Elected officials discussed rising antisemitism and support for the United States-Israel relationship at the annual northern Virginia “Lox & Legislators” event on Dec. 5.
Residents of northern Virginia and the surrounding communities gathered to hear from and meet Virginia elected officials and discuss the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s legislative priorities for 2025 at Temple Rodef Shalom in Fairfax.
The early morning event was in partnership with Congregation Etz Hayim, Beth Sholom Temple, Agudas Achim Congregation, Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Temple Rodef Shalom, Jewish Social Services Agency, Makom, Gesher Jewish Day School, Cookie Hymer and Nelson Blitz, Ellen and Dan Blalock, and Alex Brill.
Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe of Temple Rodef Shalom opened the event with a message of solidarity as he welcomed the dozens of guests and elected officials.
“We’re in a time that continues to be hard for the American Jewish community,” Saxe said at the event. “We need each other.”
Vicki Fishman, JCRC’s Virginia director of government and community relations, presented the organization’s 2025 legislative priorities in Virginia, which include countering antisemitism, increasing security funding for institutions at risk of hate crimes, strengthening the network of social services, and supporting the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board.
On the federal level, the JCRC advocates support for Israel, security for Jewish agencies, and addressing the “unprecedented spike in antisemitism” on college campuses.
Ron Halber, the CEO of JCRC, told Washington Jewish Week that he is grateful that both political parties in Virginia have antisemitism “at the top of their list[s]” of priorities.
“I believe that strategically, a lot of the legislative action is going to take place at the state level,” Halber said in an interview. “Because there’s going to be a lot of logjam at the federal [level], I think that state and local politics is where the action is and that’s where the JCRC is uniquely situated to make a difference.”
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who serves Virginia’s 7th District, spoke about the urgency of combating rising antisemitism.
“The numbers are clear on that, and it’s really affecting the security of communities and students across the country and across the world,” Spanberger said at the event. “We see and continue to see hate crimes in places of worship and community centers.”
Despite this, Spanberger said she was encouraged by the fact that the Biden-Harris administration released the United States’ first national strategy to counter antisemitism in May 2023.
State delegate Dan Helmer, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, said he was a leader in passing House Bill 18: the “antisemitism bill.” Passed in May by the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill is aimed at curbing antisemitism, protecting Jewish students’ access to education, and ensuring that acts of antisemitism are classified as hate crimes, Helmer told Washington Jewish Week.
“It is unconscionable that in this time, in this place, in this age, that we are seeing a resurfacing of antisemitism, sometimes masked as something else,” Helmer said at the event. “We need to make sure that we eradicate the scourge of antisemitism, that we celebrate our diversity, but allow Jews to proudly celebrate their Jewishness at this time.”
Spanberger expressed support for increased funding for security at Jewish institutions.
“I want to work towards a world where increased security is not the top priority or need not be the top concern for so many faith-based leaders or so many Jewish peers in the community,” Spanberger said.
She added that she backs the U.S.-Israel relationship due to her status as a former Central Intelligence Agency case officer: “I understand on a really clear level that Israel is our strongest social security partner in the [Middle East].”
Spanberger expressed her commitment to bringing home the remaining hostages in Gaza. Earlier in 2024, she voted to pass a supplemental funding package of defensive support for Israel and humanitarian aid for Gaza, which President Joe Biden signed into law.
Helmer said he supports Spanberger for governor of Virginia; she is considered a frontrunner for the Democratic Party in the 2025 state gubernatorial election.
“I think Congresswoman Spanberger has been a strong advocate on behalf of the Jewish community,” he said in an interview. “She is going to make an excellent governor of Virginia.”
Other officials who spoke at the event include Congressman-elect Suhas Subramanyam, Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Va.), and state delegates Marcus Simon and Laura Jane Cohen.
Halber emphasized the importance of thanking our elected leaders for standing with the community and dedicating their careers to public service.
“I want us to end on a note of optimism,” Halber said at the event. “I believe America’s best days are ahead, and I believe the best days are still ahead. But in order to make those dreams a reality … you got to work for it. You got to work to save this cherished democracy that we have.”
