May 8, 2024
WUSA9
“There absolutely has been a chilling effect among teachers and principals and other administrators who are afraid of engaging with these issues at all out of the fear of being perceived as quote 'taking sides,'” said Guila Franklin Siegel with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, who works closely with Montgomery County Public Schools and says teachers and administrators have a tough time dealing with incidents of antisemitism because it’s such a hot button issue.
May 8, 2024
BOE President Silvestre Testifies Before Congress About Antisemitism in School
mymcm
Jewish Community Relations Council Associate Director Guila Franklin Siegel praised Chanceller Banks for not shying away from speaking of Jews and antisemitism without constantly bringing up all other types of hate. “That is a contrast to what we see in Montgomery County.”
May 8, 2024
D.C.’s largest high school to show alternate Palestinian film after suit
The Washington Post
Far from a win for the ACLU, the settlement upheld the school’s leadership and allowed students to show alternative movies they could have screened without the lawsuit. “We are glad that the Arab Student Union decided to not press to show a blatantly antisemitic movie at Jackson-Reed High School and cause further division, disruption, and polarization at the school,” said Guila Franklin Siegel, associate director at the Jewish Community Relations Council.
May 7, 2024
Press Release: Jewish Groups Support High School’s Efforts to Ban Screening of Antisemitic Film
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington joined the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the American Jewish Committee in filing an amicus brief today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia supporting Jackson-Reed High School's decision to prevent a student-sponsored screening of an antisemitic documentary rife with hate speech. The full press release can be read below:
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May 7, 2024
JCRC Letter to U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce
JCRC of Greater Washington
Read the JCRC Letter to U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce
May 7, 2024
Op-Ed: Rooting antisemitism out of K-12 schools requires proven, bipartisan solutions
The Hill
A series of hearings held by the House Education and the Workforce Committee in recent months has appropriately shined a harsh spotlight on the sharp escalation of antisemitism in education settings across the country.
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May 1, 2024
Crackdowns and concessions: Student protests enter new phase
The Hill
“I think that any university that agreed to make any concessions on their university-wide policy to these protesters have demonstrated an ultimate failure of leadership,” said Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
May 1, 2024
This Yom HaShoah, Descendants Are Sharing Survivors’ Stories
Washington Jewish Week
This year, on Yom HaShoah, the duty of remembrance is shifting to a younger generation as the numbers of survivors dwindles, as most are old and often in frail health.
April 26, 2024
Angela Alsobrooks distances herself from Van Hollen on Israel policy
Jewish Insider
Speaking to members of the Washington, D.C.-area Jewish community last week, Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George’s County executive running for a Senate seat in Maryland, sought to create some distance between herself and the state’s soon-to-be senior senator, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), on Israel policy.
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April 26, 2024
Washington Jewish Week
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks addressed members of the Jewish community at an event hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington at Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County in Bethesda on April 16, where she discussed her beliefs, character and ideals.
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April 25, 2024
JCRC Statement on Alarming Anti-Jewish University Protests
JCRC of Greater Washington
This week, as Jewish people celebrated the Passover story of freedom and liberation, we also marked 200 days since Hamas’ barbaric attack on October 7 — the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Seder tables around the world featured an empty chair, as we held in our hearts the innocent people still held hostage by Hamas and mourned all those who have lost their lives in Israel and Gaza as a result of an unprovoked terrorist massacre.
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April 22, 2024
JCRC Statement on Congressman Raskin's Vote Against Critical Israel Aid Bill
JCRC of Greater Washington
Since he entered Congress in 2017, Rep. Raskin has been a steadfast ally of JCRC and Jewish families in greater Washington. He has used his voice and platform to support Israel’s safety and security; lead efforts to fight antisemitism at home and secure a lasting peace abroad; and urge the release of innocent Israeli civilians who continue to be held hostage by Hamas. We deeply appreciate his strong support over the last seven years. We are therefore profoundly disappointed by his decision to vote against a vital funding package — bipartisan legislation supported by more than 360 0f his House colleagues — that includes critical security aid for Israel and humanitarian support for the people of Gaza.
