ISRAEL RESOURCES & UPDATES
Watch our community come together
On Oct. 7, 2023, an unprecedented and horrifying attack against Israel was launched over Shabbat and the holiday of Shemini Atzeret. Israel is now at war.
On Monday, October 9, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), with Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) & Israeli American Council (IAC), and many other community organizations, brought more than 4,500 attendees to Boston Common.
In a strong demonstration of allyship and support, we heard, unequivocally, that Boston stands with Israel and Boston stands against terrorism.
Featured Event
Shabbat Table for Israeli Hostages
More than 200 empty chairs lined a Shabbat table on the Brighton Common on Friday to honor the hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists since the surprise attack on Israel Oct. 7.
Each empty chair represented one individual missing from their Shabbat table.
Jewish organizations including JCRC, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Israeli-American Council, and ADL New England hosted the event, which drew a crowd of more than 300 people, including several students from schools in the area.
JCRC Speaker Series
Rachel and Jeremy discussed recent decisions by universities regarding Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as official student groups, allyship, and the hard and uncomfortable ethical questions we are all asking as this war continues.
With Hillel Council of New England, JCRC hosted Dr. Rachel Fish in Conversation with Jeremy Burton to answer questions about “How to Talk about Israel” during this crisis.
Report Antisemitism
Community members are advised to use the ADL’s incident report form if they witness or experience antisemitism.
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.
Stay Informed
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.
Get all the critical issues, events, and headlines about Israel delivered to your inbox by signing up for CJP’s Daily News Roundup.
Explore resources, news, and upcoming events on JewishBoston.com.
Here is a list of social media accounts of credible, English-speaking journalists:
Tal Schneider (Times of Israel)
Noga Tarnopolsky (freelance)
Trey Yingst (Fox)
Hadas Gold (CNN)
Nadav Eyal (Yediot Ahronot)
Herb Keinon (Jerusalem Post)
Avi Scharf (Haaretz)
Barak Ravid (Axios)
Sarah Tuttle Singer (Times of Israel)
Educational Resources
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.
Responding to School District Communications:
Effective K-12 education does not begin and end with students’ academic experiences. A robust education also encompasses an inclusive school culture that nurtures students’ social, emotional, and civic development. Taken together, this approach to teaching and learning ensures that all students are safe, seen, and valued by school leaders and teachers. This requires a long-term and ongoing commitment to policies, pedagogies, and practices before, during, and after traumatic events.
Schools should continue to:
- Strongly condemn acts of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate
- Acknowledge the communal pain and trauma of the terror attack and the deep impact on Jewish students and families
- Recognize the humanity of all impacted, including Israeli and Palestinian civilians
- Share how all students can access culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care
Keep Updated:
We are expanding our work in the K-12 education space to strengthen partnerships with school districts and engage with parents and guardians.
Sign up here to receive future information about this work.
K-12 Parent/Guardian Resources and Guidance
We will continue to add resources to this page:
School District Engagement
We have heard many parents and guardians express anxiety, fear, and at times pain since October 7th and the resulting discourse in K-12 education. We have also heard a very clear desire from parents and guardians to learn more about the resources and potential services available in schools that offer students social-emotional supports and opportunities to discuss the events in Israel and Gaza through safe and constructive dialogue.
We strongly encourage parents and guardians to continue constructive communications with district and school leaders to learn more about the academic and non-academic practices that are supporting students.
Some questions that can help facilitate these conversations include asking district and school leaders:
- What social and emotional services are available for students?
- What trauma-informed approaches are teachers and staff providing students?
- What guidance and criteria are available to teachers as they select teaching resources and frame classroom discussions around current events?
- What strategies for civil discourse and media literacy education are being implemented by teachers?
- What organizations is the district partnering with to build administrative, teacher, and staff capacity to meet students’ social, emotional, and civic learning needs?
- Who is the district partnering with to build administrative, teacher, and staff capacity to teach about and respond to incidents of antisemitism?
Resources
We encourage parents and guardians to learn more about social and emotional learning, trauma-informed education, and civil discourse and media literacy education, all of which are vital to shaping inclusive and supportive school cultures.
Social, Emotional, and Trauma-Informed Education
- National Association of School Psychologists Supporting Youth Affected by the Violence in Israel and Gaza: Tips for Families and Educators
- National Association of School Psychologists Addressing Grief in Children: Tips for Parents and Educators
- National Association of School Psychologists Culturally Competent Crisis Response
- Child Mind Institute Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
- Child Mind Institute Going Back to School After a Tragedy
- UNICEF How to Recognize Signs of Distress in Children
- Cult of Pedagogy Podcast Unpacking Trauma-Informed Teaching
Civil Discourse and Media Literacy Education
CBS News Addressing the Israel-Hamas War in Classrooms
Facing History and Ourselves Fostering Civil Discourse: How Do We Talk about Issues that Matter?
