sustain America’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security":

If the memories of the Shoah survivors teach us anything, it is that silence is evil’s greatest co-conspirator. And it’s up to us -- each of us, every one of us -- to forcefully condemn any denial of the Holocaust. It’s up to us to combat not only anti-Semitism, but racism and bigotry and intolerance in all their forms, here and around the world. To speak out against rhetoric that threatens the existence of a Jewish homeland and to sustain America’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.

The president’s statement of support for Israel follows two weeks of heavy critique of the administration due to remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry who said in a closed-door meeting that Israel was in danger of becoming an “apartheid state” if US-led Israeli-Palestinian peace talks failed. After the comment went public, Kerry said, "If I could rewind the tape, I would have chosen a different word.” Long before Kerry's statement, many of the administration's critics have deemed Obama to be an "anti-Israel president."

The president made good use of his time in Los Angeles, attending a series of events, perhaps most importantly a fundraiser for the Democratic House Senate Victory Fund, which raises money for House and Senate candidates. The fundraiser was hosted at the Bel-Air home of Alan Hon, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and long-time Democratic donor. Tickets to the event, which included several key lawmakers, were not cheap. Variety reports:

Tickets to the event start at $10,000 per person, which includes dinner and a photo op. Those donating $32,400 per couple get listed as “sponsors” and can also take part in a VIP reception. Those donating $64,800 per couple are listed as “hosts” and also can take part in a “VIP clutch.”