The Jewish Community Relations Council is proud that our CEO, Jeremy Burton, has been appointed to Massachusetts’ Commission to Combat Antisemitism by Senate President Karen Spilka. This is the first time that a legislature in the United States has established a commission to specifically counter antisemitism. 

As the largest collective voice of the Jewish community in Massachusetts, we are look forward to working with our partners in government and in the community to ensure that our network of Jewish community voices are represented on the commission. 

We congratulate Representative Simon Cataldo and Senator John Velis on their appointment as the co-chairs of the commission. We thank them for their unwavering commitment to addressing the urgent needs of the Jewish community in Massachusetts and for stepping up as champions in the fight against antisemitism. 

Read Representative Cataldo and Senator Velis’ statement here, where they emphasize the need for humility and care in addressing this complex and fraught issue. As they rightly point out: 

“We will approach this exercise with humility and care, recognizing that antisemitism is a fraught and complicated topic in today’s society. Our work will not, however, be compromised by those who believe the problem of antisemitism is being exaggerated — it is not — or who feel that a singular focus on antisemitism for a commission is inappropriate. Antisemitic fear mongering, conspiracy peddling, and hate have for millennia been a harbinger of wider threats to democracy and peace throughout the world. This commission will work towards stamping it out in Massachusetts.” 

As antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts have surged — 440 reported last year alone, marking a staggering 189 percent increase — this commission is an important step in beginning a conversation on how to foster awareness, ensure safety, look to best practices, and implement evidence-backed strategies in the Commonwealth to combat hate. The commission will also be tasked with reviewing and recommending steps for implementing the White House’s U.S. National Strategy to counter antisemitism. We look forward to advancing this conversation.  

We are committed to supporting the commission’s vital work, ensuring that together, we build a safer, more inclusive Massachusetts.