From: D Dorenz
To: Human Relations Commission
Subject: re: Antisemitism
Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023 7:57:31 PM
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Dear Human Relations Commission members:
I have learned that you
will be discussing the issue of antisemitism in the Palo alto community and beyond on Jan. 11, 2024.
I appreciate that you are taking this seriously and putting it on your agenda. Anti-semitism morphs over the decades and is always taking new forms. It is the world's oldest conspiracy theory. Now that there is a war in the middle east, those who want to rid the Middle East of any Jews, and also any western influence, are pressuring city councils, School Boards, and others to condemn Israel for fighting for its citizens' safety by eliminating Hamas.
As a Jewish resident of the East Bay, I know that hatred of Jews doesn't stay in one community. It is spread on the internet and
has been strengthened by the coming together of the right wing antisemites from whom we typically expect antisemitism, and the newer version of it from the left, that
include those who
are protesting the war between Hamas and Israel and calling for a ceasefire with no demands on Hamas to release the hostages, to lay down their arms, and with no condemnation for their attack on
Israeli citizens whatsoever. The lack of condemnation of these horrendous acts that constitutes the worst pogrom against the Jewish People since the Holocaust tells us that these acts are condoned by the very people who claim
that they are victims: the Palestinians and
their supporters .They come to the City council meetings with signs that say "From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free" or "Free Palestine" which actually is a call for
the
destruction of the Jewish state of ISrael. Their goal is not just to save lives of the people who live in Gaza, but to use the situation as a propaganda tool against Israel. Criticism of Israel is free speech, but calling for the destruction of an entire state of Jewish, Arab, Christian, Druze and other ethnicities and Religious residents of Israel, is hate speech and the newest form of antisemitism. No other state in the world is being condemned in this way, not even Russia is called out for trying to destroy
Ukraine, by any of these people. We recently experienced the presdients
of three major universities equivicate and
by refusing to say that calling for a
genocide against Jews was antisemitism. ( Harvard, Penn, Columbia). They answered the question by saying "It depends
on the context". This is certainly a moral failure on the parts of these presidents who represent our most prestigious universities that are educating the future leaders of our country. These students are learning that its ok to call for the genocide of an entire people and still think that they are ethical human beings worthy of leading this country.
The pro-Palestinians arrive in busloads to the City Council meetings all over the Bay Area to demand resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the war. Having attended four different meetings of City Councils including Richmond, Oakland, Berkeley, and the Berkeley unified School District School Board, I have had direct experience of the hate coming from those who condemn Israel as it fights to protect
Israel from further vicous, unspeakable acts of torture and murder against its civilians by Hamas terrorists, including the taking of 240 hostages.
ATTACHMENT C
They are holding all Jews responsible for the acts of the Israeli government, and do not condemn Hamas' attack, do not want it to be condemned in any of these resolutions, because they chose to see it as "a war of liberation" .But their liberation includes the destruction of Israel and Jews. On campuses in the Bay Area, and at Universities throughout the United States such as Harvard, Columbia, Penn, Yale, SFSU, and many other schools including highschools, Jewish students have been banned from these anti-zionist spaces on campus if they support Israel. These include many of the law students' organizations and other student organizations. They have been threatened, attacked, and have experienced vandalism. They are not being allowed free and equal access to their education on these campuses. I hope that your commission will accurately label this kind of behavior as antisemitism because then you will help people to recognize it and condemn it. This will support our pluralistic democracy.
Once Jews are banned, and ostracised, attacked and discriminated against, then other minorities are also in even more danger and it marks the deterioration of a civil society as it didn in Germany. I hope that you will unequivocally condemn the verbal and physical acts against our Jewish communities so that those perpetrating these hateful attacks will understand that they cannot get away with this behavior. If a government doesn't stand up for minorities, then democracy cannot survive.
I hope that you will decide that a letter to the president or a resolution is beyond your bailiwick and I hope that you will instead attend to the important business of your city where you can have real impact on the lives of your City's residents, rather than wade into an international issue that can only bring more strife here at home and not have a positive effect on the lives of those experiencing this war.
Thank you for hearing my concerns.
Dorit
Dorenz
Berkeley, Ca.
