The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle (JCRC) is horrified and deeply saddened by the shootings in Atlanta that took the lives of eight people, including six Asian women. We grieve with the families and friends of the victims and the broader community, and commend first responders for their swift apprehension of the suspected shooter.
While the motive for these murders is not yet known, they were committed at a time of increasing violent attacks on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities that are rooted in racism and xenophobic fearmongering.
The Jewish community understands firsthand the fear horrific incidents like these can instill. As Jews, we are commanded lo ta’amod al dam rey’echa—to not stand idly by in the face of violence. We are here for our Asian American and Pacific Islander family, friends, and neighbors, and remain committed partners in working together to combat hate and bias and uphold our shared vision of safety and freedom for all.
JCRC Board of Directors
Bill Mowat, Chair
Diane Douglas, Vice Chair
Marla Dunn, Vice Chair
Abby Brockman, Secretary
Rob Spitzer, Immediate Past Chair
Hilary Bernstein, Israel Affairs Chair
Zach Carstensen, Public Advocacy Chair
Allix DeGraff, Membership Chair
Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Intergroup Relations Chair
Sarah Boden, Federation Representative
Linda Clifton, Federation Representative
Ron Leibsohn, Federation Representative
Carol Stockton, Federation Representative
Lian Caspi, At-Large Member
Rabbi Benjamin Hassan, At-Large Member/Va’ad Representative
Rene Levy, At-Large Member
Miriam Swedlow, At-Large Member
Will Wright, At-Large Member
JCRC Institutional Members
American Jewish Committee, Regina Friedland
Anti-Defamation League PNW, Tammy Federman
Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, Rabbi Olivier BenHaim
Camp Solomon Schechter, Andy Kaplowitz
Congregation Beth Shalom, Carolyn Cohen
Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, Benjamina Menashe
Hebrew Free Loan Association, Maura Roberts
Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, Susan Edelheit
Hillel at the University of Washington, Diane Baer
Hillel at the University of Washington Student Representative, Lindsay Hippe
Holocaust Center for Humanity, Dee Simon
J Street Seattle, Adam Steinberg
Jewish Family Service, Eric LeVine
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Leisa Goldberg
Jewish Teen Organizations Representative, Max Rubenstein
Kavana, Robin Schachter
Kol Ami | A Center for Jewish Life, David Leviten
Kol HaNeshamah, Connie Burk
Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder Day School, Chaya Elishevitz
Mercaz Seattle, Rabbi Avi Rosenfeld
Minyan Ohr Chadash, Adrienne Query-Fiss
New Israel Fund, Gail Zucker
Seattle Hadassah, Marci Nemhauser
Seattle Hebrew Academy, Rivy Kletenik
StandWithUs Northwest, Randy Kessler
Stroum Jewish Community Center, Elaine Kraft
Temple Beth Am, Rabbi Ruth Zlotnick
Temple Beth El, Vivian Morrison
Temple Beth Or, Rabbi Rachel Kort
Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Dina Alhadeff
Washington State Coalition of Rabbis, Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg
JCRC At-Large Council Members
Randi Abrams-Caras, At-Large Council Member
Adam Engel, At-Large Council Member
Lila Mowatt, At-Large Council Member
Clara Prizont, At-Large Council Member