January 24, 2023
Reward offered in antisemitic vandalism incidents in Montgomery Co.
WTOP News
Anyone with information on the two vandalisms can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-TIPS (8477) or visit the Crime Solvers website.
January 21, 2023
Swastikas drawn this week at three MCPS schools, district announces
Bethesda Magazine
“In collaboration with advocates such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, we will continue our efforts to educate our students about antisemitism,” officials wrote. “Our schools have held and will continue to hold restorative conversations with students and staff, and schools have held community meetings to discuss incidents, but honest and forthright conversations must continue.”
December 18, 2022
Antisemitism casts darkness amid Hanukkah lights
The Washington Post
On Saturday, she and three other Jewish students from Walt Whitman were together at a club activity when they received a schoolwide email about the vandalism at their school.
December 18, 2022
Jewish groups condemn series of antisemitic incidents in Washington, DC area
The Jerusalem Post
“We will continue to stand strong and united in the face of antisemitism and combat it explicitly, and we will ensure that hatred – in any form – never hinders our efforts and ability to build vibrant Jewish life for ourselves and our children.”
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December 17, 2022
Antisemitic graffiti found at Montgomery County’s Whitman High
WTOP News
In response to the most recent graffiti, the Anti-Defamation League of D.C., the American Jewish Committee of D.C., the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington released a joint statement, expressing anger and disgust.
November 15, 2022
Dozens come together to support Jewish community after antisemitic graffiti found on Bethesda trail
WUSA9
November 14, 2022
Antisemitic graffiti found at two locations in Montgomery County
DC News Now
“If society doesn’t show that it is steadfast against bigotry, and against hatred and racism and homophobia and antisemitism, it manifests,” said Ron Halber the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
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November 13, 2022
Montgomery County Council passes antisemitism resolution amid pushback
The Washington Post
“We are living in very, very dangerous times,” said Ron Halber, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, who supported the resolution. “That just highlights the need for a repudiation of antisemitism.”
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November 6, 2022
Montgomery resolution against antisemitsm excluded true debate
The Washington Post
In the article, Ron Halber, the lobbyist putting forward the bill, commented that only individuals who are Jewish should provide feedback on antisemitism definitions.
November 3, 2022
Montgomery County Council unanimously passes antisemitism resolution
Washington Jewish Week
Following the unanimous vote, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington issued a statement thanking the council and noted, “This resolution is overwhelmingly supported by Montgomery County’s diverse Jewish community.”
November 2, 2022
US Jewish leaders respond to early Israeli election results
Cleveland Jewish News
Adam Odesser, director of the Dr. Stuart Lessans Israel Action Center at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, who told JNS that the high turnout among the electorate on Tuesday “shows how Israel is a thriving democracy. The turnout was one of the highest percentages in the past 20 years. And I think we should wait to see what the results show. But no matter who comes up on top, I think we will continue to work with whoever is there, and our connection will continue to be strong.”
November 1, 2022
Kids Helping Kids Do What They Love – Building with LEGOs
Identity
The LEGOs were donated by Gaby and Alyssa Hodor, students at Walt Whitman High School, who connected to Identity with the help of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Last year, Gaby and Alyssa co-founded the LEGO Replay club, where Whitman students assemble LEGO kits for distribution to nonprofit organizations across Montgomery County.
November 1, 2022
MD’s Montgomery County Council to consider antisemitism resolutions
Jewish Insider
“We made simple changes,” said Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, which originally advocated for the resolution along with the Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee.
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October 22, 2022
Opinions: It’s dangerous to misconstrue the meaning of a widely accepted definition of antisemitism
Bethesda Magazine
Deborah Miller is the director of Maryland government and community relations for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington in North Bethesda.
July 1, 2022
Jewish community leaders will fight attempts to restrict abortion in Virginia
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“As a result of the supreme court’s decision, access to abortion will depend on where you live and which political party controls your state. It has led to increased polarization. It’s setting up battles between states and within states.”
July 1, 2022
Coach Kennedy being allowed to pray at the 50-yard line is not good for Jews
Forward
The recent Supreme Court ruling allowing a coach to pray on the field makes it even harder to advocate for minority-faith students
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June 24, 2022
‘Abortion access is a Jewish value’: Reaction to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade
Forward
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade. The decision ended constitutional protections for the right to an abortion that had been in place for nearly 50 years. Abortion opponents have fought for decades to outlaw the procedure. Abortion will now likely be banned in about half of the states.
Here is a sampling of reaction from the Jewish community.
June 24, 2022
‘After Shabbat, we will act’: American Jews gear up for wave of post-Roe activism
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The Washington D.C.-area JCRC said it would push back against further restrictions on abortion access in Virginia, and it would lobby to keep Congress, which has a degree of jurisdiction over the District of Columbia, from imposing abortion restrictions on an overwhelmingly liberal population there that rejects such restrictions.
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June 20, 2022
Antisemitic, white supremacist fliers raise alarms in Montgomery County
Washington Jewish Week
“Some of it is antisemitic, some of it is racist, and a lot of it is white supremacist in origin,” said Halber, a resident of Germantown and member of Temple Beth Ami. “The one in Kemp Mill was directed at the Jewish community. The others were just bigoted in general, not just Jewish but could be seen as targeting other groups, as well.”
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June 20, 2022
Is D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in trouble at the polls?
Jewish Insider
“JCRC does have an exceptionally close relationship with Muriel Bowser,” Halber said.
June 2, 2022
Swastika Posted at Bus Stop by Silver Spring Synagogue
mymcm
Ron Halber, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington executive director, also issued a statement noting that his organization is “deeply disturbed,”
May 23, 2022
Montgomery County Vigil Supporting Victims of Buffalo Mass Shooting
JCRC
The JCRC’s Executive Director Ron Halber speaks at Montgomery County Vigil Supporting Victims of Buffalo Mass Shooting
May 23, 2022
New Loudoun County schools data shows significant increase in racial slurs, hate speech
ABC7 WJLA
“I think it mirrors the trends that we’re seeing in society overall,” said Guila Franklin Siegel, the associate director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
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May 20, 2022
Washington Jewish Week
Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, has worked with Filler-Corn and calls her an excellent speaker. Impressed with her fundraising abilities, Halber said he is turned off by calls that she didn’t share the money she had raised.
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May 17, 2022
Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice’ held outside US Congress
The Jerusalem Post
Ron Halber, CEO of JCRC of Greater Washington. “The JCRC is the umbrella organization of over 120 synagogues, schools, social service agencies and local chapters of national organizations,” said Halber. “And when you look at the issues today that are polarizing Americans, one of the issues that American Jews are most united on is the freedom of choice and women’s right to reproductive health.”