--
Dorothea Dorenz
From: Lorraine Brown
To: Council, City; Human Relations Commission
Subject: Antisemitism in Palo Alto
Date: Sunday, January 7, 2024 11:14:32 AM
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Dear Human Relations Commission and City Council -
Thank you all for your continued leadership in our city.
First, I want to thank the HRC for their upcoming January 11 agenda item focusing on the rise of antisemitism in our community. The spike in threats is terribly
disturbing, and I think it's
really important for you - and all of us in Palo Alto - to hear from our residents about their experiences. With that, I hope your commission will also consider how to make Jews, Muslims, and Arabs all feel safer in Palo Alto.
Second, I understand that City Council is considering a discussion/vote on a ceasefire resolution. I adamantly oppose this idea and implore you to avoid such a discussion for two primary reasons:
it will be terribly divisive for our community, and the debate will only sharpen and increase antisemitism in Palo Alto. This has been seen in other cities that have considered such resolutions, and would serve only to fray relations in our city - when you've all worked so hard to improve senses of belonging and inclusion. resolutions regarding outcomes for foreign wars is far beyond the scope of what you were elected. Your attention should be focused on Palo Alto issues - and there are plenty - rather than on outcomes for wars across the globe.
In other words, there is nothing to gain whatsoever by engaging in a debate about a ceasefire, a topic which sparks deep, emotional debate,
and won't do anything to help the people of
Israel or Gaza. I urge you to decline considering a ceasefire resolution.
Thank you for considering my feedback, and again, thank you for your leadership.
Lorraine Brown
Walter Hays Drive
From: Debbie Mukamal
To: Human Relations Commission
Subject: Statement
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2024 3:51:35 PM
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To the Human Relations Committee for the City of Palo Alto:
My name is Debbie Mukamal. My daughter, a 10th grader at Gunn, and I have lived in Palo Alto since 2010. I work at Stanford Law School, and we are active members of Congregation Beth Am, the Reform synagogue in Los Altos Hills. I am in my 6th year of service on Beth Am's Board of Directors, and my daughter is actively involved in teen programming there.
I want to share my experience of being at the synagogue on Friday, September 8. The temple was packed with people who had come to pray on the Sabbath and to hear from two guest speakers - Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Jeremy Ben Ami, the President of J Street, a progressive American-Israel organization. We expected to be together for a catered reception after the service. A group of teens were there to gather for a “chill night”, an opportunity to decompress from the stress of school.
Just as Sabbath services were ending and people were flowing into the reception, one of our rabbis returned to the front of the sanctuary and announced that we all needed to immediately leave the building as the synagogue had received a bomb threat.
The Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department, represented by many officers wearing bulletproof vests and bomb-sniffing dogs, was there to evacuate the premises and to sweep the entire campus. Being on the Board, I immediately called our President to make sure she was aware of the situation. Everyone exited the building and returned to their cars quickly and orderly, even though they were nervous and concerned.
As we were driving away, my daughter, who was visibly shaken, questioned why anyone would try to blow up a bunch of people at a synagogue. She didn’t understand why Jews would be targeted. I didn’t have a great answer to offer her.
Fortunately the bomb threat was later confirmed to be a hoax, that was replicated in several other synagogues throughout the country. But my daughter’s concern didn’t end. She was rattled all weekend, worried that the Sheriff’s Department officers (or dogs) could have missed a bomb, and that when she was there to work as a teacher’s aide in our Sunday School, she would accidentally step on something that would explode.
Why are Jews targeted? It’s a good question. Do you have an answer? Best, Debbie Mukamal
Palo Alto, CA 94304
From: Deborah Goldeen
To: Human Relations Commission
Cc: Lythcott-Haims, Julie
Subject: Anti-Semitism in Palo Alto
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2024 9:29:05 PM
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________________________________
Dear Commissioners - Thank you for taking up this important topic.
To understand the nature of anti-semitic attacks that Jews have been subjected to since the Hamas attack, it's important to understand that IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HAMAS ATTACK, Free Gaza! and Stop The Genocide! are anti-semitic (Arab Muslims who live in Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, ect... all identify as Arabs who live in The Levant).
I showed up to the farmers market on Cal Ave at 10am October 22 to find the entire street - every rock, tree, news stand and pole - plastered with "Free Gaza/Stop the Genocide" posters, did I feel threatened? You bet. Even more chilling is that these posters, probably fifty all told, and all posted illegally, had been left in place - the shoppers and workers carrying on as if it was nothing. I set about taking them down and had several Jewish people come up and whisper to me as I was doing so, "thank you!" Being blond haired and blue eyed, I'm almost never identified as Jewish so I could get away with that. But they couldn't.
