Government Affairs

The Jewish Federation is committed to tzedakah, or justice, and sees our partnership with government as a necessary component of our work. As such, we work tirelessly to protect the partnership between government, our partner agencies and the clients they serve. This includes legislative advocacy work, grassroots organizing, community education and coalition building.

Our work is focused on four main areas: Children, Youth and Families, Adults, Seniors and Human and Civil Rights.

Washington State Jewish Action Center

Washington State Jewish Action Center

The Washington State Jewish Action Center is the Jewish community’s hub for information related to public policy and the impact on local and statewide communal organizations. The Action Center is also the primary tool the Jewish Federation uses to communicate with our community about public policy matters.

You can sign up for the Action Center to receive periodic updates on legislation, policy and other items being considered in Washington DC, Olympia and elsewhere. Through the Action Center, the Jewish Federation will communicate important information and provide opportunities for engaging opinion makers at all levels of government. The Action Center is an important tool in our government relations toolbox.

Become a Member of the Washington State Jewish Action Center

Recent Action Alerts

Government Affairs News

Our State Budget Presents a Huge Challenge

Posted on Thursday Jan 14, 2010 2:02 PM

In a short, sixty day session, anything is possible. But erasing the need for drastic cuts to health and human services may very well be a lost cause.

So much is at stake for low-income people and community agencies like Jewish Family Service and the Kline Galland. Lend your voice to solutions to keep our Jewish community, and Washington State, safe and strong. Join the Washington State Jewish Action Center to stay up-to-date and take action on legislative and policy happenings in Olympia, WA and Washington, DC.

The 2010 legislative session presents challenges for the Jewish community and our legislative priorities. To balance Washington’s budget and erase an almost $3.0 billion deficit, Governor Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget made deep cuts into critical programs

Deepening Elected Officials' Knowledge of Hate Crimes

Posted on Tuesday Oct 20, 2009 8:31 AM

Jewish Federation’s role to address and solve community problems was evident at Hate Crimes and Discrimination in the Northwest, a symposium for elected officials and their staff held on October 15.

The goal of the symposium was to explore and discuss with elected officials and their staff a wide range of issues concerning hate and discrimination. The symposium was split into three parts:

Approve Referedum 71 This Fall

Posted on Saturday Oct 10, 2009 2:46 PM

On this fall’s election ballot is an important referendum you should know about – Referendum 71. Referendum 71 asks voters to “approve” or “reject” Washington’s domestic partnership statute. The statute gives rights and responsibilities to unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples. A significant number of Jewish community organizations, synagogues and leaders are supporting an approve vote including the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Jewish Family Service, Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee.

Congratulations to President Obama on Nobel Peace Prize

Posted on Friday Oct 9, 2009 3:51 PM
Nobel Peace Prize

Congratulations to President Barack Obama for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that they hope this honor will help President Obama build momentum behind his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

Focus and Fight Poverty: Take action this week!

Posted on Tuesday Oct 6, 2009 12:21 PM

The current economic recession is testing our community and families. Applications for food stamps and food bank usage are on the rise. Unemployment is up. The need for our Jewish community to come together to address poverty has never been greater.

For the second year in a row, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is spearheading a Jewish community-wide initiative, Focus and Fight: A Call to End Poverty.

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