April 5, 2024
JCRC Responds to Statement by Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Juli Briskman
JCRC of Greater Washington
We join people of good conscience across the world in mourning the recent deaths of seven members of World Central Kitchen, whose mission to feed the hungry resonates deeply with the Jewish community. They embody the principle of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, that is central to Jewish teaching.
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March 20, 2024
JCRC Statement on Failed Efforts by Anti-Israel Activists to Cancel Sold-Out Matisyahu Concert
JCRC of Greater Washington
We are pleased that radical anti-Israel and antisemitic activists have failed so spectacularly in trying to intimidate the Jewish community and prevent us from enjoying musical and cultural celebrations. Matisyahu was targeted simply because he is Jewish and proudly pro-Israel. But like Jewish people in our region and across the world, he will not be silenced. Our message to antisemites anywhere is simple: you will never succeed. Not on our watch.
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March 19, 2024
JCRC Statement on Holocaust Survivor Presentation at Cooper Middle School
JCRC of Greater Washington
Today, the JCRC was pleased to coordinate a visit by Col. Frank Cohn, a Holocaust survivor who later served 35 years in the U.S. Army, to Cooper Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Col. Cohn spoke to a packed auditorium of 500 students about his experiences during the Shoah. We are so fortunate that Col. Cohn was able to share his Shoah narrative with students of all backgrounds and faiths, and commend Cooper Middle School officials for recognizing that Holocaust survivor testimony is a critical supplement to classroom-based curricula.
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March 12, 2024
JCRC Statement on Reinstatement of Suspended Montgomery County Teachers
JCRC of Greater Washington
In a time when antisemitism is running rampant, schools must do their part to ensure Jewish students have a safe and secure learning environment. More than 3,500 people in Montgomery County signed a JCRC petition urging MCPS to fully investigate teachers who spread hateful and divisive messages in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7. We appreciate MCPS for its due diligence in this matter, including reassigning these teachers to different schools and reinforcing the standards of its social media guidelines for educators and staff.
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March 7, 2024
JCRC Statement on Failure of MCEA Ceasefire Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
MCEA did the right thing by standing down on a resolution that would have clearly violated the standards of its own constitution. If passed, this resolution would have done nothing to educate students or support teachers, but would have caused real harm to Jewish families and educators already battling a sharp increase in antisemitism attacks in our community. It should never have even been considered, but we are pleased that it ultimately received the fate it deserved.
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March 3, 2024
JCRC Statement on MCEA Proposed Ceasefire Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
It is deeply alarming that MCEA is wasting its time and resources voting on a resolution that is biased against Israel, puts Jewish students and educators in Montgomery County at greater risk of anti-semitic attacks, violates the standards of its own constitution, and will do absolutely nothing to advance the cause of peace abroad or support the academic success or safety of our children at home. We urge MCEA to drop this charade and keep its focus on properly educating our children.
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February 15, 2024
JCRC Statement on CAIR’s lawsuit against Montgomery County Public Schools
JCRC of Greater Washington
We are disappointed, though not surprised, that CAIR — an organization whose leaders regularly spew antisemitic vitriol — would file a lawsuit that blatantly disregards the education and wellbeing of Jewish children and families in Maryland’s largest school district.
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February 12, 2024
JCRC Statement on Rescue of Two Israeli Hostages from Hamas Terrorists
JCRC of Greater Washington
We are elated that Fernando Merman and Luis Har have been rescued and returned safely to Israel. The heroic members of the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet who risked their own lives to free them and eliminate their terrorist captors are courage personified. We now need a diplomatic rescue mission. Freeing hostages will not only save their lives, but the lives of many people in Gaza and Israel who will be spared further bloodshed.
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February 3, 2024
JCRC of Greater Washington
We thank Dr. McKnight for her distinguished service and her leadership of MCPS as it emerged from the COVID pandemic and confronted a multitude of unprecedented challenges. Leading the 14th largest school system in the country is not an easy task. We have always especially appreciated Dr. McKnight’s sincere intent in confronting school-based racism, antisemitism, and hatred, which remains a major crisis within MCPS. Her presence at Walt Whitman High School on the night after a horrific incident of antisemitic vandalism, her implementation of new bias incident reporting policies and procedures, and her willingness to engage directly with Jewish students and community members at town halls at several synagogues, all demonstrated her desire to address the Jewish community’s concerns.
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January 14, 2024
JCRC Statement on 100 Days Since the October 7 Massacre
JCRC of Greater Washington
Today marks 100 days following the worst atrocity committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. October 7 will forever be a date of mourning; the searing pain of that day will always be with us. We continue to mourn alongside the families of the 1,200 victims who were massacred by Hamas and pray for the full recovery of those who were wounded. We hold in our hearts the more than 130 people still held hostage by Hamas, and reaffirm our total commitment to ending their trauma and getting them home. We grieve for the innocent loss of life in Gaza over the past months and the more than 500 heroic IDF soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to protect the Jewish state. And we pray for an eventual and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
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January 12, 2024
JCRC Statement on Codepink’s “March on Washington for Gaza” Event
JCRC of Greater Washington
This weekend, people of good conscience will take the time to mark and reflect on one hundred days since Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 innocent people on October 7 and raped and sexually assaulted over 200 Jewish girls and young women. Codepink, by contrast, is choosing to organize a hate-filled, anti-Semitic gathering of extremists calling for the destruction of Israel.