When the anti-semtitic Zoom bombers at city council meetings interrupt proceedings again and again and again - people who are doing so anonymously while wearing face masks with their "Free Gaza/ Stop the Genocide" rants, that is an attack on Jews. To my horry Mayor Kou failed to shut them down. As soon as they start, turn them off.
This is not the time and place to be polite.
At the peace vigil in front of city hall, I was standing behind a group of Arab immigrants - one from Iraq, one from Libya and one from Emirates - while they discussed plans for protesting in San Francisco the next day. They had shown up at the peace vigil for the express purpose of speaking to the assembled people about how "this war is genocide agains the Palestinians" and how "the Istaeli's are responsible for everything." Two of them left after hearing they wouldn't speak, but the third one stayed and explained to me that they coordinate groups like that to show up at all gatherings like this. This same person told me that "there is no rape in Muslim world." As in Muslim men don't rape so none of the Israeli hostages could have been raped.
The purpose of the Hamas attack was to provoke a response so brutal from Israel that the Arab world would rise up and obliterate Israel. Through more covert social media means, anti-semitic Arab Muslims - as differntiated from Arab Muslims who are NOT anti-semtic - are taking this effort to a world level, which means bringing it home, here to Palo Alto.
In regards to Councilmember Lythcott-Haims's well intentioned comments mentioning the distress that Arab Muslims are feeling, I was surprised by this. ShOf all people I would have expected her to understand what a false equivalency is. What is happening right now is Arab Muslims are leading the anti-semitic charge against the Jews.
Jews are NOT lobbing Islamaphobic attacks at Arab Muslims. It's white Americans who are persecuting the Arab Muslims. Anti-semtic attacks are coming from Asian people I know - all my woke white friends - pretty much anyone who's on a college campus. Heck, you cannot compare the two for the simple fact that there are 15 million Jews on the planet and over A BILLION Arab Muslims.
I understand the intent behind her comments, but they were extraordinarily inappropriate.
Deborah Goldeen, , 94306,
From: Uzma Minhas
To: Human Relations Commission
Subject: Dec 6th Listening Session Follow-up
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 12:29:40 PM
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Dear HRC Chair Eberle and HRC Commission.
I hope this email finds you well. Congratulations to Chair Eberle on becoming the new chair!
I wanted to express my gratitude for the Dec 6 listening session organized by the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission focusing on Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian Voices.
It was a valuable opportunity to share insights and perspectives, and I appreciate the Commission's commitment to fostering an inclusive community.
I am writing to discuss the importance of incorporating anti-Palestinian racism into the Commission's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The presentation we shared during the session outlined specific asks, and I am eager to understand when and how the Commission plans to implement these recommendations.
Additionally, as we approach the month of Ramadan in March, I believe it would be opportune for the HRC to sponsor events such as an "iftar" dinner and an Eid celebration at the end of the month. Additionally, with April being Arab American Heritage Month, I propose collaboration on events that amplify Arab and Palestinian voices.
Given the urgency of addressing issues related to anti-Palestinian racism, I feel compelled to highlight the unfortunate occurrence of misinformation and racism during the community meeting on Jan 11. I believe it is crucial for us to take swift action to counteract these narratives. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further and provide additional insights on combating anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia.
In conclusion, the Human Relations Commission plays a vital role in ensuring that all voices are heard, and I am confident that Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians should not be excluded from this narrative. Your commitment to inclusivity aligns with the Commission's mission, and I look forward to collaborating on initiatives that promote understanding, respect, and unity within our community as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please let me know when we can meet to discuss initiatives. Ideally, as soon as next week or even this week would work for our community.
Best regards,
Uzma
From: Lori Meyers
To: Kaloma Smith; [email protected]; [email protected]; Human Relations Commission; Van Der Zwaag, Minka
Cc: Rabbi David Booth; Sarith
Subject: Nazi symbol found outside of Peers Park on Sunday January 28 Date: Monday, January 29, 2024 1:17:54 PM
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Dear Members of the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission, Thank you for all you do to keep Palo Alto a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive place.
