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With reported acts of anti-Semitism on the rise in Maryland and across the nation, dozens of leading state politicians gathered at a synagogue in Potomac Friday morning, expressing their solidarity with the Jewish community and embracing the expansive policy agenda of a Jewish advocacy group.
The annual legislative breakfast of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC), billed as an opportunity to 鈥渟chmooze and nosh,鈥� is traditionally a popular event with elected officials. But due to COVID-19, Friday was the first in-person JCRC political breakfast in three years. And the rising incidents of anti-Semitic rhetoric and vandalism added a heightened sense of urgency and gravity to the gathering, even though there were plenty of humorous moments.
The A-list lineup of speakers included the state鈥檚 two U.S. senators, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D), Gov.-elect Wes Moore (D), Lt. Gov.-elect Aruna Miller (D), Comptroller-elect Brooke Lierman (D), Prince George鈥檚 County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D), and assorted other local officials. The official speaking program lasted well over two hours, and that was on top of 45 minutes worth of pregame schmoozing. The crowd of over 200 thinned considerably as the program wore on.
鈥淕ood morning! Is it still morning?鈥� Lierman said as she began her speech.
On the one hand, there were plenty of light-hearted moments, like when U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) talked about how happy he was to have a bagel and lox breakfast 鈥渨ith our mishpocha鈥� again and teased Raskin about being 鈥渢he teacher鈥� in the state鈥檚 congressional delegation.
But on the other hand, several speakers talked about the rising tide of anti-Semitism and racism in the country. It was lost on no one that Congregation Har Shalom, where the breakfast took place, was surrounded by police cars all morning and that several police officers were standing at strategic places in the synagogue鈥檚 large hall.
Deborah Miller, the JCRC鈥檚 director of Maryland government and community relations, said that 85% of faith-based hate crimes in Montgomery County are directed at Jews, even though Jews only make up 10% of the county鈥檚 population.
鈥淢any of us are on edge and afraid,鈥� said Rabbi Adam Raskin 鈥� no relation to the congressman 鈥� of Congregation Har Shalom. 鈥淭he spike of anti-Semitism in this state and in this country is terrifying.鈥�
Moore, who will become the state鈥檚 first Black governor, sought to draw links between Jews and the Black community 鈥� and he wasn鈥檛 alone.
鈥淲hen we talk about the dual evils of anti-Semitism and racism, let鈥檚 not try to think about them as two separate things,鈥� he said.
Cardin said the U.S. needs 鈥渁 national unified strategy to fight the rise of anti-Semitism.鈥�
The JCRC is a potent political force in the State House and the Washington, D.C., region, and Friday鈥檚 breakfast was a reminder of both the group鈥檚 political influence and its lengthy and substantive policy agenda. The JCRC doesn鈥檛 just advocate for Jewish interests, but also for an array of social service programs, criminal justice reforms and other good works.
鈥淎t the JCRC, we know we can count on our elected officials to implement policies that reflect our values, our Jewish values,鈥� Deborah Miller said.
During his speech, Cardin waved the program, with three pages鈥� worth of policy priorities, and said, 鈥淲e鈥檙e all for this.鈥�
For some members of the audience, it was a first opportunity to listen to and take stock of Moore, who takes office on Jan. 18. Moore said he felt like he was among family in a room full of people of faith.
鈥淚鈥檓 a child of God,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know where my strength comes from.鈥�
Moore told the crowd about his grandfather fleeing the U.S. for Jamaica with his family after being menaced by the Ku Klux Klan. He later returned to the U.S., saying 鈥渢his country will be incomplete without me,鈥� and went on to become the first Black minister in the history of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Moore vowed to enforce and strengthen state hate crime laws, and also praised Deborah Miller and Ronald Halber, the director of the JCRC.
鈥淏less you for your leadership,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that we have a stronger organization for your leadership. We have a stronger state for your leadership.鈥�
Moore was rewarded with a standing ovation, the second of the morning 鈥斅爐he first went to Jamie Raskin, who recounted being at a food-free White House reception earlier this week and thinking that the country needs a Jewish president.
Friday鈥檚 breakfast was also an opportunity for outreach for Alsobrooks, who may be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024. Alsobrooks told a hushed room about her family鈥檚 decision to flee South Carolina in 1954 after her great-grandfather was shot to death by a sheriff鈥檚 deputy. She noted that her grandparents and parents became civil rights activists, and often worked side by side with Jewish allies.
鈥淕rowing up, it was conveyed to me in no uncertain terms that the Jewish community was with us every step of the way,鈥� he said. 鈥溾�verything the Jewish people wanted for their children, they showed up to work alongside my parents to make sure that I would have those rights.鈥�
