Community and Government Relations Updates

    The Jewish Community Relations Council and the JewishColumbus Board are deeply disturbed by the events that transpired at the Worthington City Council meeting on September 16th. During the meeting, two individuals—who we have confirmed are not Worthington residents—engaged in egregious antisemitic outbursts, including the vile phrase, “F**k the Jews.” We acknowledge that City Councils have bylaws and procedures for public comment, but it is unacceptable that such blatant hate speech was neither addressed during the meeting nor denounced in the subsequent public statement. We have communicated our profound disappointment with the Council’s insufficient response. This instance of antisemitism...

Dear JewishColumbus Community, Overnight, a major escalation took place in Israel’s north. Thankfully, at this stage, there are no reports of Israeli lives lost, and the immediate threats to Israel seem to be over for now. In the early hours of this morning, IDF Intelligence said it had solid knowledge that a Hezbollah attack was imminent and that thousands of rockets were about to be launched toward Israel, with many aimed at Tel Aviv and other cities in the country’s center, as well as at some of the country’s most sensitive military and intelligence targets. As a result, at around 4:30 am, Israel launched a preemptive...

Jewish American Heritage Month is an exceptional occasion dedicated to the recognition and honor of the invaluable contributions made by Jewish Americans. However, our celebration extends far beyond a single month and encompasses the entire year! Since its establishment in 2006 and its annual reaffirmation, Jewish American Heritage Month provides an ongoing opportunity for all Americans to embrace and find inspiration in the extraordinary achievements of Jewish Americans throughout our nation’s rich history and diverse cultural tapestry. The impact of Jewish Americans resonates deeply in various domains, whether it be the captivating world of entertainment with iconic works like The...

JewishColumbus and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) are proud to announce that Columbus City Council has officially proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish American Heritage Month serves as an important reminder that the story of Jewish Americans is interwoven into the fabric of our nation’s history. It is a testament to the resilience, determination and extraordinary contributions made by individuals of Jewish descent to all parts of society – from the arts, sciences and business to public service, social justice and philanthropy. As a community, it is our responsibility to ensure that the struggles, achievements and cultural heritage...

JewishColumbus and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) stand with Evan Gershkovich, and you can, too. In March 2023, The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) Evan Gershkovich was arrested by Russian authorities on false charges of espionage. Both WSJ and Evan strongly deny Russia’s allegations and the United States government has designated this arrest as a wrongful detention of an American journalist. Evan is the son of Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants who made their home in New Jersey. Help us support Evan by signing this letter drafted by JFNA to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, which expresses our strong support...

  Our mission at JewishColumbus is to maintain a strong and vibrant Jewish community in Columbus and beyond. With our funding, programming and agency partnerships, we provide a space where every member of our community can feel a sense of safety and belonging. One of the fundamental ways through which we achieve this is our unwavering focus on ensuring the physical security of our members.  Coming together to protect our community is as important as ever following the heart-wrenching hostage situation in the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. While thankfully no members were harmed, it serves as a...

  Dear Community, JewishColumbus strongly condemns the seditious and violent riots that took place today at the United States Capitol Building. Since 1788, a peaceful transition of power has been the unwavering symbol of American democracy. It is far past time for our country to unite, put aside our differences and work as one towards a common purpose. Days before the election, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) joined over 90 national and local Jewish organizations in a letter calling on our leaders at every level and branch of government to “recommit to our nation’s core democratic principles and oppose violence emerging...