Shalom Somerville

⚖️ A timely read from the Jewish Journal: Jewish organizations have filed a lawsuit against Medford to block a divestment ordinance — raising the same legal and financial concerns Somerville's community should be watching closely. Medford's own mayor flagged "serious concerns" from the city's attorney and "substantial financial implications" the council never considered. With Somerville now implementing a similar ballot measure, the stakes couldn't be clearer. 🔗

Jewish groups sue Medford to stop alleged Israel divestment ordinance - Jewish Journal On Feb. 6, 2026, the Gevura Fund, the National Jewish Advocacy Center and the law firm of Libby Hoopes Brooks & Mulvey PC sued the City of Medford to stop the enactment of an ordinance that they claim unfairly targets corporations that do business in Israel. Medford’s Values-Aligned Local Investme...

⚾ Baseball fans, this one's for you! Join Shalom Somerville for Jewish Heritage Night at Fenway Park on Wednesday, May 27 at 7PM to see the Boston Red Sox take on the Atlanta Braves! Attendees will receive a FREE special edition Hebrew jersey at the game, first-come, first-served!

A great night of community and baseball awaits! 🎉

Sign up here BEFORE March 31: https://forms.gle/8P8r73EKzEkavXma6

🙏 We are grateful for Governor Maura Healey's strong words of support for Massachusetts' Jewish community. We appreciate every politician and community leader who calls out hate and stands with us during these difficult times. No one should live, learn, or worship in fear. ✡️

📢 Join Jewish Watertown Action Network (JWAN) for an important community conversation. Hear from members of Massachusetts' first-of-its-kind Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. They'll share findings from their 70+ page report and 80+ recommendations to address the 70% rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes. March 5 | 7–8:30 PM | Watertown Free Public Library.

Register here🔗https://tinyurl.com/yy7d686z

The report can be found here:https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD3416.pdf

📊 A once-a-decade study on Jewish life in Greater Boston reflects what many of us are already feeling. Roughly 4 in 10 local Jews in Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, and Wi******er are avoiding visible Jewishness, and the community is divided in its relationship to Israel since October 7. This data matters — and so does our response.

Other CJP reports can be found here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/5zd7u6mv

✡️ Feeling isolated as a Jewish professional? You're not alone. CJP's Center for Combating Antisemitism is hosting a one-day workshop on building supportive Jewish community in the workplace — THIS Thursday, February 26 in Downtown Boston. Spots are LIMITED and filling fast — register today! 🚨https://tinyurl.com/yu29w4py 🙌

Your Commute to Belonging: An Annual Workshop for J-ERG Leaders Event will take place in Financial District, Downtown Boston.

One of our own, Baruch Stone, out there doing the right thing - shoveling a busy Somerville sidewalk after a fire. 👏👏👏👉 https://tinyurl.com/CBS-WBZ-Boston

📚 Our neighbors at Arlington Informed (https://tinyurl.com/5e948zfd) are hosting a timely and important talk next Tuesday, 2/24 at 7 PM featuring Dr. Rachel Fish! She'll trace the development of Zionism, examine how it has been distorted in the contemporary moment, and explore where antizionism intersects with antisemitism.
Register here to attend: https://tinyurl.com/n4598jmt

Read more about Dr. Fish on her website: https://rachelfish.com/

🎙️ Last Tuesday's Finance Committee public hearing on Somerville's FY2027 budget included SEVEN different speakers raising the same call: implement the recommendations of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Antisemitism. Hearing a consistent theme across multiple voices matters — it signals broad community support.

Our group has also been meeting directly with City Councilors and the Mayor's Office to continue these conversations — and we'd love for more community members to get involved. Reach out by email to join us! Email us: [email protected]

👉Watch the meeting recording and catch one of our members' thoughtful comment at the 52:42 mark https://tinyurl.com/3fukafhb

📣 TONIGHT at 6PM: Somerville residents, make your voice heard at the FY 2027 Budget Listening Session! Show up virtually, speak for two minutes, or write to your councilors by 12 PM—urge them to focus on what brings us together and reject an Israel boycott. Like Medford, this will only attract lawsuits and detract from what matters.

Register for Zoom Here 👉https://tinyurl.com/38knmthv

Email Here👉 [email protected]

My Election Info: Search

"...antisemitic incidents were the most common hate crime in Massachusetts in 2024, and 84.4 percent of religious-bias hate crimes were anti-Jewish, even though Jews only make up 4 percent of the state population....Everyone can speak up when witnessing antisemitism, attend school board and city council meetings, support Jewish neighbors and colleagues, and reject the normalization of hate.

The road map is clear. Let’s move forward together."

☝A powerful op-ed in the Boston Globe. Read here:

Antisemitism is surging. A strong state commission plan confronts it. - The Boston Globe A state commission’s report makes clear that antisemitism deserves to be taken seriously. But it alone cannot stop hate.