Dear friends,

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism held its third hearing on K–12 Education, which included testimony from the largest teacher’s union in the Commonwealth, a panel of organizations representing a coalition that opposed this commission process, and the Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

At the first hearing in the fall, the chairs of the Commission made a commitment to hear from a wide variety of organizations, subject area experts, and residents across the Commonwealth to surface experiences and understandings of antisemitism. As with any legislative hearing, opinions range — as does agreement with those opinions. All hearings are a part of a larger process to create and shape recommendations.

Our focus and commitment at JCRC is ensuring that the Commission creates actionable recommendations that positively impact our lived experience as Jews in the Commonwealth; that increase our sense of safety and belonging; and that contribute to a broader understanding of best practices for other vulnerable communities.

This hearing underscored the real challenges in addressing this issue — challenges shaped by the current climate and the perspectives at play.

Even before the hearing began, the materials submitted by the panel contained misleading claims. For example, one written submission asserted that as much as 69% of American Jews are ‘anti-Zionist.’ When I reviewed their source, it was clear that this statistic relied on a distortion of what Zionism even means. This attempt to redefine Jewish identity undermines the very purpose of this Commission’s work. I felt it was important to dismantle that claim outright. Take a look:

Debates about the IHRA definition of antisemitism often overlook what it actually says. The definition itself isn’t controversial — what’s controversial is how some misapply it, ignoring its nuance or using it beyond its intended purpose (it is a non-binding working definition). I thought this was a very important clarification for our work and the work ahead. Take a look:

It’s important to understand who was presenting at this hearing. The organizations that testified today were the same ones that fought against the creation of this Commission. Some of these groups have a history of supporting calls to “dismantle” the Boston Jewish community, and they continue to peddle dangerous rhetoric that evokes classic antisemitic tropes. I wanted to make sure that this was on the record. Take a look:

At the end of the day, this Commission has an important responsibility. Antisemitism is real, it is dangerous, and it is on the rise. To be effective, the conversation must remain grounded in real data and lived experiences. I closed my remarks by emphasizing the need to focus on meaningful, actionable solutions that address the challenges Jewish communities are facing today. Take a look:

At the end of the hearing, the Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education outlined current efforts to address antisemitism in schools. I asked her how the Commission could help advance this work — what tools, policies, or resources could be strengthened to make a real impact. This conversation underscored the importance of ensuring that our recommendations are not just theoretical, but drive tangible change.

We were so proud to have advocated for the creation and adoption of this Commission and we embrace the responsibility of serving on the Commission.

This is a role we take with seriousness and clarity of purpose, where our contribution will continue to be productive and outcome focused. Yesterday’s hearing was revealing and illuminating. You can view my full remarks here.

I thank the Commission chairs, Senator Velis and Representative Cataldo, for their continued commitment to guiding this process with integrity and courage.

Warm regards,

Jeremy Burton
Chief Executive Officer, JCRC of Greater Boston