Lobbying for our community in Washington, D.C.

By Paula Filler, National Women’s Philanthropy Board Member

When our group of 40 lay leaders met at the new Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Washington offices, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a country where we can walk the halls of government, meet directly with our elected officials and speak on behalf of our Jewish community. We kicked off with a networking session where we reviewed our priorities and were grouped by state with our leaders and talking points. Our lobbying effort was focused on three different legislative issues:

Issue No. 1 – The importance of adopting the Antisemitism Awareness Act: This legislation equips the federal government with the tools needed to act on antisemitism complaints. It determines when conduct is motivated by antisemitic bias. It uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definitions of antisemitism, which is essential for effective enforcement. No longer will an official be able to say, “It depends on context,” about antisemitic actions.

Issue No. 2 – Food assistance programs: We were able to explain how our community network raises over $2 billion annually, with 42% dedicated to local human services serving both Jewish and non-Jewish individuals. We know firsthand how federal nutrition programs not only fight hunger — they also provide human dignity.

Issue No. 3 – The Nonprofit Security Grant Program: The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critical to our ability to protect our Jewish communities from the rising tide of hate in schools, campuses and synagogues. We need more funds to harden the targets and reduce our vulnerability from terrorist attacks. Funding for the NSGP is instrumental in maintaining robust security systems for Jewish and nonJewish communities as we face increasing physical threats.

Whether we met with elected representatives or legislative aides, each interaction was a valuable opportunity to share our priorities, present the facts, offer personal stories and ask questions. Our personal narratives truly left a lasting impression. In fact, JFNA Vice President of Community Relations Evan Bernstein, who joined our Florida group, remarked on how impactful and effective our meetings were.

For me, one standout moment came during our visit to the office of Florida’s newly appointed senator, Ashley Moody. While the senator was at a committee meeting, her legislative aide graciously welcomed us, listened attentively and took detailed notes. As we discussed the urgent need to fully fund the NSGP, several parents in our group spoke candidly about the fear they have for their children who are attending Jewish schools in a climate where antisemitism is so pervasive. We were able to share our experience with bomb scares at the elementary and preschool level.

The aide was surprised, took careful notes and understood the critical role security plays in protecting our children. That visual clearly resonated, and I left feeling confident that our message would be conveyed to the senator.

Following our Capitol Hill meetings, we returned to the JFNA Washington office for a debrief session. We then had the privilege of hearing from Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell at the U.S. Department of Justice. He spoke about the administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism, sparking a robust, meaningful conversation.

It was especially noteworthy to share this lobbying experience with Cabinet members and their outstanding, impressive chair, Beth Wayne. I was so impressed with the poise, energy and dedication of our Cabinet members. The JFNA Cabinet members represent our future Jewish community leaders!

Every time I can advocate for our Jewish community, I know this is democracy in action. I’m energized by what we accomplished together through the organized approach prepared by the Jewish Federation of North America’s dedicated team.