Education Week How Teaches Can Talk About Hard Things with Students
Teaching Controversies Framework for Teaching Controversial Issues
Common Sense Media Talking with Students about Shocking or Disturbing News
Common Sense Media How Do I Talk to My Kids about Violence in the News?
Mental Health: Jewish Teen Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and TribeTalk have compiled this collection of resources.
JF&CS Mental health resources for people affected by the war in Israel
Articles & Additional Resources:
Facing History & Ourselves: Processing Attacks inIsrael and the Outbreak of War in the Region
ADL: Implementing the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism in K-12 Schools
ADL: 6 Tips for Supporting Jewish Students in the Classroom
Higher Education
Harvard Hillel’s Joint Statement on the War in Israel projecting a unified response from Harvard’s Jewish community
The Israel on Campus Coalition Coalition-Wide Statement condemning Students for Justice in Palestine for Glorifying Terror.
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.
Governor Healey and this bipartisan group of 17 Governors communicated to Congressional leadership that they “#StandWithIsrael and unequivocally condemn the despicable acts of war and terror perpetrated by Hamas.”
JCRC is grateful for the leadership and words of Senate President Spilka and Speaker of the House Mariano.
We are moved by the moment of silence in the House requested by Speaker Mariano, Representatives Balser, Vitolo, Brad & Howitt.
And we are thankful for the MA Senate for their clear and heartfelt resolution led and read by Majority Leader Creem and Senators Freidman, Rausch, Lewis & Finegold.
Thank you Cambridge City Councilors Denise Simmons, Patty Nolan & Paul Toner for condemning the pro-Hamas rally at City Hall on Monday evening.
JCRC stood in solidarity with Harvard Hillel on Sunday Night.
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.
Allyship in Action
Decades of JCRC’s relationship building and trusted allyship means that, in this horrific moment, our allies show 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.
Read statements of support from our allies in the community.
Bithiah Carter, president and CEO of New England Blacks in Philanthropy
Statement from the Black Ministerial Alliance Ten Point of Greater Boston.
Solidarity Statement by Eneida Román, President & CEO of Amplify Latinx
Supporting Our Allies
Decades of JCRC’s relationship building and trusted allyship means that, in this horrific moment, we show up for our allies.
Following the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian-American child near Chicago, JCRC of Greater Boston joined with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and several of our peer CRCs around the country to draft and organize this statement rejecting Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate, antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry.
Keeping the Local Media Informed
Providing interviews
JCRC’s Jeremy Burton with NightSide with Dan Rea 10/09/23
“Tensions on campuses over the war between Israel and Hamas escalated on Wednesday as an out-of-state conservative group drove trucks through Harvard Square emblazoned with pictures of students linked to a controversial statement on Israel, labeling them with the word ‘Antisemites.’ Meanwhile, officials at Tufts University denounced one of the school’s own student groups for a statement it issued earlier this week that applauded the attack by Hamas and praised the terrorists’ ‘creativity.
Connecting press with key community leaders
US must stand with Israel in face of barbaric war crimes
At the Boston Common on Monday afternoon, thousands of Jews came together, waving banners and wrapping themselves in Israeli flags, for an emotion-laden event dubbed “Gathering in Solidarity With Israel Under Fire.” It was hosted by the Consulate General of Israel to New England as well as local chapters of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Israeli American Council and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Crowd rallies on Boston Common in support of Israel after Hamas attack 10/10/23
Political and religious leaders gathered Monday afternoon on Boston Common to show support for Israel following the Islamist militant group Hamas’ surprise attack Saturday, its largest in decades.
Coordinating Press Opportunities
Jewish Community Center in Arlington gathering supplies for Israeli families
Man living in Cambridge heading to join Israeli military in fight against Hamas
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.
JCRC Supports Israel — Thank you for your support.
JCRC of Greater Boston unequivocally condemns the Hamas terror campaign and is unwavering in support for Israel’s right to defend its citizens. Now is the time for Jews and allies across Boston to come together in solidarity and in support of Israel’s safety.
Your investment in JCRC Boston advances our work creating a more just world where Jewish identity is embraced and all people thrive.
