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.
December 12, 2023
LTE Chris Van Hollen scolds the wrong side in the Israel-Gaza war
The Washington Post
I welcome the support of Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for Israel’s military campaign to dismantle Hamas. I also agree that civilians in war zones should be protected. Mr. Van Hollen’s focus, however, was on the wrong target.
December 7, 2023
Menorah vandalized outside Olney synagogue hours before Hanukkah celebrations set to begin
FOX 5
Montgomery County Police are investigating a Menorah vandalized outside a synagogue in Olney hours before Hanukkah celebrations were set to begin Thursday night.
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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.
November 29, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington raising money, staffing up in wake of Oct. 7 and rising antisemitism
eJewish Philanthropy
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington has been “quietly” raising money in order to hire new staff and expand its activities in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, the ensuing war and the concurrent rise in antisemitism in the United States and around the world, the organization’s executive director told eJewishPhilanthropy this week.
November 29, 2023
Building Pro-Israel Momentum in the Local Community
Washington Jewish Week
Jewish leaders in the greater Washington community anticipate that momentum will continue building following the massive pro-Israel rally in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, and the first hostage releases under an Israel-Hamas agreement.
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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 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.
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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.
