Dear Friend,
The last week has been a case study in why JCPA exists.
As you may have seen, we proudly organized a joint statement from mainstream Jewish legacy organizations — including our partners in the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements — rejecting the false choice between countering antisemitism and protecting democracy. As we see escalating actions from the federal government that use the guise of fighting antisemitism to undermine basic rights and our academic institutions, we believe it is crucial to send a clear message about where we stand.
Last week also saw the horrific arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home, in which the Jewish governor was targeted for his perceived views on Israel and the Palestinians. We have been very clear: targeting a Jewish official because of his support for Israel is antisemitism, plain and simple.
And the reactions from the extremes — to both of these statements — tell me that we’re exactly where we need to be.
On one side we’re attacked as “self-hating” or “fake” Jews for standing up for democracy and for the rights and safety of all.
On the other, we’re smeared as “genocidal Zionists” for speaking out against antisemitism on the left or refusing to shy away from our community’s relationship with Israel.
It’s exhausting. But more than anything, it’s a reminder that we must be doing something right: carving out a space in the Jewish community governed by nuance and complexity, and by the values at the core of our history and identity. A space where we can stand up against antisemitism no matter where it comes from — and that recognizes there is no true Jewish safety without democracy, just as there is no true democracy without Jewish safety.
I’m so proud to be in this fight with you and with so many others around the country. Read on below about JCPA’s work over the last month – and then consider forwarding this email to those in your network who are tired of the false binaries of these conversations and who believe countering antisemitism and protecting democracy must go hand in hand.
Shabbat Shalom,
Amy Spitalnick
CEO
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
From our Action Networks |
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Add your voice: Oppose the SAVE Act Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 22, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. If signed into law, this bill would require voters to present documentation — such as a birth certificate or passport — to register or update voter registration in person. Millions of Americans do not have, or would struggle to find, proof of citizenship, and would be prohibited from voting. And since voter fraud is incredibly rare, the impact will mostly be felt by groups like college students, communities of color, immigrants, and married women who have changed their names. We also see dangerous conspiracy theories — such as “invasion” and “replacement” rhetoric, which has directly fueled deadly violence targeting the Jewish, Black, and Latino communities — used to justify this policy. |
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Counter Antisemitism and Stand Up For Democracy |
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Last week, JCPA led a Jewish communal statement, alongside a broad coalition of mainstream Jewish organizations, rejecting the false choice between Jewish safety and democracy. Our community’s real concerns about antisemitism should not be exploited to undermine democratic norms and rights, including the rule of law, the right of due process, and/or the freedoms of speech, press, and peaceful protest. We know that it is both possible and necessary to fight antisemitism — on campus, in our communities, and across the country — without abandoning the democratic values that have allowed Jews, and so many other vulnerable minorities, to thrive. |
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