October 1, 2024
JCRC Statement on Reports of Imminent Iranian Ballistic Missile Attack on Israel
JCRC of Greater Washington
A ballistic missile attack from Iran — the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism for more than 40 years — represents a grave threat to the state of Israel and its people and cannot be tolerated."
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September 30, 2024
JCRC Statement on Senator Tim Kaine's opposition to certain weapons transfers to Israel
JCRC of Greater Washington
"Sen. Kaine has been an ally of Israel and the Jewish community in Virginia. We are therefore disappointed that he would imperil Israel’s security by limiting its military capabilities when it faces unprovoked attacks on multiple fronts."
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August 19, 2024
JCRC Statement on Hateful Graffiti Found at Four Montgomery County Schools
JCRC of Greater Washington
"For the second consecutive week, MCPS school buildings have been vandalized by individuals with vitriolic, ill-informed comments directed towards the state of Israel, as well as other antisemitic images."
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August 11, 2024
JCRC Statement on Antisemitic Messages Sprayed At Bethesda Central Farm Market/Bethesda ES
JCRC of Greater Washington
“It is appalling that so many families simply trying to enjoy the Bethesda Central Farm Market instead had to be subject to — and then voluntarily helped to clean — hateful and antisemitic messages accusing Israel of raping women and children."
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July 22, 2024
JCRC Statement in response to President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington expresses its deep appreciation for President Biden’s half century of public service to our nation. In particular, we are extraordinarily grateful for his lifetime of friendship to the American Jewish community and the state of Israel — particularly over the past nine months, when Israel has faced an existential crisis and as antisemitism in the United States reached epic proportions.
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July 14, 2024
JCRC Statement on Deadly Shooting at Trump Rally
JCRC of Greater Washington
Every American must reject the assassination attempt against former President Trump. Political violence threatens the very core of our democracy and has no place in this country.
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June 25, 2024
JCRC Statement on Planned Protest at Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meeting
JCRC of Greater Washington
Nearly nine months after Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre against Jewish people since the Holocaust, an end to the ensuing hostilities remains elusive. Yet the protesters planning to make a scene today in Fairfax County, like so many of their counterparts across the country, fail to grasp that siding with terrorists is both an immoral and ineffective path to true peace.
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June 9, 2024
JCRC Statement on Saturday's Military Rescue of Four Israeli Hostages
JCRC of Greater Washington
We are overjoyed that Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv have been rescued and returned safely to Israel. The heroic actions taken by members of the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet are a reminder for the world that Israel fights for freedom, while Hamas clings to terrorism.
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May 30, 2024
JCRC Statement on Antisemitic Incident at Jackson-Reed High School
JCRC of Greater Washington
Jackson-Reed High School’s years-long failure to properly address antisemitism is once again on full display. It is beyond outrageous that Jewish and Israeli children and parents who simply attended and participated in an International Culture Night were subjected to unhinged protestors accusing them of being 'genocide lovers' who support 'killing kids.' When children need a police escort just to safely leave a school-sponsored event, something is deeply wrong with that school’s culture.
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May 8, 2024
Press Release: Students Back Off Lawsuit to Show Antisemitic Film at Washington High School
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the American Jewish Committee issued the following press release after a student group at Jackson-Reed High School in Washington, DC agreed on Wednesday to not screen Occupation of the American Mind, a virulently antisemitic documentary.
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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
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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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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March 19, 2024
JCRC Statement on Holocaust Survivor Presentation at Cooper Middle School
JCRC of Greater Washington
Today, the JCRC was pleased to coordinate a visit by Col. Frank Cohn, a Holocaust survivor who later served 35 years in the U.S. Army, to Cooper Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Col. Cohn spoke to a packed auditorium of 500 students about his experiences during the Shoah. We are so fortunate that Col. Cohn was able to share his Shoah narrative with students of all backgrounds and faiths, and commend Cooper Middle School officials for recognizing that Holocaust survivor testimony is a critical supplement to classroom-based curricula.
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March 12, 2024
JCRC Statement on Reinstatement of Suspended Montgomery County Teachers
JCRC of Greater Washington
In a time when antisemitism is running rampant, schools must do their part to ensure Jewish students have a safe and secure learning environment. More than 3,500 people in Montgomery County signed a JCRC petition urging MCPS to fully investigate teachers who spread hateful and divisive messages in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7. We appreciate MCPS for its due diligence in this matter, including reassigning these teachers to different schools and reinforcing the standards of its social media guidelines for educators and staff.
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March 7, 2024
JCRC Statement on Failure of MCEA Ceasefire Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
MCEA did the right thing by standing down on a resolution that would have clearly violated the standards of its own constitution. If passed, this resolution would have done nothing to educate students or support teachers, but would have caused real harm to Jewish families and educators already battling a sharp increase in antisemitism attacks in our community. It should never have even been considered, but we are pleased that it ultimately received the fate it deserved.
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March 3, 2024
JCRC Statement on MCEA Proposed Ceasefire Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
It is deeply alarming that MCEA is wasting its time and resources voting on a resolution that is biased against Israel, puts Jewish students and educators in Montgomery County at greater risk of anti-semitic attacks, violates the standards of its own constitution, and will do absolutely nothing to advance the cause of peace abroad or support the academic success or safety of our children at home. We urge MCEA to drop this charade and keep its focus on properly educating our children.
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February 15, 2024
JCRC Statement on CAIR’s lawsuit against Montgomery County Public Schools
JCRC of Greater Washington
We are disappointed, though not surprised, that CAIR — an organization whose leaders regularly spew antisemitic vitriol — would file a lawsuit that blatantly disregards the education and wellbeing of Jewish children and families in Maryland’s largest school district.