In case you haven't yet heard, there was a Nazi symbol found on the sidewalk near Peers Park last night. It is being investigated as a hate crime.
Sadly, this isn't the first. There have been multiple recent incidents of Nazi symbols locally, including the Nazi symbol outside of Starbucks on El Camino in October, as well as the man carrying a swastika outside of Palo Alto HS soon after.
Over the past three months, multiple Nazi symbols have also been found in schools in Los Altos and in cities across the Bay Area. These are all part of the nearly 400% increase in antisemitic incidents in the US just since October 7.
When the Jewish community met with you several weeks ago, we shared many specific incidents that showcase the rise in antisemitism right here in Palo Alto, and the lack of security and inclusion we feel in our own City. We also recommended next steps based on the Mayor's Guide for Implementing the US National Strategy for Antisemitism . Antisemitism
education for the City staff is one of the first and most important steps of beginning to combat antisemitism.
We hope that you consider this urgent need for antisemitism education - and integrating it into city DEI efforts - as you prepare for your next meeting and begin to make recommendations to the City Council.
We look forward to hearing your recommendations at the meeting next week, and to partnering with you to move forward.
Warmly,
Lori
From: Uzma Minhas
To: Human Relations Commission
Subject: Question - Agenda item for tomorrow on Ad hoc Subcommittees Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 2:24:30 PM
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Hi Palo Alto HRC,
I see that for tomorrow's meeting there is an agenda item on Subcommittees for the Listening session we had in December. Could you explain what exactly will happen tomorrow during this item? I would like to be on the subcommittee if open to the public.
Best,
Uzma
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important From: Human Relations Commission
To: Uzma Minhas
Cc: Human Relations Commission
Subject: RE: Question - Agenda item for tomorrow on Ad hoc Subcommittees Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 2:56:41 PM
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Hello Uzma,
The agenda item will establish two ad-hoc subcommittees to discuss the suggestions for action/education presented at the two community listening sessions regarding Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism. The only action taken on this agenda item is to establish the subcommittees, there will be no discussion of the actual topics.
The ad-hoc subcommittees will be comprised solely of HRC commissioners. The public may comment when the subcommittees reconvene for a special meeting to discuss the suggestions for action/education. The date of the special meeting is yet to be determined; we will inform the public as soon as a date is set.
Best regards,
Alayna Cruz
Human Services Management Assistant
(650) 463-4906 | [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org
From:
Uzma Minhas <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 2:24 PM
To: Human Relations Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Question - Agenda item for tomorrow on Ad hoc Subcommittees CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Palo Alto HRC,
I see that for tomorrow's meeting there is an agenda item on Subcommittees for the Listening session we had in December. Could you explain what exactly will happen tomorrow during this item? I would like to be on the subcommittee if open to the public.
Best,
Uzma
From: Uzma Minhas
To: Human Relations Commission
Subject: Following up
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 3:03:08 PM
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Hi,
I wanted to follow-up on the March 6th retreat. Is this confirmed? If it is, can you share the format of the meeting? What would be the best way for our community members to prepare? Can we provide input to the working committees beforehand? Best,
Uzma
From: E G
To: Human Relations Commission
Cc: Estee Greif; Avner Greif
Subject: Input on Local Experiences of Islamophobia/Anti-Arab Hate and Anti-Semitism (Israelis) .
Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 9:35:09 PM
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Dear Commissioners,
I want to thank the HRC for its important work making sure that Muslim, Jewish and all communities feel safe.
I noticed that the document fails to reference Israelis. I hope that as we draft anti- discrimination policies and recommendations that we explicitly help protect Israelis in addition to Jews because the two communities though overlapping are different. There are Israelis like the Druze and Christians that are neither Jewish nor Muslim. Israelis are more easily targeted because they are easier to identify.
I hope the committee will facilitate in understanding how certain terminology are miss used as inflammatory and are the cause of creating hateful feelings.
I also hope that as the committee works to build police liaisons they recognize that Israelis are less likely to belong to faith communities than American Jews and may need special outreach.
Apology for the late input, hope you might still consider this input at least in vision if not on paper.
Thanks again for helping keep the city equitable.