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April 17, 2024
JCRC Statement on Alleged Antisemitism Within DC Abortion Fund
JCRC of Greater Washington
Reproductive freedom is a core Jewish value. We believe that women have a fundamental right to decide whether and when to have children, and in some circumstances under Jewish law, denial of abortion care infringes upon a Jewish woman’s ability to exercise her religious freedom. This is why over 80% of American Jews support access to legal and safe abortions. It is also why the JCRC and thousands of Jewish people throughout the Washington DC region support the sacred work of the DC Abortion Fund, which provides reproductive health support to thousands of women across our region, particularly those facing discrimination and/or who couldn’t otherwise afford those services. Their work has been especially critical since the Supreme Court issued its misguided Dobbs decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade.
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April 16, 2024
JCRC Statement on Antisemitic Movie Scheduled to Be Shown at Montgomery College
JCRC of Greater Washington
We deeply appreciate Dr. Williams’ clear denunciation of antisemitism and commitment to fostering an academic environment at Montgomery College based on values of tolerance, acceptance, and mutual respect. As he correctly notes, The Occupation of the American Mind represents the antithesis of these values and has no place in any classroom or community. We are disappointed that the film was scheduled to be shown on campus today, particularly given Montgomery College’s repeated challenges responding to antisemitism in recent years – and especially on a day when a new study finds that antisemitism in Maryland has reached unprecedented levels.
April 15, 2024
‘Get Your Phil’ with Ron Halber
eJewish Philanthropy
The additional staff member hired by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington for its education department was meant to free up the director for “higher level” initiatives. Instead, since Oct. 7, it’s been an all-hands-on-deck as the organization has scrambled to respond to over 100 antisemitic incidents in schools, the JCRC’s executive director, Ron Halber, told eJewishPhilanthropy Managing Editor Judah Ari Gross in the latest installment of “Get Your Phil.”
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April 15, 2024
Iran attack complicates Biden’s push to change the course of Gaza war
The Washington Post
“One of the advantages of Israel not attacking is they can create a diplomatic effort to isolate Iran and it reduces public pressure on them on Gaza,” said Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. “The Israelis know this. The fact that they are willing to strain relations with the Biden administration over counterattacking ... shows the psychological impact of October 7th on Israel’s psyche.”
April 14, 2024
DC Jewish community reacts to Iranian airstrikes on Israel
FOX 5 Washington DC
The Jewish community here in the DMV says they are making sure that institutions and places of worship here are protected following Iran's historic missile and drone strike on Israel. Ron Halber with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington spoke with FOX 5 about the shocking attack.
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April 13, 2024
A Statement to the Jewish Community of Greater Washington
JCRC of Greater Washington
We unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself against an attack by Iran or its proxies. For the past 40 years, the U.S. State Department has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. In that time, Iran has used its resources and influence to fund groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah that are expressly committed to destroying the state of Israel and — as we saw in the barbaric attack of October 7 — wiping out the Jewish people. Israel’s need to protect its people against such mortal threats is now and must always be absolute.
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April 10, 2024
‘Bring Them Home Now’: DC March to Free the Hostages Draws Large Crowd
Washington Jewish Week
More than 1,000 people waving Israeli and American flags marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial on April 7 chanting “Bring Them Home Now,” and “We Demand a Deal Now.”
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April 10, 2024
Proposed DC Budget Cuts Would Adversely Impact Local Jewish Preschools
Washington Jewish Week
About 300 people of all ages came together on Friday morning, April 5, in Samuel Gompers Memorial Park in Washington, D.C., to protest the proposed elimination of the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.
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April 10, 2024
JCRC Statement on Conclusion of 2024 Maryland General Assembly
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) extends our gratitude to members of the Maryland General Assembly for a diligent and productive legislative session. We recognize the impact of the state’s challenging budget climate this year and appreciate our legislators doing their best to meet our community’s needs within these constraints.
April 9, 2024
Loudoun supervisor criticized over statement asking for ceasefire in Gaza
ABC7 WJLA
A D.C.-based Jewish community group recently criticized a statement made by the Vice Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
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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.
April 1, 2024
Proposed state law would require Holocaust education in Md. schools
Moco360 Media
A bill making its way through the Maryland General Assembly would require county school boards to establish Holocaust education curricula and would also require the state board of education to withhold some funding from schools that don’t comply.
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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.
