FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 5, 2018
CONTACT: Lauren Silverman, West End Strategy Team
[email protected]; Office: (212) 498-9300; Cell: (917) 603-6433
JCC Association Praises New Law Expanding Protections for Religious Institutions
NEW YORK—JCC Association of North America commends the federal government for signing into law the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018. The law was introduced to Congress following the wave of anti-Semitic bomb threats made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) and other Jewish institutions in early 2017.
“We are deeply grateful that both the legislative and executive branches responded to these threats with such determination,” says Doron Krakow, CEO and president of JCC Association. “By enacting this law, the federal government is sending a strong message that hate crimes and threats against JCCs, and all Jewish and other religiously affiliated organizations will not be tolerated. We thank President Donald Trump, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) for their efforts in passing this legislation.”
The new law, which the president signed on Sept. 28, amends the criminal code, expanding and increasing the penalties for hate crimes resulting in property damage to include religiously affiliated organizations. Prior language restricted these protections to houses of worship.
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ABOUT JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA:
JCC Association of North America strengthens and leads JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps throughout North America. As the convening organization, JCC Association partners with JCCs to bring together the collective power and knowledge of the JCC Movement. JCC Association offers services and resources to increase the effectiveness of JCCs as they provide community engagement and educational, cultural, social, recreational, and Jewish identity building programs to enhance Jewish life throughout North America. By supporting the 25,000 Jewish communal professionals who connect with two million JCC participants each year—JCC Association encourages engaged lives of purpose and meaning.
Learn more at jccassociation.org, on Facebook and on Twitter at @JCCAssociation
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