~Estee Greif
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstothePaloAltoHumanRelationsCommission PresentedtothePaloAltoHumanRelationsCommission- February2024 Background
OnJanuary11, 2024, theJewishcommunitywasdeeplygrateful tobeinvitedtoalisteningsessionwiththePaloAltoHumanRelationsCommission(HRC). Alignedwithitsmissionof creatinga“communitywherecivility, respect, andresponsibleactionsarethenorm,” andrecognizingthat theJewishcommunityisaminorityandvulnerablepopulation, theHRCaskedustosharetheJewishexperienceinPaloAltoandtomakerecommendationsfor improvingthisexperienceandcombatingthesteepriseinantisemitism.
TheJewishcommunitypresentedthefollowingrecommendationstotheHRCduringthelisteningsession:
● UsetheU.S. National StrategytoCombat Antisemitismtobuildanactionplanfor acomprehensivecity-widestrategyonantisemitism, andengagetheJewishcommunityinsettingprioritiesbasedontheU.S. National Strategy.● ConveneaDayof Unitywhenour diversePaloAltocancometogether, celebrateourinclusivity, andbetogether inunityandgoodwill.
Theserecommendationsaredescribedindetail below.
HRCGuidancethatInformedtheRecommendations
Indevelopingitsrecommendations, theJewishcommunityfollowedtheguidanceprovidedbyformer HRCChair Smiththat thepurviewof theHRCislocal, andthat thefocusof therecommendationsshouldbeonworkthat canbedonelocallyinPaloAlto- not nationallyorinternationally.
TheJewishcommunityalsorecognizesthat thepurviewof theHRCandtheCityCouncil istheCity, not PaloAltoUnifiedSchool District (PAUSD). For thisreason, theJewishcommunityintentionallydidnot makerecommendationsfor school curriculumor teacher training(“teach-ins”),whichwouldfall under thepurviewof PAUSD. If thisisanincorrect assumption, thenweasktobeinformedsothat wecanmakerecommendationsrelatedtothePaloAltoUnifiedSchool District.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 1 JewishCommunityRecommendations
Asmentionedabove, theJewishcommunitymadetworecommendationsat theJanuary11HRCmeeting:
● Implement theU.S. National StrategytoCombat Antisemitism.● ConveneaDayof Unityfor PaloAltotocometogether inunityandgoodwill.
UsingtheU.S. National StrategytoCombat Antisemitism, theMayor’sGuidetoCounteringAntisemitism: ImplementingtheU.S. National StrategytoCounter Antisemitism(co-developedbytheU.S. Conferenceof MayorsalongwiththeAmericanJewishCommittee), andALawEnforcement GuidetoCounteringAntisemitism: ImplementingtheU.S. National StrategytoCounter Antisemitismasguidingdocuments, theJewishcommunitypresentsthefollowingspecificrecommendationsasfirst stepstocombat antisemitisminPaloAlto.
WelookforwardtoworkinginpartnershipwiththeCitytoimplement additional recommendationsgoingforward.
Weaskthat theserecommendationsbeimplementedassoonaspracticable, andasthefirststepsof afunded, five-year, comprehensiveactionplantoaddressantisemitism- includingaplanfor measuringprogressandaccountability.
Recommendation#1:AdoptorendorsetheIHRAdefinitionofantisemitism.(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) Definingantisemitismisessential inorder toidentifyit andcombat it. TheInternationalHolocaust RemembranceAssociationdefinitionof antisemitismisthemost widelyadopteddefinitionof antisemitism. Asof January2023, it hadbeenadoptedbyover 1,000entities,includingtheU.S. StateDepartment, aswell asnumerouscountries, USstates, andcitiesincludingLosAngelesandWashington, DC.
Adoptingor endorsingtheIHRAdefinitionof antisemitismisof thehighest priority, asdefiningantisemitismisfoundational tocombattingit.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 2 Recommendation#2:ProvidemandatoryantisemitismeducationandtrainingforCityCouncil,leadership,lawenforcement,andstaff.(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) Antisemitismisanoldandcomplexhate, withmanymodernmanifestations. Understandingantisemitismisessential inorder toidentifyit andcombat it. Antisemitismtrainingwill alsohelpCityleadershipandlawenforcement officialsbemoreculturallycompetent inhowtheyrespondtoJewishcommunity.
