By Melissa Garlick, Associate Vice President, CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism
When I first heard that Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts legislature approved the establishment of a historic Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, I breathed a sigh of relief. It is so encouraging that our government partners recognize the dangerous surge of antisemitism in our communities and are dedicating a formal space to learning, hearing from the community, and working with us on a plan through a formal commission. With the Commission now in place, our communal partners have a platform for serious discussions — and for action. The first meeting of the Commission took place this week.
Since announcing its establishment, we have seen three positive steps:
- The Commission invited CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism to make a presentation to its members at its first meeting to discuss antisemitism in our community and interventions that CCA is exploring, evaluating, and implementing. Our goal is to ensure the CCA is a leading consultant to the commission, providing evidence-based recommendations on priority interventions we believe will be powerful tools in addressing and preventing antisemitism throughout the Commonwealth. (Watch the full recording of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism from Tuesday, Oct. 29). You can also read Governor Healey’s statement.
- The Commission has appointed its members and Co-chairs, Representative Simon Citaldo and Senator John Velis, who will set the commission’s agendas and priorities. We are thrilled by this news – Representative Citaldo and Senator Velis are long standing allies of our work- and they have already established a deep partnership with CJP’s CCA and the community on these issues. The chairs have released a powerful introductory statement on the potential of this Commission. The commission also includes CCA’s core partners – JCRC, ADL, and AJC — who have been leading key aspects of CCA’s overall agenda.
- The Commission has started to review the White House U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism to recommend steps for local implementation. Released in the spring of 2023, the national strategy is a historic and comprehensive plan with a robust runway for holistic interventions at the state level. CCA considered the plan in implementing its strategy, for example, CCA launched its own version of the “ally challenge” (pg 49 of the plan) in Greater Boston. In order to effectively counter antisemitism, we need a whole of society approach that leans into greater education, understanding, and accountability for all of Boston’s civic society to take action on antisemitism. The Commission’s starting with the White House National Strategy is a step in the right direction.
In order to be successful, this Commission to Combat Antisemitism will need all of us to collaborate with government, business, education, and philanthropic institutions. As I told the Commission at its first meeting- this is a Commission that must first commit to understanding the conditions in civic Boston the past year that led to not only the surge of anti-Jewish rhetoric and action but to that antisemitism going unchecked in all sectors of our society. That understanding will ensure that the State looks beyond solely short-term approaches that may be blunt instruments in fighting antisemitism and also commits itself to effective approaches for the long-term.