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When Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Budget Act of 2021 into law on July 12, it included $14.9 million to the City of Los Angeles for restoration of the Breed Street Shul in Boyle Heights, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places that has languished in disrepair for years.
The nearly $15 million appropriation from the state budget is a culmination of many years of political grassroots support, led by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Chair of the California Legislative Caucus. Gabriel worked to secure support from Latino and Jewish members of the Legislature as well to champion the cause, with Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, who represents parts of Boyle Heights in the legislature, also instrumental in securing the funding.
Gabriel’s interest in preserving the Shul started long before he became an Assemblyman three years ago. Gabriel had toured the surrounding neighborhood and the Shul itself while working with The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.
Legislators in California and Florida have directed major new funding to Jewish organizations and causes in their upcoming budgets.
California’s proposed 2021-2022 budget includes $50 million to boost security for non-profit organizations such as synagogues and Jewish schools, while Florida is providing a $1 million dollar grant to the Jewish Federation of Sarasota- Manatee.
Also in the California budget is $13.5 million designated toward Holocaust education.
“The budget agreement adopted by the State Senate and State Assembly provides significant increases in funding for top Jewish community priorities, including enhancing the security of vulnerable Jewish community institutions, supporting the work of major Jewish social services agencies, and strengthening Holocaust education across the State of California,” read a statement from the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
(JTA) — Citing the recent spike in antisemitic attacks, the Jewish caucus in the California State Legislature has secured $50 million to help protect nonprofits and $10 million for an exhibit on antisemitism at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
The total allocated for Jewish or Jewish-related causes in the 2021-22 state budget is $80 million.
Amid Rising Antisemitism, California Budget Includes Significant Funding for Nonprofit Security Grants, Social Services, and Holocaust Education
The California Legislative Jewish Caucus has announced new legislation that seeks to address key Jewish community issues and priorities.
Selected by Caucus members , who ensure the Jewish community has a voice in California’s policy-making processes, the bills proposed includes four “Jewish Caucus Priority” bills and nine “Tikkun Olam” bills, which emphasize core Jewish values like tzedek (justice) and ve’ahavta lere’acha kamocha (loving the stranger as yourself).
The legislation package focuses on major Jewish community priorities like preventing and responding to hate crimes, implementing measures to mitigate online hate and harassment, and strengthening Holocaust education.
Press Release
Jewish Caucus Announces 2021 Priority Bill Package
Jewish Caucus Announces 2021 Priority Bill Package
Legislation Advances Major Jewish Community Priorities Including Addressing Hate Crimes and Strengthening Holocaust Education; Caucus Also Unveils “Tikkun Olam Agenda” To Uplift Vulnerable Californians of All Backgrounds
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the California State Legislature marked Yom HaShoah with special events at the State Capitol. The State Assembly and State Senate passed resolutions authored by the Jewish Caucus honoring the victims of the Holocaust and officially establishing April 8, 2021 as California Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Sacramento, CA — Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D – Woodland Hills), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and Senator Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco), Vice Chair, released the following statement regarding the State Board of Education’s adoption of the final Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum:
Members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus joined a coalition of state lawmakers on the Capitol steps in Sacramento on Monday afternoon to promote a slate of bills aimed at addressing hate crimes against minority groups.
Rob Bonta, a member of the Assembly from the East Bay who is part of the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus, organized the gathering so the state’s Jewish, Latino, LGBTQ, Black and Armenian leaders could express solidarity and showcase their legislative efforts amid a rise in racist attacks targeting Asian Americans across the state, including recent violent attacks in Oakland and San Francisco.
There have been 1,226 incidents of hate reported against Asian Americans in California since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to a tally this month by AAPI Hate, a San Francisco State University project that tracks attacks against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The incidents coincide with the proliferation of antisemitic conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the coronavirus, according to the ADL.
“We are not just talking,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a member of the Jewish caucus who represents parts of the East Bay. “We are taking action.”
State Assembly Majority Whip Jesse Gabriel also discusses the role states like California can play in foreign policy
On this week’s episode of Jewish Insider’s Limited Liability Podcast, hosts Jarrod Bernstein and Rich Goldberg are joined by California State Assembly Majority Whip and Chair of the California Jewish Caucus Jesse Gabriel and JI’s Melissa Weiss to discuss the recent controversy around the California ethnic studies curriculum.