Jewish Community of Greater Washington Expresses Solidarity with African-American Community
We, the undersigned Jewish organizations in the Greater Washington region, join all people of good conscience in condemning the brutal killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. We are outraged that yet another Black life has been lost to systemic American racism.
At a time when our nation has been convulsed by a global health crisis disproportionately impacting communities of color in our region and around the country, we demand justice, not only in the prosecution of arrested former-officer Derek Chauvin, but also in the prosecution of the three former officers who stood by while Floyd was killed. And we demand that the system of ingrained, pernicious racism that enabled this horrific killing be uprooted and replaced by a culture of equitable, just law enforcement that protects Americans of all skin colors.
The Jewish people will not be bystanders—our organizations and our community are called to solidarity with people of color in this moment. We value our long-standing role as mutual friends and allies to the African-American community. We are committed to dismantling institutionalized racism in America. We are in conversation with our African-American partners to listen, learn, and support. And we are committed to making our own institutions more welcoming to Jews of color and bringing justice to all marginalized people. Each of us must dig deeper into our own stereotypes and biases and upend them. Pursuing racial justice is a human and a moral duty, and a reflection of sacred Jewish values.
The work is hard and the obstacles daunting, but we must not resort to exhaustion, cynicism or complacency. The road to justice begins in our own backyards: we are each responsible for nurturing children, schools and local communities that are free from bias. We are each responsible for creating a society where all young people can flourish and where no child grows up to become the next Derek Chauvin.
There is no room on this journey for violence, destruction or lawlessness as we have witnessed in our own community in Washington, DC. We were pained to see the burning of St. John’s Church, “the Church of the Presidents,” and attacks on numerous other landmarks and businesses in our nation’s capital. We appreciate those who are responding to this tragedy peacefully and thoughtfully and urge all members of our community to work with one another and with law enforcement to build a better and more inclusive Washington region.
We express our deepest condolences to the family and community of George Floyd and share a traditional Jewish mourning sentiment in asking that his memory be a blessing to those who loved and knew him.
Organizational Signatories as of June 9th (in formation):
- Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
- GatherDC
- Shaare Tefila Congregation
- The Jewish Studio
- Fauquier Jewish Congregation
- Congregation Har Shalom
- Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim Congregation
- Gesher Jewish Day School
- JCADA
- Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
- Washington Board of Rabbis
- Temple Rodef Shalom
- Kol Shalom
- Adas Israel Congregation
- B'nai Israel Congregation
- Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy
- Magen David Sephardic Congregation
- Lilliian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum
- Agudas Achim Congregation
- Jewish Women International (JWI)
- Beth El Hebrew Congregation
- Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation's Capital
- Jewish Labor Committee
- Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County
- Sunflower Bakery
- Hebrew Free Loan Association of Greater Washington
- Tikvat Israel Congregation
- Temple Beth Ami
- Tzedek DC
- Congregation Adat Reyim
- Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
- Operation Understanding DC-a Black/Jewish organization
- Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation
- Shirat HaNefesh
- 3GDC - Washington DC Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivor
- Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
- Hillel at The George Washington University
- George Mason University Hillel
- Washington Hebrew Congregation
- Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA)
- ADL Washington, D.C. Region
- Congregation Beth Emeth
- Bikur Cholim of Greater Washingotn/BCGW
- Capital Camps and Retreat Center
- DC Jews on Bikes
- Congregation Or Chadash
- Congregation Olam Tikvah
- DC Minyan
- 2 For Seder
- Temple Micah
- American University Hillel
- Temple Beth Torah - Chantilly, VA
- Bender JCC of Greater Washington
- Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
- Congregation Adat Reyim
- Congregation Etz Hayim
- Temple B'nai Shalom
- Temple Emanuel
- Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
- Congregation B'nai Tzedek
- Chesapeake Bay Region of B'nai B'rith International
- The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies
- B’nai B’rith International
- B’nai Shalom of Olney
- Maryland-Israel Sister State Committee
- Ohr Kodesh Congregation
- Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center
- Shaare Torah
- the Den Collective
- Minyan Oneg Shabbat
- MesorahDC.org
- JSSA
- Beth Sholom Congregation
- Avodah
- Hill Havurah
- Ramah Day Camp of Greater Washington DC
- Kesher Israel - The Georgetown Synagogue
- Congregation Ner Shalom
- Fabrangen Havurah
- Am Kolel
- The Tasman Center for Jewish Creativity
- Temple Shalom
- Bet Mishpachah
- University of Maryland Hillel
- The Generations After, Inc.
- Sixth & I
- Kehilat Shalom
- Aish Center of Greater Washington
- Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah
- Congregation Sha'are Shalom
- Temple Solel
- Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation
- Maryland-Israel Sister State Committee
- Tifereth Israel Congregation
- Jewish Residents of Leisure World
- Yachad
- Bethesda Jewish Congregation
- Hadassah Greater Washington
- Tikkun Olam Women's Foundation
- National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ)
- Minyan Roeh
- SVIVAH
- Mezumenet
- JAMAAT ( Jews and Muslims and Allies Acting Together)
- Hillel at Gallaudet
- Hadar Institute
- Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue
- Bend the Arc: Jewish Action - Prince George’s
- Kehila Chadasha
- Interfaith Families Project
- Kemp Mill Synagogue
- Mayberg Foundation
- Oseh Shalom, Laurel MD
- The Morningstar Foundation
- Mishkan Torah