Jewish Federation issues vague denouncement of “reprehensible rhetoric” in Rockland County’s 2017 election

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION & FOUNDATION OF ROCKLAND COUNTY

The Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County is extremely concerned about the tenor and undertone of some of the statements being circulated – by candidates and their supporters – during the current election season. With that issue in mind, the Jewish Community Relations Council, an arm of Federation, has been meeting with certain candidates. The purpose of the meetings has been to sensitize the candidates to issues relevant to the entire Jewish community.

More importantly, JCRC has tried to convey to the candidates that it finds the hateful, and sometimes flagrantly anti-Semitic, tone of some of the campaign materials – particularly on social media – to be reprehensible and totally unacceptable. JCRC is actively monitoring social media, and, when offensive material is posted, we call upon the site administrator or the candidate to take down or disavow that material. It is not the role or the intent of JCRC or Federation to endorse any particular candidate, but it is our role to fight bigotry and hatred, in all its forms, and to remind the candidates that we are listening to all rhetoric – theirs and their supporters.

  federation, JCRC, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation & Foundation, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County