JCRC Statement
January 13, 2026
The following is a statement from Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, and Rachel Feinstein, JCRC Director of DC Government and Community Relations.
“As antisemitism continues to put Jewish communities at risk of harm in the nation’s capital and beyond, policymakers must respond not just with words, but with action. We’re grateful to Mayor Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah, and the DC City Council for doing exactly that.
“For FY26, more than $640,000 has been awarded to ten Jewish institutions through the Safe and Secure DC Nonprofit Fund, which provides grants for security infrastructure and personnel for nonprofits at risk of hate crimes and bias incidents. These investments will provide Jewish children and families with greater protection and more peace of mind when they attend their synagogues, schools, community centers, and other cultural institutions.
“JCRC led the effort to create this Fund, and we are now urging DC leaders to expand it to $1 million. These additional resources will help counter the ongoing spread of antisemitic threats and violent attacks that have become all too common against our community and others. We are pushing for similarly strong investments in Maryland and Virginia to further protect Jewish families and institutions across the DMV.
“Last year’s killing of two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum demonstrated the horrific and too often fatal consequences of antisemitism. Policymakers at all levels have a responsibility to act. We applaud DC’s leaders for leading the way.”