Today, we thank Governor Healey for signing a landmark budget that marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate. This budget is a testament to the Governor’s unwavering commitment to Massachusetts’s Jewish community, reflecting the Healey-Driscoll administration’s understanding of the challenges we face and their dedication to addressing them with tangible and impactful measures. 

We are particularly proud to have advocated for and secured continued investment in non-profit security, investments in our human service agencies, as well as in genocide and Holocaust education. Further, the budget’s directive to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop evidence-based curricula and training programs is an important step in educating students about the root causes and impacts of antisemitism and bias in our society. In doing so, we lay the foundation for more inclusive and welcoming schools. 

Importantly, this budget establishes a special commission on combating antisemitism, a priority for JCRC. This commission, tasked with reviewing and implementing the White House’s U.S. National Strategy to counter antisemitism, emphasizes a proactive approach to tackling antisemitism. We look forward to working closely with the legislature, the governor, and relevant agencies to advance this critical conversation. 

We thank our legislative leadership, who have shown extraordinary leadership and allyship and have sought our counsel and collaboration on actionable steps to reinforce the Commonwealth’s role in the fight against antisemitism and hate. This partnership has been instrumental in shaping a budget that addresses the needs of our community. 

This journey has not been without challenges. 

In recent weeks there has been a public and troubling campaign against the establishment of this commission, led by groups — some of which have a history of injecting antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories into our civic discourse. This only lent more validity to the need for public leadership and a commission addressing antisemitism. 

 We commend Governor Healey for signing this into law and for her continued recognition of the commission’s importance. 

We are deeply grateful to all the members of our JCRC network, along with our other partners who mobilized in recent days to support the commission. Your voices were heard, and your actions played an important role in this effort. We specifically acknowledge the invaluable partnership of our JCRC members including the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Israeli-American Council; as well as that of the Agudath Israel and many others who stood with us in advocacy and action.  

With this historic budget, we have taken a major step forward in combating antisemitism and hate. And by continuing to work together in advocacy and partnership, we will ensure that these measures are effectively implemented and that our community remains protected and supported for generations to come.