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.
November 21, 2023
Member of Md. hate-crime task force suspended for anti-Israel remarks
The Washington Post
The Maryland attorney general on Tuesday suspended a member of Maryland’s Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention for posting messages on social media that harshly criticized the actions of the Israeli government in the Palestinian territories.
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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.
November 15, 2023
Historic Pro-Israel Rally in DC Draws Massive Crowd
Washington Jewish Week
People from across the United States converged on the nation’s capital on Nov. 14 for a historic event in support of the state of Israel.
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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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November 1, 2023
D.C.-area schools report more bias incidents against Jews, Palestinians
The Washington Post
Students on K-12 campuses throughout the Washington region have reported finding antisemitic graffiti in bathrooms, hallways and parking lots since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and Palestinian students recount being called terrorists and feeling unwelcome in their school communities.
October 25, 2023
Security Funding to Religious Institutions Increased by $300,000
mymcm
Following an attack by Hamas on Israel and the current violence in Gaza, Montgomery County expedited $311,700 in nonprofit security grant funding Tuesday to Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities here.
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October 18, 2023
DMV Community Rallies Around Israel
Washington Jewish Week
Local Jewish organizations have been working overtime since the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 to run prayer services, rallies and other communitywide events in support of Israel.
October 13, 2023
Rally for Israel held at Freedom Plaza at DC
WUSA9
A rally in support of Israel took place Friday at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. Among the guests for the rally were Mayor Muriel Bowser and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
October 13, 2023
DC Jewish community holds rally at Freedom Plaza amid tensions in the Middle East
ABC7 WJLA
As reactions and support come in for Israelis and Palestinians stuck in between an intense conflict in the Middle East, a local Jewish Federation held a rally in the heart of D.C.
October 13, 2023
Fury, sadness and solidarity at ‘Stand with Israel’ rally in DC
WTOP News
An emotional, passionate crowd gathered at Freedom Plaza in D.C., about a block from the White House, on Friday afternoon to grieve together and show their support for Israel following the attack by Hamas militants nearly a week ago.
October 13, 2023
At DC rally, Maryland’s Moore, Hoyer and others declare solidarity with Israel
Capital News Service
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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.
October 9, 2023
DC Jewish community holds vigil for Israel
DC News Now
The Jewish community in D.C. is mourning the hundreds of people killed in Israel. On Monday night, dozens came together at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Cathedral Heights for a vigil. Through prayer and song, people stood together in solidarity with the people of Israel.
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October 4, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington Expands Into DC Community
Washington Jewish Week
Over the past few months, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) has been allocating more resources into servicing the Washington D.C. area to reflect the city’s growing Jewish community.
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September 13, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) recognizes that fighting to protect American democracy is no less than a fight for Jewish security and prosperity in the United States. A More Perfect Union (AMPU) in its 2022 paper, “The Jewish Imperative to Protect and Strengthen American Democracy,” put this bluntly: “As Jews, we have a vested—indeed, existential—interest in the preservation of American democracy, and we ignore the warning signs of its decline at our peril.”
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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.
August 11, 2023
Religion literacy course is an eye opener for educators
Maryland Matters
Maryland’s nearly 900,000 public school students will soon be heading back to school. Over the summer, teachers in every jurisdiction have taken courses to help them face the many challenges in the classroom. Thirty-five signed up for Religion Literacy for Educators, a five-day bus tour through the religion landscape of Montgomery County.
July 5, 2023
Local leaders show their support for the Jewish community
Bethesda Magazine
Walt Whitman High School choral director Michelle Kim was just getting off the bus following the music department’s spring trip to Florida when Principal Robby Dodd called her over. He’d been awaiting the group’s arrival with a time-sensitive request: Would Kim and the school’s chamber choir perform at an upcoming event to support the Jewish community in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah?
June 15, 2023
Cardin: ‘One of my missions’ is to help young lawmakers understand the U.S.-Israel relationship
Jewish Insider
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) reflected on Wednesday night on his career and his work supporting Israel and combating antisemitism in remarks to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
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May 25, 2023
You Should Know...Adam Odesser
Washington Jewish Week
Jerusalem-born Adam Odesser is director of the Dr. Stuart Lessans Israel Action Center at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. Odesser, 32, lives in Silver Spring and is a member of B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville.
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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.
May 9, 2023
Virginia Adopts Leading Antisemitism Definition as State Launches New Efforts to Combat Jew Hatred
The Algemeiner
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin on Monday signed a bill adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism (IHRA) during a ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Richmond.
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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.
