Antisemitism, expressed as hatred of Jewish people, sometimes exhibited in violent acts, has today risen to levels not seen in decades. ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) 2021 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in the United States recorded 2,717 acts of assault, vandalism, and harassment in 2021 alone, an average of more than seven incidents per day; a thirty-four percent increase from 2020 and the highest year of incidents on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. In Massachusetts, this was even more pronounced, with a total of 108 antisemitic incidents in 2021, a 48 percent increase from the previous year.
 

Throughout history, antisemitic hatred has been directed at several immutable characteristics, including religion, race, and ethnicity. Historically and today, we have also seen antisemitism through attacks on Jewish self-determination and statehood in Israel. In Massachusetts and across the United States, swift and meaningful action coupled with education about the history and dangers of antisemitism is required.

Such education and action is essential to prevent the spread of antisemitism, provide strong support to a vulnerable community, and combat a toxic hatred that harms not only the Jewish community but all residents of Massachusetts. There must be no caveats or qualifiers when condemning anti-Jewish hate, violence against Jews, and antisemitism in all spaces.
 

As such, I commit to:
 

1. Continue to learn about the Jewish people as well as the complex and often subtle nature of antisemitism;

2. Name and publicly condemn antisemitism and its multifaceted manifestations, regardless of source, ideology or political affiliation;

3. Advocate for policy solutions to combat antisemitism and improve the understanding, prevention of, and response to incidents of antisemitism in schools and other public entities;

4. Learn, build bridges, and engage in dialogue and civil discourse about antisemitism and threats to my community;

5. Challenge discriminatory efforts to exclude Jews (whether implicitly or explicitly) from political coalitions or public activities, public accommodations, economic activities, or efforts to marginalize Jews from their neighbors, colleagues and others.
    

As a resident of Massachusetts against antisemitism, I stand with my local Jewish community as an ally and commit to providing support, showing solidarity and building a foundation for greater understanding and mutual respect for all.

Signatories 

 

Inaugural Signatories:

Governor Charlie Baker
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito
Secretary of State William Galvin
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey
Attorney General Elect Andrea Campbell  
Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg
Massachusetts Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano
Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka
Representative Bill Keating (MA-09)
 
Massachusetts Senate:  

Senator William Brownsberger
Senator Nick Collins
Senator Cynthia Creem
Senator Julian Cyr
Senator Sal DiDomenico
Senator Paul Feeney
Senator Barry Finegold
Senator John Keenan
Senator Eric Lesser
Senator Jason Lewis
Senator Michael Moore
Senator Rebecca Rausch
 
Massachusetts House of Representatives:

Representative Ruth Balser
Representative Edward Coppinger
Representative Michael Day
Representative Paul Donato
Representative Shawn Dooley
Representative Peter Durant
Representative Ken Gordon
Representative Richard Haggerty
Representative Hannah Kane
Representative Mary Keefe
Representative David LeBoeuf
Representative David Linsky
Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian
Representative Adrian Madaro
Representative Paul McMurtry
Representative Liz Miranda
Representative Sarah Peake
Representative Alice Peisch
Representative Ted Philips
Representative Smitty Pignatelli
Representative Jake Oliveira
Representative Jeffrey Roy
Representative Lindsay Sabadosa
Representative Jon Santiago
Representative Michael Soter
Representative Thomas Stanley
Representative William Straus
Representative Steven Ultrino
Representative Andy Vargas
Representative Tommy Vitolo
Representative Timothy Whelan
 
City Councilors:

Cambridge City Councilor Patricia Nolan
Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner
Easthampton City Councilor Owen Zaret
Lynn City Councilor Wayne Lozzi
Malden City Councilor Karen Colón Hayes
Newton City Councilor Susan Albright
Newton City Councilor Andreae Downs
Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman
Newton City Councilor Marc Laredo
Newton City Councilor Rick Lipof
Newton City Councilor Emily Norton
Somerville City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld
Somerville City Councilor Kristen Strezo
Waltham City Councilor Paul Katz
 
Organizations and Congregations:

ADL New England  
Alums for Campus Fairness – Tufts Chapter
Beth Israel Lahey Health  
Beth Tikvah Synagogue
Brookline PAX
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Congregation Beth El
Congregation Beth Elohim
Congregation Beth Israel  
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek
Congregation Sons of Israel
Congregation Shirat Hayam
Department of Massachusetts Jewish War Veterans
Eos Foundation  
Falmouth Jewish Congregation
Florence Dental Care, PC  
Gold Advocacy
Hadassah
Hebrew College  
Hebrew Senior Life
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston  
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires
Jewish Federation Central MA  
The Lappin Foundation
MetroWest Jewish Day School
Partners in Communication, Inc.
Sinai Temple  
Temple Beth David
Temple Beth Sholom
Temple Beth Zion
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Emanuel
Temple Emunah
Temple Isaiah
Temple Israel
Temple Ner Tamid
Temple Shalom
Temple Shalom Emeth
Temple Shir Tikvah
Temple Tiferet Shalom of the North Shore

 
Number of individual signatories: 349