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December 18, 2023
JCRC Statement on Recent Threats Against Jewish Institutions
JCRC of Greater Washington
In the past 48 hours, at least ten synagogues and other Jewish institutions across the DMV received bomb threats and were subjected to other forms of harassment. Cries of ‘gas the Jews' are being directed toward our children and families. We are experiencing a stunning increase in antisemitic words and actions directed at local Jewish families and institutions.
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December 15, 2023
JCRC Statement on MCPS Teacher Discipline
JCRC of Greater Washington
Over the last three weeks, at least four Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) educators have been placed on administrative leave for sharing antisemitic images and messages on their social media accounts and, in one case, in an MCPS email signature block. It is deeply disturbing to see professionals tasked with educating and nurturing our children endorsing and spreading such hateful messages.
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December 6, 2023
JCRC Statement on Reinstatement of Zainab Chaudry to MD Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Task Force
JCRC of Greater Washington
Zainab Chaudry believes that Hamas’ coldblooded murder of Israeli babies during its terrorist massacre on October 7 was fake and compares Israel to Nazi Germany. We wholeheartedly supported Attorney General Brown’s decision to temporarily suspend her from the commission in light of these vicious and antisemitic lies and wish it could be permanent.
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November 30, 2023
JCRC Statement on “Emergency Protest” Outside the Israeli Embassy
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Greater Washington Jewish community would welcome a firm and lasting peace for Israel and Gaza. Israelis and Palestinians deserve nothing less. Peace will come when Hamas no longer has the means to behead innocent children, rape innocent women, slaughter innocent civilians, and destroy innocent families. Peace will come when Hamas no longer governs Gaza. We unequivocally support Israel’s military campaign to permanently dismantle Hamas, which will strike a blow for freedom in the Middle East and around the world.
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November 28, 2023
JCRC Statement on Funds Being Made Available in Maryland for Faith-Based Institutions and Nonprofits
JCRC of Greater Washington
The following is a statement from Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, on state and local officials in Maryland announcing more than $1.3 million in security grants for faith-based institutions and nonprofits:
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November 22, 2023
JCRC Statement on Deal to Release 50 Hostages
JCRC of Greater Washington
For 46 days, Israeli civilians have longed to hold their children and other relatives who were abducted during Hamas’ terrorist rampage. We share their tears of joy that they will soon be reunited and pray that families will never be separated again.
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November 16, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington Condemns Violent Anti-Israel Protest Outside DNC Headquarters
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington condemns in the strongest terms possible the violent demonstration that occurred Wednesday evening outside Democratic National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill. We greatly appreciate U.S. Capitol Police for removing the unruly protesters and find it unconscionable that six officers were injured by protesters as they attempted to break up the crowd.
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November 8, 2023
JCRC and ADL Washington Statement on CASA Anti-Israel Social Media Post
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Washington Jewish community has for decades enjoyed a strong alliance with the area’s Latino population and advocacy organizations, so it was particularly alarming to read CASA’s post concerning Israel that was hurtful and full of falsehoods. Although the post has been deleted, it does not erase the untrue accusation that Israel is engaging in ethnic cleansing or suggesting that Israel should not be able to defend itself from terrorism, among other inaccuracies.
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October 11, 2023
JCRC and ADL DC Demand More from All Local School Districts
JCRC of Greater Washington
Over the last 72 hours, JCRC and ADL DC staff have worked tirelessly to communicate to local school systems the importance of acknowledging the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists and the profound trauma being experienced by Jewish students, parents, and employees. We thank the several school districts that have released some public statement. We wish to especially recognize Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school system in our region, for speaking with JCRC staff several times and for responding personally to parents as she can.
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August 28, 2023
Statement on Hate-Motivated Deadly Shooting in Jacksonville This Weekend
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington is saddened and outraged that yet another instance of hate-fueled gun violence on Saturday shattered numerous lives in Jacksonville, where the Black community was once again targeted.
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May 25, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington is grateful that the Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget approved today by the Montgomery County Council increases security funding for all faith-based nonprofits at risk for hate crimes by $100,000 to a total of $900.000.
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May 8, 2023
Virginia Jewish Communities Statement Upon Governor Youngkin’s Signing of IHRA Legislation
JCRC of Greater Washington
With today’s ceremonial bill signing, Virginia joins 29 other states and the District of Columbia in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as an educational tool to identify and combat antisemitism. The Virginia Jewish Communities of Northern Virginia, the Peninsula, Richmond and Tidewater are grateful for the partnerships that unified our communities as we educated our elected representatives about Jewish identity, antisemitism, and the value of the IHRA definition as a tool for combating the hatred of Jews. These partnerships will continue to benefit our communities for years.
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May 1, 2023
Statement upon Senator Ben Cardin’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2024
JCRC of Greater Washington
For more than 55 years, Ben Cardin has devoted his life to public service to improve the lives of all Marylanders, first in the State House and then on Capitol Hill. He has been an extraordinarily effective leader, legislator, and unapologetic consensus builder who embodies Jewish values. Through unyielding moral clarity on the issues that mattered most to him and the constituents he served -- voting rights, access to health care, human rights, the environment and, of course, a strong and prosperous Israel – he has worked across party lines to pass meaningful legislation that benefits all Americans.
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March 9, 2023
Statement on Minister Smotrich's Visit
JCRC of Greater Washington
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s upcoming visit to the United States has galvanized opposition across the American political spectrum and the U.S. Jewish community. The hateful views long expressed by Minister Smotrich are abhorrent, are opposed by a majority of Israeli citizens, and run contrary to Jewish values. No public servant should ever condone or incite hatred or hate-motivated violence, and when they do, they will be fiercely condemned by a wide swath of American Jewry.
