Thank you to the 759 community members who made their input into this year’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Policy Priorities Survey! Their voices represented 96 organizations and congregations from every corner of Washington State, spanning a wide range of political views, religious affiliations, and Jewish identities. The survey results help us create a unified Jewish advocacy agenda on behalf of the community, and we are excited to roll up our sleeves and prepare for the legislative season ahead.

When asked which issues matter most, the majority of the respondents indicated three top priorities:

• Jewish safety, inclusion, and support (antisemitism, safety, security, etc.) – 75% of respondents

• Human rights and civil liberties – (hate crime prevention, protecting democratic systems, combating discrimination, etc.) –  65% of respondents 

• Health, well-being, and stability (food, housing, health care, social services, etc. ) – 42% of respondents

These results are similar to what we saw in the survey last year, and we are proud to share how your voices helped us accomplish meaningful results during the 2025 legislative session:

• Jewish safety & inclusion 
  • We successfully advocated for continued state funding for the nonprofit security grant program, which helps protect synagogues, schools, and community centers across Washington. 
  • We secured funding for Holocaust education and legislation.
• Human rights & democracy
  • The JCRC helped advance legislation allowing employees who are victims of online hate and harassment to take leave to recover, meet with law enforcement, and seek support. 
  • We supported funding for more robust investigation and response to discrimination in K-12 schools (including anti-Jewish discrimination).
• Health & stability
  • We partnered with coalitions to protect funding for food banks, senior nutrition programs, free school meals, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The results of this survey identify what matters most to you. But Lobby Day is where we put those priorities into action. We invite you to join the JCRC and fellow Jewish community members on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia to meet directly with legislators and advocate on behalf of our community.