Weaskthat theCityleadership- includingbut not limitedtoCityCouncil, CityManager andstaff, CityAttorney, inclusionandEquityManager, CityAuditor, CityClerk, allCommissioners, FireChief, HumanResourcesManager, HeadLibrarian, OfficeofEmergencyServicesManager, Chief of PoliceandthePoliceDepartment - participateinthistraining.
TheAmericanJewishCommittee, aninternationallyrespectedorganization, hasprovidedthisfreetrainingtomunicipalitiesacrossthecountry. GiventhesteepriseinantisemitismintheBayArea, werecommendthat thistrainingbeimplementedasahighest priority.
Recommendation#3:Issueunequivocalcondemnationsofantisemitism.(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) Whenantisemitismor anti-Israeli hatearises, weaskthat CityCouncil andHumanRelationsCommissionmemberscall it out immediately(within24hours) andbyname.
Dependingonthecircumstances, thiscondemnationcouldbeverballyduringor after ameeting; inthemediaafter anantisemiticincident inPaloAlto; or asapublicstatement onbehalf of CityCouncil. If necessary, issueproclamationsor resolutionscondemningantisemitismandanti-Israeli hate. Antisemitismisnot apartisanissue.
Recommendation#4:Expandmedialiteracyeducationtoaddressmisinformationanddisinformationrelatedtoantisemitism.(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) Medialiteracyeducationinvolvesaddressingtheproblemof misinformationanddisinformationrelatedtoantisemitism. Mediacomesinmanyformats, includingprint,broadcast, digital, andsocial. Werecommendthat thelibraryprovideandpromoteresourcesandpublicprogrammingonmedialiteracytoaddressonlinemisinformationanddisinformation, includingrelatedtoantisemitism.
Medialiteracyeducationalsorequiresanongoingthoroughreviewof all content (includingorganizations, materials, andrecommendations) promotedonCitywebsites, includingthePaloAltoLibrary, toensurethat theyareconsistent withlawsandpolicies, aswell asthevaluesandmissionof PaloAlto. Thesereviewsshouldbeconductedbeforeanyorganizations, resources, or materialsarerecommendedor posted.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 3 Recommendation#5:DesignateacentralcoordinatorforJewishandotherfaithcommunities.Manyelectedleadershaveadvisorygroupsorinterfaith/interethnictaskforces.(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) EstablishaCityliaisonasacentral point of contact toaddresstheneedsof theJewishandother faithcommunities, especiallyassecurityneedsarise.
Inaddition, manycitieshaveacommunityadvisorygrouptoprovidefaithcommunityperspectivetoelectedleadership. Thisisvaluablewhenenactingmanyof therecommendationsinthisdocument, includingbuildingpublicawarenessaroundhatecrimereportingandsettingcommunitycalendars, aswell asindevelopingcultural competenceinrespondingtotheneedsof faithcommunities.
Recommendation#6:Addmajorholidaysofallfaithcommunities,includingJewishholidays,tocommunitycalendars(meetings,elections,etc.).AddJewishHeritageMonthtocommunitycalendars.(Inclusion/Belonging) TheJewishholidaysof RoshHashanah, YomKippur, Passover, andHanukkah, at aminimum, shouldbeaddedtocommunitycalendars. Other significant holidaysincludePurim, Sukkot, andShavuot.
Werequest that theCitynot schedulemeetingsor eventsonthefollowingholidays, asmanyintheJewishcommunitywouldbeexcludedfromattendingor participating: theeveningprecedingRoshHashanah, RoshHashanah, theeveningprecedingYomKippur,YomKippur, andtheeveningsprecedingthefirst andseconddaysof Passover.
Wealsorecommendthat JewishAmericanHeritageMonthinMaybeaddedtocommunitycalendars. TheJewishcommunitywouldliketocollaboratewiththeCityonplanningJewishAmericanHeritageMonthactivities, includingrecommendedbooklistswiththePaloAltoLibrary, featuredspeakers, andother cultural andeducational events.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 4 Recommendation#7:InvestinJewishcommunitysecurity, (Security) TheJewishcommunityisverygrateful for thesupport andengagement of thePaloAltoChief of PoliceandPaloAltolawenforcement.
