Over 100 Jewish Groups Voice Deep Alarm and Concern Over Recent Attacks on Democratic Norms and Values

As a broad group of Jewish communal organizations representing an array of perspectives, constituencies, and communities, we are joining together to express our deep alarm over recent attacks on democratic norms and values — attacks that fundamentally threaten the freedoms and safety of all Americans.

We expect and hope there to be legitimate policy debate and disagreement in our politics. There certainly is among this group. That is democracy.

But what we are experiencing now goes far beyond policy disagreements with the federal administration. It is a direct assault on the very principles that underpin our democracy – principles including equal justice under the law; the protection of fundamental civil liberties and civil rights; a commitment to rejecting dehumanization and political violence; and the upholding of checks and balances, accountability, and transparency in our government.

Over the last two weeks, this administration has moved quickly and aggressively to weaponize the federal government against many who do not conform to its worldview, including but not limited to:

• The scapegoating and dehumanization of immigrants, people of color, transgender people, and other marginalized groups to justify draconian and unconstitutional policies and dismantle fundamental domestic and international programs; further consolidate authority; and avoid accountability and transparency on matters of public safety, public health, and public interest.
• The pardoning of violent insurrectionists, while the investigators and prosecutors who brought them to justice have been fired or otherwise threatened. Countless other public servants have been removed, attacked, investigated, or punished for a perceived lack of loyalty to the President.
• The freezing of federal funds — and a takeover of the federal payments system and classified information by Elon Musk, an unelected, unconfirmed, and unvetted ally of the President — intended to force ideological conformity, make it harder for individuals and groups to exercise their rights, and threaten the checks and balances at the core of our democratic system.

History has made clear that our safety as Jews is inextricably linked with inclusive, pluralistic democracy and with the rights and safety of all people. When the rule of law and democratic norms are threatened, antisemitism invariably increases and Jews – and all communities – are made less safe.

We will continue to stand up for these core principles and act as national and local bulwarks against attacks on democracy — because we know where this leads, and because our safety and our values demand no less.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
The Rabbinical Assembly
A More Perfect Union
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
American Jewish World Service
Avodah
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
Elluminate
HIAS
J Street
Jewish Earth Alliance
Jewish Labor Committee
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Keshet
Kirva
L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty
Masorti On Campus
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New Jewish Narrative
Partners for Progressive Israel
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Society for Humanistic Judaism
T’ruah
The Institute for Jewish Spirituality
The Nexus Project
The Shalom Center
The Workers Circle
Tivnu: Building Justice
Uri L’Tzedek
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism
Zioness Movement
Adat Shalom, Los Angeles, CA
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Adventure Judaism
Arizona Jews for Justice
B’nai Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action: Maryland
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Pittsburgh
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action: South Jersey
Beyt Tikkun: A Synagogue without Walls
Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
Board of Rabbis of Princeton Mercer Bucks
Carolina Jews for Justice
Chicago Jewish Labor Committee
Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY
Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Louisville, KY
Congregation Agudas Achim, Columbus, OH
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York, NY
Congregation Bet Haverim, Davis, CA
Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, CA
Congregation Beth David, Saratoga, CA
Congregation Beth Shalom, Seattle, WA
Congregation Brith Sholom, Bethlehem, PA
Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland, OR
Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia, PA
Congregation Simchat HaLev, Woodbury, NY
Congregation Tifereth Israel, Columbus, OH
Congregation Tikvat Jacob Beth Torah, Manhattan Beach, CA
Emanuel Synagogue, Oklahoma City, OK
Fabrangen Havurah
The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies
Hebrew Seminary: A Rabbinical School for Deaf & Hearing
HIAS Pennsylvania
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Community Center of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah
Jewish Community Relations Council of NW Indiana
Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Kehila Chadasha, MD
Kesher Pittsburgh
Lab/Shul
Levine Center To End Hate, Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Makom Solel Lakeside, Highland Park, IL
Midway Jewish Center, Syosset, NY
Mishkan Chicago
New England Jewish Labor Committee
New Jersey Jewish Labor Committee
New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA)
New York Jewish Labor Committee
North Louisiana Jewish Federation
Ohavay Zion Synagogue, Lexington, KY
Open Dor Foundation, Inc.
Open Door Judaism
Or Hamidbar, Palm Springs, CA
Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City, CA
Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Wyomissing, PA
Retired Hillel and Spiritual Life Center at Bentley University
SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All
Shaare Tefila Congregation, Olney, MD
Temple B’nai Hayim, Sherman Oaks, CA
Temple Beth El, Fall River, MA
Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, Philadelphia, PA
Temple Emanu-El, Sarasota, FL
Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, MD
the Den Collective
Tifereth Israel Congregation, New Bedford, MA
Tikkun Ha-Ir, Milwaukee, WI
Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center
Tzedek Georgia
UFT Jewish Heritage Committee