March 29, 2024
Though it seems like years ago now, it was just earlier this month that the WA State Legislature concluded its session. I’m so proud (and you should be too!) of the work of your Federation’s JCRC in Olympia. Our professional team and volunteers collaborated to make great strides — our biggest ever Jewish Community Lobby Day, numerous alerts that helped catalyze community members to take action, and legislative wins that will result in a positive, tangible impact for our community, like dollars for safety and security grants, which, sadly, are more needed than ever right now.
The success of our advocacy work in Olympia is not just incumbent upon high-level professionals and dedicated volunteers, it also relies upon partnerships and allyships — both with legislators and with advocates from other communities. In the last several months, as the tide of anti-Jewish harm has risen, many in the Jewish community have felt, at times, abandoned by our allies. And so, during the Federation board meeting last week, after sharing a report about our advocacy work this session, a board member appropriately asked me about allyship.
“Do you feel like leaders and organizations from other communities stood with us this session?” he wanted to know. I responded that it was a mixed bag. On some issues, we had strong allyship, and on others, it was harder to find.
A wise mentor of mine, Rabbi Doug Kahn, the Director Emeritus of the San Francisco JCRC, posited in a piece he recently co-authored that, despite what some believe, we are not alone, we may just have to look a little harder to see our allies. He writes, “We have a right to expect true friends to stand with us, while at the same time being realistic and strategic regarding how they can support us.”
With this in mind, and reflecting on this year’s fast and furious short legislative session, I wanted to take a moment to share an example of allyship among true friends.
One of our top legislative priorities this year was to address rising hate in our communities. I contacted two esteemed leaders, Bishop Garry Tyson, and Jasmit Singh, to see if they would co-author an opinion piece with me about creating safer communities. It was with enthusiasm and care that they both agreed. Bishop Tyson is the Senior Pastor at Goodwill Baptist Church, the President of the General Baptist Convention of the Northwest, and founder of The Nehemiah Initiative. Jasmit is a founding member of the Sikh Coalition – a national organization that advocates for civil rights, and the Khalsa Gurmat Center in Washington. He also serves on the Board of the Faith Action Network.
The piece we wrote together didn’t get published so I’m sharing it here as an example of the kinds of partnerships we need to build more to create a safer world, yes, for the Jewish people, and also for other targeted communities. If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
Kol Tov,
Max Patashnik
Director of JCRC & Government Affairs
The time for unity and action against hate is now
Amid Seattle’s celebrated diversity and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, we must also confront a troubling increase in hate crimes. Our communities each hold unique fears and anxieties about this reality and what it means for our safety. And yet, we agree that hate has no place in our state. Currently, there are two measures before the WA State Legislature that legislators should pass to demonstrate their commitment to building a safe Washington for all — funding nonprofit security grants in the operating budget and legislation to establish a state-wide hate crimes hotline (SB 5427).
The success of the hotline Oregon established, demonstrates its potential for significant impact here. Having a well-resourced hotline is one of the most effective ways we can connect victims and survivors of hate crimes, at their most vulnerable, to community, legal, and justice support. Additionally, increased reporting not only highlights the number of incidents but also builds stronger awareness of the prevalence and nature of hate in our own communities — awareness that is foundational to the creation of targeted strategies and solutions.
The latest FBI report shows the highest incidence of hate crimes in over a decade, with a significant surge in attacks targeting individuals based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and other identities. In response to the unprecedented rise in hate crimes in the last five years, at least 10 states, including Washington, created their own Nonprofit Security Grant Programs (NSGP) to help fill local needs unmet by the Federal program.
This alarming trend underscores the NSGP’s critical mission to protect spaces where communities like ours gather for celebration, refuge, expression of faith, and togetherness. The NSGP provides organizations serving vulnerable communities with the necessary resources to improve their security, ensuring community spaces can remain safehaven for everyone.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming demand for basic safety measures, such as fencing, cameras, and lighting, far exceeds the resources available. In last year’s operating budget, the legislature set aside $500k for safety and security grants. But the Washington State Department of Commerce received 117 applications totaling $2,487,394, leaving an unmet need of nearly $2 million. This shortfall exposes our communities to threats that are not only increasing but also evolving in complexity.
For decades, our organizations have dedicated themselves to fighting hate and injustice, and we must now demonstrate the moral courage to stand up for what’s right, and ask our legislators to do the same.
We commend the bipartisan group of lawmakers supporting the NSGP, led by Senators Braun and Valdez, and Representatives Senn and Rude. Their commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities acts as a beacon of hope and a call to action for others. The final budget should fully fund this critical program in the operating budget, and ensure a strong continuing allocation in years to come.
Discrimination, in any form—whether racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, or any prejudice—challenges the principles our society stands on. It isolates individuals, fractures communities, and erodes trust. This is not the state we know; this is not the future we envision. By confronting discrimination in all its forms, we affirm the strength found in our diversity. Love, respect, and understanding stand as the most powerful forces against the darkness of hate. In unity, we find our strength, and in diversity, our beauty.
Our collective endeavor to combat hate and ensure the safety of our communities depends on the commitment of legislators. We urge every member of the legislature to support both the establishment of a hate crimes hotline and robust funding of the NSGP. The time for action is now. The safety and well-being of our communities hang in the balance.
Max Patashnik, Bishop Garry Tyson, and Jasmit Singh
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Copyright © 2024 Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. All rights reserved.