Wehaveseveral recommendationswithregardtoJewishcommunitysecurity, inalignmentwithALawEnforcement GuidetoCounteringAntisemitism: ImplementingtheU.S. NationalStrategytoCounter Antisemitism:
● ProvideALawEnforcement GuidetoCounteringAntisemitism: ImplementingtheU.S. National StrategytoCounter AntisemitismtothePaloAltoChief of Policeasavaluableresourcefor actionsthat lawenforcement cantaketocombat antisemitism. ● Connect thePaloAltoPoliceDepartment withtheSecureCommunityNetwork(SCN), whichistheofficial safetyandsecurityorganizationof theJewishcommunityinNorthAmerica. SCNisaninvaluableresourcefor lawenforcement, includingprovidingthreat andincident informationtolawenforcement andcommunitypartners, servingasliaisonwithfederal lawenforcement, andcoordinatingwithstateandlocal lawenforcement. SCNalsoworkswithlawenforcement todevelopandimplement securityframeworks. ● Appoint anappropriatesenior lawenforcement official tobeacentral point ofcontact for local Jewishcommunitieswhenasecurityneedarises. ● AskthePaloAltoPoliceDepartment toexploreinstitutingaJewishcommunitysafetyplansuchastheonerecentlyadoptedinBeverlyHills, CA. Thisplanwouldincludedevelopinganantisemitismandmassviolenceattackpreparednessandtrainingexercise, aswell asassessment of existingemergencyresponsealertsystems, tools, andprotocols. ● EngagewithJewishinstitutionsabout applyingfor nonprofit securitygrantsfromtheDepartment of HomelandSecurity(DHS), aswell asstatelevel funds, tofundtrainingandphysical securityenhancements. Thenonprofit securitygrantsrequireathreat, vulnerability, andriskassessment (TVRA), whichinstitutionsmayasklocallawenforcement tosupport. If abletodoso, local lawenforcement shouldoffer thatresource. ● Continuetheworkstartedinthe2023-24HRCWorkPlantoincreasepublicawarenessandmarketingof howtoreport hatecrimesandhateincidents.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 5 Recommendation#8:ConveneaDayofUnitywhenourdiversePaloAltocancometogether, celebrateourinclusivity, andbetogetherinunityandgoodwill.(Inclusion/Belonging) Inalignment withtheCityof PaloAlto’smissionto“promoteandsustainasuperior qualityof lifeinPaloAlto” andtheHRC’smissioncreating“acommunitywherecivility, respect andresponsibleactionsarethenorm,” weaskthat theCityconveneaDayof Unity. Communitymembersandfaithleadersof everyreligiousdenominationinPaloAltoshouldbeinvited.
ADayof Unitywill bringour diversecommunitytogether, wherewecancelebrateourinclusivity, andbetogether ingoodwill.
Recommendation#9:Ensurethatallrecommendations,proposals,speakers,andresourcesarefullyreviewedbyCityleadershipandlegalcounseltoensurecompliancewithfederalandstatelaw, aswellascitycodes,andthemissionofPaloAlto,(Inclusion/Belonging&Security) Weaskthat all recommendations, proposals, speakers, andresources(includingbut notlimitedto: definitions, programs, events, organizations, resolutions, writtenstatements,projects, proclamations, andhonorees) bethoroughlyreviewedandvettedbyCityofficialsandlegal counsel beforetheir inclusiononthepublicagendaor enactment inanyway.
Thispre-reviewandvettingprocess, conductedbyCityofficialsandlegal counsel, isparamount toensuringthat all recommendations, proposals, speakers, andresourcesarefreefromdiscrimination, refrainfrombestowingunlawful preferential treatment, donotadvancesectarianor denominational doctrine, andupholdfederal andstatelaw, aswell ascitycodes. Additionally, vettingisnecessarytoensurethat all recommendations, proposals,speakers, andresourcesareconsistent withPaloAlto’smissionandvalues.
Wecannot overemphasizetheimportanceof thismeticulousvettingprocess, andarereadilyavailabletoadvise. It isimperativethat all endeavorsassociatedwithPaloAltoadheretofederal, state, andlocal law, aswell asour community’svalues. Wehaveseenfirsthandthedetrimental consequencescausedwhentheydonot.
It isthe“PaloAltoway” toensuretheinclusion, belonging, andsecurityof all PaloAltoresidents. It iscrucial that theCity’sworkdoesnot, directlyor indirectly, compromisetheinclusion, belonging, andsecurityof anyoneinPaloAlto.
PaloAltoJewishCommunityRecommendationstoCombatAntisemitism- February2024 6