Dear Colleagues,
This leadership update is intended to provide you with updates on the important legislation sponsored by Jewish legislators across the country and spotlight your fellow lawmakers and the work they are doing on behalf of Jewish communities in their states.
Through our partnership with Jewish Federations of North America, we hope to foster a bipartisan sense of community amongst Jewish legislators from different backgrounds and locations. Our goal is to share information with you from across the country in support of our shared Jewish community priorities. We also will educate and update you on key issues relevant to your local Jewish communities and constituencies.
Additionally, today, our hearts are heavy following the return of four bodies to Israel, one of whom was identified as Oded Lifshitz. We await the identification of the remaining bodies, which media reports have suggested are likely Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas. You can read the Federations full statement here.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day Resolutions
On January 27th, many legislatures across the country recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was also the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Legislatures that passed resolutions to mark this important day include Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Michigan, Kentucky and Delaware. In many cases, these efforts were spearheaded by Jewish lawmakers. I was proud to be part of the observances in Albany with many of our colleagues from across the state. In addition, many states, including Florida, chose to mark the day by lighting their capital buildings yellow.
In Texas, Rep. Jon Rosenthal spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about the importance of marking the holiday and learning the lessons of the Holocaust. He even taught his fellow legislators how to say “never again” in Hebrew. You can watch Rep. Rosenthal’s remarks here.
In New Jersey, the Jewish members of the General Assembly all stood together to read a resolution marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and lit candles to remember those who were lost. You can watch the ceremony here.
In Ohio, the six members of the Ohio Jewish Caucus issued this statement, and attended multiple remembrance events to mark the day.
Key Pieces of New Legislation
In Pennsylvania, a bill was introduced to designate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as state-observed holidays. The bill is being led by both Muslim and Jewish Legislators in the state, including NAJL Board Member Rep. Dan Frankel.
In Maryland, the “Maryland Campus Accountability and Modernization to Protect University Students Act” was introduced in both the House and Senate. The bill is sponsored by the Co-Chairs of the Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus, NAJL Board Member Senator Shelley Hettleman and Delegate Jared Solomon. The bill would take concrete steps towards making university campuses across the state a safer place for students, particularly Jewish students. The bill was based on the Campus Act, which passed in Ohio last year and was supported by Jewish legislators. If you are interested in taking up this key piece of legislation, you can find the Jewish Federations issue brief on the Campus Act here.
In both New York and Maryland, Jewish legislators (Senator Jeff Waldstreicher in Maryland and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz in New York) introduced bills that seek to curb masked intimidation. The bills would make masked intimidation a crime in both states, while protecting First Amendment rights and exemptions for medical purposes. These laws mirror similar efforts led by the Black and Jewish communities to push back against the KKK and other hate groups that try to hide their identities to terrorize marginalized groups. You can find the New York bill here and the Maryland bill here.
Jewish Legislator Spotlight
In future newsletters, we will highlight a different legislator’s work from around the country so you can better know your colleagues and learn why they decided to serve their communities. Please fill out this form so we can highlight you and your work in the future.
We would also like to know how we can best support the critical work you are doing on behalf of Jewish communities, what sort of educational opportunities we can offer, and what resources could be useful in your advocacy efforts. We encourage you to share what you are working on and to let us know how we can effectively support you. Please take a moment to send us an email: Jeff Wice at najleg@gmail.com and Eli Berne at Eli.Berne@JewishFederations.org.
I would also like to thank former Representative Tana Senn for her years of dedication and service as Co-President of NAJL. We wish her the best of luck as she transitions into her new role as Secretary for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in Washington. Best of luck, Tana!
Finally, as a part of our partnership, we hope to foster deeper connections between local Federations and Jewish legislators around the country. Please use this tool to find your local Jewish Federation, and Eli and Jeff will be happy to help connect you.
With best wishes for a successful session,
Assemblyman David Weprin (NY)
NAJL President
