JCRC Kicks Off the Year with Action for Jewish Safety
Written by Max Patashnik, September 12, 2025
This past Sunday, the Federation’s JCRC Council — representing 36 Jewish organizations and 14 at-large members from across Greater Seattle — gathered to kick off the year 5786. We were honored to welcome Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, who spoke powerfully about the national landscape of antisemitism, the interconnection between Jewish safety and democracy, and why the work of JCRCs is so critical at this moment. Amy reminded us that combating antisemitism cannot be separated from strengthening democracy itself—a truth that guides our advocacy across Washington State.
The kickoff also highlighted the unique value proposition of the JCRC: serving as the collective voice of the Jewish community in civic life, advancing Jewish safety and inclusion, and building partnerships that make our advocacy more impactful. Together, we discussed some of JCRC’s top goals for 2025–2026: deepening the effectiveness of our advocacy, educating more non-Jewish leaders about Jewish identity and inclusion, and strengthening intergroup relations. To deepen the impact of JCRC’s work, we asked Council members to commit to two actions: one way they would work toward these goals during the High Holidays and another action later this fall. These actions will help build on the innovative ideas and energy from Sunday and keep momentum going throughout the year through partnerships, coalition activity, or community education.
While in Seattle, Amy also led two important conversations. At a Jewish Electeds Roundtable, local and state Jewish elected leaders reflected on how their Jewish identity informs their work, how they can lead in addressing anti-Jewish harm, and how they balance those responsibilities with broader public leadership. The conversation was open, candid, and deeply meaningful, with electeds sharing the real world struggles they face and discussing with Amy opportunities to break outside of the binaries.
Amy Spitalnick, members of the JCRC, and other Jewish elected officials meet at the Jewish Electeds Roundtable.
While in Seattle, Amy also led two important conversations. At a Jewish Electeds Roundtable, local and state Jewish elected leaders reflected on how their Jewish identity informs their work, how they can lead in addressing anti-Jewish harm, and how they balance those responsibilities with broader public leadership. The conversation was open, candid, and deeply meaningful, with electeds sharing the real world struggles they face and discussing with Amy opportunities to break outside of the binaries.
Finally, at Confronting Hate: From Charlottesville to Washington State, Amy joined JCRC Director Max Patashnik in conversation with an intimate group of community leaders about the rising tide of antisemitism and extremism—from incidents like the horrific shooting at the Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis to a swastika on Our Lady of Fatima Parish School in Magnolia here in Seattle. Drawing from her leadership at Integrity First for America, which successfully sued the neo-Nazis responsible for the violence at the 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally, Amy shared key lessons from that work. She connected those lessons to the urgent need to confront white supremacy, extremism, and antisemitism in our state today, highlighting the critical role of collective action and Jewish advocacy in protecting our community and democracy.
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