Dear JCRC Community,

Hamas, an antisemitic terrorist organization that aims to wipe Israel off the map, has unleashed a horrific and unprecedented attack on Israel. Just days into this assault more than 1300 Israelis have been massacred, over 2,500 are wounded, and roughly 150 are being held hostage inside Gaza. 

Now is the time for Jews and allies across Greater Boston to come together in solidarity and in support of Israel’s safety.

JCRC Community in Action 

JCRC unequivocally condemns the Hamas terror campaign and is unwavering in support for Israel’s right to defend its citizens. We are contacting elected officials at the local, state, and federal level to brief them on latest developments. We have seen an outpouring of support from leaders across the Commonwealth, including Governor Maura Healey, our congressional delegation, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and dozens of state and local elected officials. We encourage the community to thank our leaders for their support and amplify their messaging. 

JCRC, along with Jewish community organizations across Greater Boston, held a gathering on Monday, October 9th, including civic partners and leaders. By bringing together Jewish community organizations to work in collaboration with one another, we help assure a coordinated communal effort. Read CEO, Jeremy Burton’s remarks HERE. 

Our team is also reaching out and meeting with school districts across Greater Boston to offer resources and guidance on how to effectively communicate to students and families. This work will continue as we onboard our new Director of Educational Partnerships, Dan Osborn. This role was created with CJP’s support to expand work in engaging with local school districts on issues of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. 

Please read more about Dan HERE.

Allyship in Action 

Decades of JCRC relationship building and trusted allyship meant that in this horrific moment, our allies showed up for us. 

Cardinal O’Malley called CEO Jeremy Burton from Rome where he is attending meetings. He asked that JCRC convey to the leadership of our various agencies that he shares his great sorrow and pain with us. He wants to assure all of us that we are in their prayers and that he has sorrow to see Israel going through this. 

We are grateful for the statement from Bithiah Carter, president and CEO of New England Blacks in Philanthropy and its moral clarity and this powerful statement from the Black Ministerial Alliance Ten Point of Greater Boston. 

As a resident of Cambridge, MA, CEO Jeremy Burton signed this petition calling on the mayor & city councilors (and candidates for city council this fall) to immediately issue unequivocal condemnations of the support for terrorism displayed at City Hall on Monday and JCRC has shared out. 

JCRC has signed both Harvard Hillel’s Joint Statement on the War in Israel projecting a unified response from Harvard’s Jewish community and The Israel on Campus Coalition Coalition-wide statement condemning Students for Justice in Palestine for Glorifying Terror. 

And we are keeping the local media informed, providing interviews, connecting them with key community leaders, and coordinating press opportunities. 

Next, we will continue to activate our networks to advocate for robust local and national support for Israel. Members of the community are encouraged to sign up for our email list and follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook. 

What Comes Next 

In this political climate, and with fast moving updates, it is critical to be sensitive to the credibility of news sources. Follow reputable news sources and check your sources before reposting information. 

We recommend the Times of Israel Live Blog for up-to-the-minute news. 

 Stay Informed  

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• Explore resources, news, and upcoming events on JewishBoston.com 

Israel Emergency Fund 

Give to CJP’s Israel Emergency Fund. 

100% of donations are going toward supporting victims of terror and addressing the trauma caused by these horrific attacks.